Roy Rufus Reef

Roy Rufus Artificial Reef is located off the eastern side of Big Woody Island. In 1967 the Maryborough Skin Divers Club employed three marine biologist from the University of Queensland to investigate the best place to establish an artificial reef and enrich a major fish nursery (Hervey Bay Downunder, 2009-2017).

The Department of Harbour and Marines were granted a permit in 1968 to create an artificial reef. Over 63 drops were made between 1968 and 1987 (Hervey Bay Downunder, 2009-2017).  The reef was named after Maryborough electrical engineer and dive enthusiast Roy Rufus. After being influential in the reef’s inception, he tragically lost his life whilst diving there (Hervey Bay Downunder, 2009-2017).

The reef enabled the sand bottom to be turned into an area thriving with sea life. In the early days of the reef Roy ensured the design was environmentally sound and was not in the way of ships and boats. The world class diving site covers an area of approximately 2.4 km by 1.6 km (Chapman, 2010).

Roy Rufus on the bow of  Ray Ammenhauser's launch at Moon Ledge. Source: Erbacher Collection

Erbacher (2005, p.41) recalls a diving trip to Moon Ledge where he had his first meeting with Roy Rufus. It was John Erbacher’s first experience of going down on the end of an air line and the beginning of a long and happy association with Roy Rufus (Erbacher, 2005). Images from these times can be found in the libraries’ collection 

John Erbacher in later years with fish speared on a diving trip with Roy Rufus. Source: Erbacher Collection.

Ron Ransome, Ray Amanhauser, Barry Rufus, Roy Rufus. Source: Erbacher Collection.

Roy was very inventive and created an instrument to kill crown-of-thorns starfish. “It was basically a big lead acid battery with two leads carrying electrodes…Mr Rufus’s improved model…also featured better insulation so divers were less likely to electrocute themselves” (O'Malley, 2009). Roy was also a keen photographer and constructed underwater cameras to capture images of that world.

Roy Rufus with his underwater camera. Source: Erbacher Collections.

Fraser Coast Libraries recently uploaded a Channel 7 extract from the archives featuring an artificial reef drop on the 11 May, 1969.

Find more Channel 7 extracts of the Fraser Coast, featuring clips from 1965 to 1975, on our YouTube page.

This project was supported by an innovation grant from the Library Board of Queensland and is copyrighted to Seven Network and Fraser Coast Libraries.

 References:

Chapman, J. (2010, March 17). Underwater world. Retrieved from Fraser Coast Chronicle: https://www.frasercoastchronicle.com.au/news/underwater-world/489427/

Erbacher, J. a. (2005). Days of my Youth. Urangan: John and Sue Erbacher.

Hervey Bay Downunder. (2009-2017, August). History of the Roy Rufus Artificial Reef. Retrieved from Hervey Bay Downunder: http://www.herveybaydownunder.com.au/roy_rufus.htm

O'Malley, B. (2009, September 23). Starfish get shock treatment. Retrieved from Courier Mail: http://sci-s03.bacs.uq.edu.au/biol/biol-news/october09/endean.pdf