Loongana on the Tamar River, 1900

Bass Strait passenger ships have necessarily been good 'sea boats'. They ranged in tonnage from the 776-ton Coogee of 1890 to the 31,350-ton Spirit of Tasmania of 1993. Their Tasmanian ports have been Burnie, Devonport and Launceston (Bell Bay from 1947).

These ships were distinguished for various reasons. The Pateena (1883–1904) was fast for her day, at 15 knots. The Rotomahana (1891–1920), of graceful lines, had a bowsprit and figurehead. She sailed at 17 knots, flying a golden greyhound from her masthead. The handsome Loongana (1904–34) was the first with turbine propulsion to make a long sea voyage. For many years she held the record for a Bass Strait crossing (12 hours, 46 minutes, 22 knots), set while conveying rescue gear to Burnie at the time of the 1912 Mount Lyell disaster. The Nairana (3042 tons) was an armed seaplane carrier during the First World War and entered the Melbourne–Launceston service in 1921 after refit. On the Strait during the Second World War she was painted grey and again armed. In 1935 the Taroona, an oil-burning steamer, entered service. Originally beautifully fitted with timber panelling and marble, she saw war service as a transport in the Pacific before resuming ferry work.

In 1959 the Australian-built Princess of Tasmania, based on English Channel roll-on ferries, began service from Melbourne to Devonport. Of 3981 tons, she carried 330 passengers, and 130 cars and trucks loaded through a stern door. The first to carry cars had been the Rotomahana, with six loaded on deck by crane after their petrol tanks were drained. The roll-on vessel gave unprecedented mobility to Tasmanian motorists. Demand gave rise to larger ships, and, for a while, the Princess was joined by the Empress of Australia (12,035 tons) and the Australian Trader. The use of multiple ships and ports was soon abandoned and the Empress replaced the Princess on the crossing to Devonport.

bibliography: https://www.utas.edu.au/library/companion_to_tasmanian_history

2002 - 2006

In 2002, the Tasmanian Government and TT-Line announced that they would be replacing Devil Cat and Spirit of Tasmania with two Finnish built monohull ferries Superfast III and Superfast IV later that year from Superfast Ferries. Both were handed over at the Neorion shipyard on the island of Syros where they had been refitted. Superfast III was renamed Spirit of Tasmania II and departed on 6 July and Superfast IV renamed Spirit of Tasmania I and departed 7 July. They set off for Australia both arriving in Hobart 29 July where the final touches were put into place. After public inspections at Hobart, Melbourne and Devonport, the two new ships set sail on 1 September Spirit of Tasmania I from Devonport and Spirit of Tasmania II from Melbourne.

Earlier that day Spirit of Tasmania arrived in Melbourne for the last time, having crossed Bass Strait 2,849 times and carried a total of 2.3 million passengers, 807,000 cars and 185,000 containers. Spirit of Tasmania departed Melbourne just before midnight on 5 September headed for Sydney where she arrived on 7 September. In late December it was announced that the ship had been sold to Fjord Line.

Spirit of Tasmania III on the Mersey River, Devonport

In March 2003, it was announced that TT-Line would begin operating a third ship, Spirit of Tasmania III, from Devonport to Sydney in early 2004. The last service from Sydney to Tasmania operated by Australian Trader had ceased in 1976. The new ship was also ex Superfast Ferries having been built as Superfast II in 1995. Superfast II was handed over to TT-Line 30 September and went to the Nerion yard for refitting after the works and renaming to Spirit of Tasmania III, she set off on the evening of 10 October. She arrived in Hobart on 30 October berthing No. 6 Macquarie wharf for more fitting-out to be done. Spirit of Tasmania III set out for a voyage from Hobart to Devonport with 500 people aboard. She stayed in Devonport for a day and then moved on to Melbourne then to Sydney. Spirit of Tasmania III debuted on the Sydney to Devonport run on 13 January 2004.

On 5 June 2006, the Tasmanian government announced that the Sydney to Devonport service would cease on 28 August and the ship sold. It was announced 11 July 2006 that Spirit of Tasmania III had been sold to Corsica Ferries; she has now been renamed Mega Express Four.

2007-present

In December 2017, TT-Line announced it planned to replace the existing ferries with new builds. The new vessels were to have a passenger capacity increase of 43% and freight capacity increase of 39% over the existing ferries. In January 2018, it was announced that the German Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) would build the two new vessels, with the first expected to enter service in 2021.

In February 2020, it was announced that the contract with FSG had been mutually cancelled. A new contract for construction of the new ships has been signed with Rauma Marine Constructions of Finland. In July 2020, it was announced that the proposed contract with Rauma Marine Constructions would not proceed, due to uncertainty arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the Tasmanian government announced negotiations had resumed with Rauma Marine, with the contract being signed in April 2021.

New Victorian home for Spirit of Tasmania

On the 23 October 2022, TT-Line moved its Victorian terminal from Station Pier to a new facility at Spirit of Tasmania Quay, Geelong.

"TT-Line Company Pty Ltd has moved its Victorian port operations for Spirit of Tasmania from Station Pier, Port Melbourne, to Corio Quay, north of Geelong.

The new 12 hectare dedicated site includes a purpose designed passenger terminal building, a passenger vehicle marshalling area for 600 cars, more efficient passenger vehicle check in, security facilities, public amenities, a cafe, children’s play area and a pet exercise area.

The move to Geelong provided the company with a unique opportunity to enhance the passenger experience and provide room to expand its freight offering in line with demand for many years to come." ~ TT-Line Chairman Michael Grainger

The cache is not hidden at the posted coordinates.
Although you may pass by here on your way to Devonport.
You may even find something interesting in Devonport.