29/08/2026
Thank you Adrian Francis for this post sometime ago.
Showing a few people around in a boat William Shapter pointing looks like Walter or Bob Shapter at the back of boat looks like one of the Mouchemore next to William Lorna Shapter first girl on the left. Not sure of the rest.
Second photo William Shapter rowing girls from Valder Shapter, Lorna Shapter, I don't know the other girl
More information on the Mouchemore and Shapter families.
The Shapter and Mouchemore families represent two of the foundational maritime lineages in the history of Queenscliff, Victoria. Located right at the edge of Port Phillip Heads (the notoriously treacherous entrance known as "The Rip"), Queenscliff's culture and community from the late 19th through the mid-20th century were heavily built around fishing, boatbuilding, pilot services, and life-saving operations.
The Shapter Family
The Shapter family was deeply integrated into the maritime and civic life of Queenscliff:
* Fishing and Boating Heritage: Like many local families in Queenscliff during the 1900s–1950s, the Shapters were expert mariners. Family members like William Shapter, Walter Shapter, and Bob Shapter spent much of their lives on the water—whether earning a livelihood from Port Phillip Bay, working with local shipping/pilot services, or navigating the treacherous waters around the Heads.
* Life in Queenscliff: Photos showing family outings, rowing parties, and taking visitors around the bay capture a pivotal era in Queenscliff's transition. By the early-to-mid 20th century, Queenscliff was both a rugged working fishing port and a very popular seaside resort for holidaymakers escaping Melbourne. Local mariners frequently took family and guests on scenic boat tours around the bay, Point Lonsdale, and Swan Bay.
* Next Generations (Lorna and Valder): Lorna and Valder Shapter represent the generation coming of age during the middle of the 20th century. Local family photographic archives in Queenscliff often document young women of these families participating in community life, beach culture, sailing, and holiday excursions during Queenscliff's heyday as a coastal township.
The Mouchemore Family
The Mouchemore name is synonymous with Queenscliff’s maritime and industrial history:
* Pioneering Net Makers & Chandlers: Henry Mouchemore established Mouchemore & Sons, a well-known fishnet manufacturing and ship chandlery business in Queenscliff in the late 19th century. Their nets and ropework supplied a large portion of the Victorian fishing fleet.
* Fishermen and Lifeboat Men: Members of the Mouchemore family were prominent commercial fishermen operating out of Queenscliff's famous Fishermen's Pier and Cuttlefish Pier. They were also heavily involved in the Queenscliff Lifeboat Crew, risking their lives in rescue operations across the Rip.
* Interconnected Families: In a close-knit coastal community like Queenscliff, the Mouchemores worked, fished, and socialized closely with other key local maritime families—including the Shapters, the Priddles, the Farquharsons, and the Weerts.
