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| Shark Enclosures Hervey Bay, 1963. |
In 1922 there was a shark attack at Pialba. A nineteen year old man was “savagely
attacked by a shark and his right side torn away from the armpit to the stomach”
Queensland
Times. The young man was Alfred
Gassmann and he died after struggling ashore. “Pialba was regarded as a safe
bathing place and for the past 40 years, there has not been a single record of
any similar accident… The victim was only in between three and four feet of
water when it attacked” the Queensland
Times cites. Another attack in Torquay prompted the local council to erect
shark proof enclosures to be used freely by everyone at Point Vernon, Pialba,
Scarness, Torquay, and Urangan.
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| Enclosures Scarness. Source: Hervey Bay Historical Village and Museum. |
These enclosures provided safety and a communal focus for
beachside recreational activities. The beach huts, dance halls, cafes and guest
houses were all clustered around them (Local Heritage Register).
Shark enclosures elsewhere were pay as you enter in the
1940s, with an article in The
Sun imploring the New South Wales government
to follow our local council’s free to all enclosure model. “Although
there were sharks that do eat humans in the waters, there had not been one
attack by sharks in any of those seaside resorts… People… should not have to
pay protection money” (The
Sun).
After some time, the enclosures fell into disrepair. In 1939,
two boys were electrocuted when they were using a diving board under electrical
wires connected to a post on a shark enclosure. The wires were sagging, as the
post was not in the sand sufficiently and the boys came in contact with a live
wire and died (The
Courier Mail). The Maryborough
Chronicle states that in 1940 “the general appearance of the enclosures
through the holiday season provided wide criticism… (due to) the apparent lack
of care evident in their maintenance”.
No one was taking responsibility for the upkeep or it was done in a very
disorganised manner. This prompted the call for the enclosures to be demolished
(Maryborough
Chronicle).
 |
| Shark Enclosures. Source: Hervey Bay Historical Village and Museum. |
 |
| Shark Enclosures. Source: Hervey Bay Historical Village and Museum |
The demise of the shark enclosures was complete by the
1970s. The local heritage registered Dunn’s Enclosure and Fish Trap as the last
remaining remnant of these structures that were at the very heart of seaside
holidaying at Hervey Bay. Dunn, who was editor of the Maryborough Chronicle,
owned a bungalow known as Sorento adjoining the enclosure and close to
the Gables (Dunn’s
Enclosure and Fish Trap Heritage Register Place Card).
This enclosure was
constructed differently to the others, as it was between two natural rock lines
running east-west. Remnants of the timber post and rail fence structure
formerly constructed along the rock emplacement is still visible.
 |
| The Gables. Sketch by Gavin Patterson |
 |
| Remnants of Dunn's Enclosure and Fish Trap. Source: Fraser Coast Regional Council Heritage Register. |
Hervey Bay is still known as a very safe place to swim. The
history of the shark enclosures being freely available for all, contributed to
families enjoying the seaside safely over time.
References:
Christiansen, Joan (1991). They came- and stayed : a
history of Hervey Bay. R. & J. McTaggart and Co, Pialba, Qld.
Fraser Coast Regional Council Local Heritage Register Dunn’s
Enclosure and Fish Trap Heritage Register Place Card retrieved on the
18th May, 2020.
The Maryborough Chronicle 29th January 1941 Neglected
Enclosures at the Bay retrieved on the 18th May 2020.
The Courier Mail (Brisbane)
24th August, 1939 Shire
to Pay – Electrocution of Boys retrieved on the 18th May,
2020.
The Sun (Sydney,
NSW) 8th February 1940 Shark
Protection retrieved on the 18th May, 2020.
Queensland Times (Ipswich Queensland) 6th December,
1922 Torn
by a Shark retrieved on the 18th May, 2020.
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