Anniki
“ANNIKI” was built in 1956 and launched in 1958 in Cairns for master Pearler Jack Zafer.
She is constructed of spotted gum with beech decks and rigged traditionally with gaff sails and big timber spars. She and her sister ship “Antonia” successfully worked the pearl fields of the Torres Straits for many years. The were often seen working the “Darnley Deeps” commonly called the diver’s graveyard, down to depths of 40 metres and held the record for amount of pearl shell collected. These shells were made into pearl shell buttons and sold to Europe.
In the late 50’s plastics came onto the markets replacing the pearl shell button and there was a massive decline in the pearl shell industry.
In fact, the Pearl shell industry only survived because of certain fancy buttons sold in Hamburg and then because pearl culturing started in the 1960’s.
Many of the pearl shell divers turned their diving experience to crayfish, so Anniki and Antonia became the mother ships for another generation of divers.
Anniki, to this day still holds a pearl shell licence although she was “retired” in 2000. She carried the Olympic flame from Horn Island to Thursday Island for the 2000 olympics.
Most recently, Anniki played a starring role in the Baz Luhrmann film "Australia" (take a look at some of the production shots from Australia Movie website). Here's some photos of Anniki, decked out for her role in the movie with Hugh Jackman aboard.
Anniki is a showpiece of Northern Australian maritime history and will take you back in time.