In a remarkable effort to preserve maritime heritage, a set of historic boat winches located at Fishermans Beach at Long Reef have been successfully restored and are now public cultural artefacts on display to the community on the coastal walkway.  

Originally, these winches were placed on the shoreline to pull in heavy, timber-hulled fishing boats. Over time they were no longer used and started rusting away, falling into a state of disrepair with some falling onto the beach being buried by the sand. 

The restoration project was initiated by local resident Michell Cudmore and her late father Tony Davis, Long Reef Fisherman’s Club Secretary since 1993 and later President for over 10 years.

Ms Cudmore applied for and was successfully awarded a grant from the NSW Government’s Department of Primary Industries. She also approached and was granted Council assistance to bring these significant pieces of nautical history back to life. 

The restoration involved meticulous cleaning, sand blasting, repainting and careful preservation of original materials, taking 16 months to complete. 

Eight of the original 12 winches are now displayed on top of sandstone plinths installed next to the heritage-listed Fisherman’s Hut, just back from the beach. The winches will now provide visitors with a unique glimpse into maritime history. An official unveiling ceremony is scheduled for 19 August 2024. 

Council assisted with the removal of the winches and their installation once restored, retaining works to prevent further erosion of the shoreline in that area, and formalising boat storage as part of this project. The dinghy storage was constructed from recycled timber from an old wharf off Scotland Island.