By Rosleyn Fauth
Timaru was getting a reputation as a ship graveyard. Over 16 years 28 ships were wrecked. To improve safety and efficiency of the early maritime trade, Timaru constructed a breakwater.
The Port had helped shaped the stories and identity of Caroline Bay.
CPlay volunteers tendered to five playground designers including Timaru's stories in the brief. They shared the concepts with the community at public events and meetings. The shipwreck design was by far the most popular, and was one of the contrubuting reasons why CPlay chose to work with the team at Playground Centre.
The ship was constructed by the Playground Centre in Wanganui, and in July 2023, literally flew into position thanks to a lift from a crane with the masts being erected a week later.
Fun, fact... Romans, placed one or more coins on the keel (structural beam that runs in the middle of the boat from bow to stern) for divine protection / symbol of good luck. If the ship sank, the coins would be used to pay Cheron, the ferryman of souls to the afterlife. Today, this tradition only survives in some Sicilian shipyards... and at CPlay
- Timaru was getting the reputation as a ship graveyard with 28 shipwrecks in 16 years.
- To improve maritime trade safety, efficiency and capcity, Timaru built a breakwater, shaping Caroline Bay's identity.
- Community feedback guided playground design for all ages and abilities.
- CPlay volunteers tenderd for playground designs, emphasizing Timaru's stories.
- Cplay shared the 5 concepts at public events and social media. The shipwreck concept was a hit among the community, leading CPlay to choose Playground Centre.
- 14.5 m long shipwreck design was a collaboration by CPlay and Playground Centre.
- Playground Centre in Wanganui designed, created working drawings and built the ship, trucked to Timaru in flown into position by crane.
- Ancient Romans put coins on ship keels for luck, a tradition seen at CPlay.
- A mound was constructed to add a ramp access to the top deck.
- A lighthouse will be installed on the mound with slides.
- The shipwreck theme is echoed in other areas of the playground as sea rescue.
Showing the community the playground concepts and gaining feedback to inform the brief and design was essential to making sure we had a design that people wanted, inspired story sharing and a range of ages, sizes and abilities could use.
Playground Centre desginers who worked on the ship design and working drawings for CPlay.
Shipwreck design was a colaboration by CPlay volunteers and the Playground Centre team.
Shipwreck in contstruction
Ship arriving at Caroline Bay
Ship arriving at Caroline Bay. Photo supplied by Roselyn Fauth
Photo supplied by Roselyn Fauth
Photo supplied by Roselyn Fauth
Photo supplied by Roselyn Fauth
Photo supplied by Geoff Cloake
Photo supplied by Roselyn Fauth
Photo supplied by Roselyn Fauth 17/07/2023
Photo supplied by Roselyn Fauth 17/07/2023
