A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE

Built by returned soldiers after the second world war, the Boatshed was built over the water with a gantry to haul the boats up during bad weather. 
The Boatshed was built from local timbers, turpentine planks with iron bark supports under the Boatshed.

The Boatshed was flanked by Templeman’s Oyster Shed and the Fisheries shed, with a little beach called Bubble Bay in between, and the Illawarra Steamship Company was nearby.

Before the Original Batemans Bay Bridge was opened in 1954, The only way to cross the river was to drive onto the car ferry. 
The original ferry could carry up to 6 cars and was pulled across the river via a cable system. It was a slow trip, however tourism to Batemans Bay was minimal so the ferry could keep up with demand.

The second generation car ferry was much larger than it's predecessor and helped increase tourism to the area. However, people were discovering Batemans Bay's beauty which lead to the need for a bridge to facilitate the influx of holiday makers. This new trade was welcomed by the whole community. 

Robin and Merv Innes moved into the Boatshed in the small living Quarters upstairs with three small boys, Steve, Ben and Grant.

The family built a hire boat business with 20 boats, all with names. The boats had inboard motors that were started by a leather strap.

The boats were made with marine ply, whilst others were clinker built (a method of boat building where the edges of hull planks overlap each other) with floors installed for the comfort of the fishermen.

Grandfather (Holroyd Innes) improved these boats by installing bilge pumps, as the smell of dead fish was overwhelming.

Merv and Robin watched the town boom as tourism increased. They decided it was time to utilise the Boatshed for larger ventures. 

They purchased a small fishing boat called the 'Little Gem' which, as it's name suggests, was very small. However, it was perfect for catching prawns in the pristine bays and inlets of the Clyde River system.

They began selling fresh local prawns from the front of the dtore. 

As demand increased, they purchased another fishing boat called the 'Waymere'. 

This boat was larger and able to catch fish. Unfortunately it got wrecked on the coast of North Head near Durras. 

Merv and Robin had expanded their lives in every way. They had 2 more children, Neil and Elizabeth, which made for a tight squeeze in the tiny living space above the shop.

In 1968 they decided to move out of the Boatshed.

They purchased 'Ocean View Guest House' 
which was in the perfect location as it overlooks the Clyde River inlet.  Robin could watch as Merv returned home from fishing every morning, safe and sound.

The New Guest House was the perfect location for another new project.

Merv enlisted the help of his friends and family and decided to embark on the biggest project of his life, building a larger fishing boat.

This was a 9 month project from start to end when the 'Robin Elizabeth' was launched in 1973.

It as a slow and anxious trip down the steep streets of Batemans Bay as Merv proudly walked alongside his partially finished pride and joy.

Most of the boat remained unfinished until it was in the water as height and weight restrictions meant it would have been far too heavy for any trucks that were available in the day. 

It was a stressful moment when the 'Robin Elizabeth' was launched, the whole town turned up to be a part of this historic occasion.

Merv's  attention to detail and craftsmanship really paid dividends as the vessel was a success on her first voyage without requiring many alterations.

In 1968 the Innes Family experienced a change of the guard as affordable boating became increasingly popular.

Aluminium 'Tinnies' and small outboard motors meant that there was no longer a demand for the old timber hire boats.

The Innes family decided to focus their energy on expanding their fishing industry as well as cooking the fish they caught in the shop. Robin Innes (Grandma) fondly recalls that this was necessary as raising four hungry boys was difficult and expensive.

With tourism booming from Sydney and Canberra, the Boatshed could no longer keep up with demand for it's now 'famous fish and chips'.

The Innes family invested in the best deep fryers and industrial kitchens that they could find in Australia, this meant that the family could more than double their cooked food production, this also meant that The Boatshed would now employ a large number of local staff and establish itself as the heart of tourism and trade in Batemans Bay.

This era was iconic for us. 

We had found a great balance between selling cooked fish and chips and providing fresh seafood to other local businesses  and holiday makers that weren't lucky enough to catch their own.

As buiness continued to boom, The next generation of Innes Boys took to fishing.

With Neil, the youngest of the 4 boys, opting to sit his  fishing license exams at 15yrs of age. He became the youngest person to achieve his professional fishing license in Australia. 

This now meant that the fishing fleet had increased to 2 boats, adding the 'Seaberu' to the fleet in 1984. 

In 1988, the next generation of Innes boys were working full steam ahead in the shop, on the boats and behind the scenes.

The family saw potential in a little burnt out boat hull, sitting at the Batemans Bay marina.

The boys had been taught by their father (Merv) about the art of boat building and maintenance so they decided to purchase the wreck and restore her to her former glory.

This was the beginning of the Merinda River Cruises, a great new way to boost tourism between Batemans Bay and Nelligen. 

Merv Innes leaves behind a legacy of 'The Boatshed'.

He is fondly remembered by the Batemans Bay community as a gentle, generous and loving man who taught kindness and compassion to everyone he met. His sons and daughter continue this legacy to this day and continue to pass his skills and wisdom on to the next generations to come. 

Robin still lives in their family home - Ocean View House, which is still a hub for her 5 children, 15 grandchildren and now 17+ great grandchildren.