The ML Egeria visits New Norfolk

The historic Tasmanian vessel, the ML EGERIA, paid a familiarisation visit to New Norfolk today, making the journey up the Derwent River from Lindisfarne with some local guests onboard, including Derwent Valley Mayor Michelle Dracoulis and husband Raynor.

Owner of the boat, The Motor Yacht Club of Tasmania, runs over 100 chartered operations a season on the EGERIA and is looking for Derwent Valley businesses to help expand and build a future product around its operations that run to New Norfolk on the Derwent River now it's open to more boat traffic.

The EGERIA offers catered charters or cruises for birthdays, weddings, private get-togethers, and much more, with 2hr and up to 8-hour (full day) options available, as well as dinner cruises.

The boat's name, The EGERIA, is said to have originated from a fountain in Rome and from the tears shed by the nymph Egeria after hearing about the death of her husband Numa, who was a mythological Roman King.

The EGERIA is rich in Tasmanian Maritime history, with the 18.9-metre vessel built at Battery Point for the Maritime Board of Hobart by Purdon and Featherstone LTD after being designed by expert boat builder John I. Thornycroft of England in 1937.

The EGERIA was constructed from Huon Pine, Teak and Blackwood and was first launched in October 1941. During the Second World War, she was commissioned as HMAS Tasma, a naval auxiliary vessel with her primary duties dedicated to river and harbour patrols.

During the war in 1942, Lieutenant Rodway from the US Army had been instructed to obtain a small craft for use in the combat area of the South-West Pacific Zone. The US Army began negotiations to purchase and take the EGERIA to the Pacific islands early in 1942, but the Royal Australian Navy requisitioned the boat before the contract was signed.

After serving its purpose as a patrol boat, the EGERIA returned to the Maritime Board, which then saw her commissioned as the Tasmanian Governor's Launch with the prestigious duty of transporting touring Governors and Royalty on the river, including King Charles III and Diana, the Princess of Wales, when they both visited Hobart.

The Maritime Board had intended to build a replacement vessel which didn't eventuate, and in mid 1944 the Royal Australian Navy no longer required the EGERIA, and the Board was able to buy it back for less than half the sale price. During an overhaul of the EGERIA, two new Thornycroft diesel engines intended for the replacement vessel were installed.

The EGERIA's original interior is fitted out with red leather upholstery along with blackwood and Huon pine joinery, and has a fully equipped galley. In 1964 the two Thornycroft diesel engines were replaced by GM diesel engines, and in 1995 the cabin was widened and rebuilt to the classic styling of the time.

Pushing forward to 2007, the Motor Yacht Club of Tasmania took ownership of the EGERIA and a dedicated volunteer crew then spent many hours and a lot of money to restore her.

In 2015, the EGERIA led the parade of sail at the Australian Wooden Boat Festival, and a $46,000 Tasmanian Community grant then saw its hull splined and repainted through roughly a thousand hours of volunteer labour.

Today, the Motor Yacht Club offers the Egeria for chartered cruises, which include three runs on the Derwent River through to New Norfolk. Guests on charters can choose pick-up locations from The Motor Yacht Club at Lindisfarne or from the Bellerive Wharf, Waterman’s Dock, or Kings Pier.

The EGERIA also offers dinner cruises as well as fully catered or self-catering chartered options with beverages and menu selections tailored to specific needs. Fully catered options on charters include dining offerings like canapés, sausage rolls, gourmet sandwiches, mini quiches, prosciutto & salmon crostini, oysters, chicken skewers and more.

Chartered river runs through to New Norfolk include.

"The Derwent Valley Voyage" has a maximum guest limit of 22 and includes a full day or 8-hour scenic river run from Lindisfarne to New Norfolk and return, with 1–2 hours ashore.

"Day on Station" - The EGERIA positions to New Norfolk and runs up to three 1-hour Valley river charters across the day before returning to Lindisfarne.

"Valley River Charter"  - one hour, ex New Norfolk; minimum two charters only available on a Voyage or Day on Station.

The M.L. EGERIA is an iconic and historic vessel full of character that provides luxury charters on the scenic Derwent River, making it the perfect choice for any event.

If interested in the EGERIA's charters, it's recommended to book in advance, and for more details, contact the Motor Yacht Club of Tasmania on (03) 6243 9021 or by email at admin@myct.org.au.