Mr George Tucker arrived in Torquay in the 1860s and was the first shoemaker for the area. Pictured here is his shop on the Esplanade. Sadly, in 1892 a fire broke out in the early hours of the morning , resulting in the destruction of the shop and a nearby coach-house and bake-house. It was thought the fire was caused by ‘rats scratching matches’.
Image: BSMC Collection
Our mission is to be a source of knowledge, ideas, stories and memories. The Bass Strait Maritime Centre’s collection is a repository developed as a resource to inspire and educate the community and visitors. A key focus of the collection is to contribute to the interpretation and preservation of the history and maritime heritage of the Devonport region and its connection with the Bass Strait.
The Bass Strait Maritime Centre acknowledge and pay respect to the Tasmanian Aboriginal community and the punniler-panner as the traditional and original owners and continuing custodians of this land.
We pay our respects to Elders past, present, and emerging.
Devonport City Council websites