It started as a quick job to replace a rotting model boat at the entrance to the town of American River on Kangaroo Island, but it grew into a much bigger project: to build a full-size, operational replica of the sailing ship.
It started as a quick job to replace a rotting model boat at the entrance to the town of American River on Kangaroo Island .
"When we finished putting it up there, chatting over a beer as you do, some foolish person said, 'Well, why don't we build a real one?'" said Greg Roberts, one of the "founding fathers" of the Rebuild Independence Group.ABC South East SA: Caroline HornThey got permission to use land at the wharf and some money to put towards building a shed, and in the 10 years since a community has grown around the construction.
"They probably worked seven days from sun up to sun down," said David Churchill, the rebuild project's original planner. The Independence became one of those lost only two years after it was built, believed sunk in a storm south of New Zealand while heavily laden with seal skins."Wonderful, exciting, bloodthirsty but very short."
Sealers American River Kangaroo Island Schooner Rebuild Rebuild Independence Group Rig Wooden Boat Sailing Ship Independence Seal Hunting Colonial History
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