Under Tathra Wharf August 28,29,30 2019
A few years ago i saw a video where a guy had lowered a camera over the edge on a rope and under the water at Tathra Wharf, was a cool video and it's a technique i've now used many times ever since, finally got the chance to get there and have a look myself. I didn't think there was much life left under the piers/wharves of Australia but there is!
Apparently i just missed a bunch of sharks by a day or so as there had been a whale unfortunately washed up about 50 metres from the wharf so no diving! Enjoy a few miunutes of serenity under Tathra Wharf NSW
Here is some more info about the historic wharf from the Tathra Wharf wikipedia page
Tathra Wharf is a heritage-listed former wharf precinct and now museum and cafe at Wharf Road, Tathra, Bega Valley Shire, New South Wales, Australia. It was built from 1860 to 1862. The property is owned by the Department of Planning and Infrastructure (State Government). It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999
The first wharf at Tathra (not Kianinny) was constructed around 1860-1861 and was in the form of a simple jetty projecting into the ocean. It was known as the Farmer's Sea Wharf. This structure was quickly superseded in 1861-1862 with the erection of a new wharf built over the earlier structure. It was constructed from turpentine timber brought down from the north coast. The structure was consequently extended in 1873, 1878, 1886, 1889 up to the turn of the century. There is a record of two sheds being erected on the early wharf of which there are no remains but drawings prepared by the Department of Public Works survive.[1]
The wharf was built in response to the need for coastal shipping after the commencement of the Illawarra and South Coast Steam Navigation Company in 1858. The first cargo vessel to call at Tathra was in 1858. It moored offshore and the cargo was transported by small boat from a location known as Kangarutha. A store shed was constructed there in the same year and an access road a year later. The following year Kianinni was discovered to be more sheltered for loading and a store was built there. Cargo was still shipped from the beach by small boat to vessels moored in the bay.[1]
During the early period of the wharf Public Works records show that significant repairs were carried out to the wharf structure including re-piling and change of location of piles as techniques of piling improved. The changes and increase in size of the wharf can also be clearly related to increased shipping needs, larger ships visiting the wharf and the need for deeper mooring.[1]
The wharf and buildings continued to be extended after the turn of the century. The cattle and pig yards were added in 1901, the wharf was again extended in 1903 and the buildings reconstructed with the present two storey structure in 1907. At this time a major upgrade took place with the introduction of spring-loaded wrought iron buffers to assist in the berthing of larger vessels in the difficult north-easterly seas to which the wharf was exposed. This was in conjunction with a mooring buoy to the north east of the jetty. When ships berthed at the wharf they would drop anchor to the north west of the wharf and attach a spring line from the mooring buoy and from these would spring against the buffers in front of the wharf.[1]
The position of the wharf was selected as it was the most protected position in the area particularly from the south.[1]
Between 1907 and 1912 the wharf underwent major extensions in 8 definable stages including a sub-deck, jib crane, the addition of the cattle race, loading ramp and passenger shelter.
WUDU S9E27 Tathra Wharf Museum
Macca and the Convoyers enjoy learning about the history of Tathra at the Tathra Wharf Museum.
Smooth Stingrays or Bull Rays (Dasyatis brevicaudata) at Tathra Wharf, NSW.
Tathra Wharf on the south coast of NSW is a popular spot for fishing, particularly for land-based game fish such as tuna, kingfish and marlin. It is also a great spot for fish and whale watching, and there is even a cafe and art gallery (the Wharf Locavore) located right on the wharf.
The wharf is also well known for the enormous Smooth Stingrays or Bull Rays that frequent the area – attracted by the scraps leftover from fisherman cleaning their catches. The wharf creates an impressive underwater structure that attracts numerous schools of baitfish and their predators, including seals and sometimes sharks.
On calm days you can watch the rays circle beneath amid hundreds of smaller fish. While most visitors only get to view the rays from above, this video gives you the opportunity to see what it looks like down there with them – during a brief visit I lowered my gopro into the depths to catch these scenes, where I was helped in part by an inquisitive octopus!
Smooth Stingrays are enormous rays growing up to 4.3m in length, 2m in width and weighing up to 350kg; they bear a striking resemblance to a stealth bomber as they move silently and gracefully through the water. They feed mainly on fish, crustaceans and molluscs which they catch on the seafloor, often by digging in the sediment like other stingrays.
The Smooth Stingray has a very large serrated spine on its tail which it uses for defence, curling it's tail overhead like a scorpion when feeling threatened. Although not normally aggressive, due to their large size, they can be very dangerous and should not be approached when they are exhibiting aggressive or defensive behaviours. It is believed that it was a type of large Bull Ray that was responsible for the death of naturalist Steve Irwin on the Great Barrier Reef in 2006.
Several other fish can also be seen in this video, the most common of which are the Mados, Yellowtail Scads, and Trevally.
For more information on these stingrays see:
the Fishes of Australia website here:
the Australian Museum website here:
CAAB Taxon Code:37035001
© Greg Wallis 2016
gregwallis.com
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This Video is part of the Across Australia Outback Tours Travel Vlog Channel.
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