1987 Journal Entry for my then husband Ed Hartley and myself.In Cardwell we had booked and paid for a week long, Maiden Voyage Cruise Of the MV Noel Buxton from Cairns to Thursday Island. When we arrived in Cairns we looked for the address of the Steamship Company to find it was vacant. Nerves were settled when we found the office at a different address and we checked in.

A ‘Paddle Wheel’ boat ride around the Harbour and we get our first glimpse of the MV Noel Buxton. A better look, once we are back on shore, is a little disconcerting. Welders are frantically welding the rail around the Fan Tail shaped stern. Painters, delivery vans, buzzed around like bees, Ed, suffering a panic attack. We met the crew and fellow passengers and the anxious new owner. Eighteen passengers, and six crew have drinks in the salon. At 8P.M. It is dark and we leave, on time.
Soon it is raining heavily and the seas become rough and the passengers head for their cabins. Choosing the lee side washrooms to avoid ‘backwash’ of the direct flush toilets.
March 10
Sleep eluded us and several people did not show up for breakfast. “Col” busily dispensed seasick tablets and tea as we head for Lizard Island.
The weather gradually clears but the sea is still choppy when we reach the Research Station Island, and are transferred by dingy. We are in the first boatload and while we wait we walk along the shore spotting

Beeing always interested in vessels having some remarkable history, I came here just by chance, but stayed to read all. She was quite a beautiful ship, and the stories told are fascinating.

Thank you for running this site!

I remember going on a "school trip" aboard this fantastic little ship. it was either in 1969 or 1970. a long time ago now come to think of it but I still have vivid memories. she seemed enormous at the time. a shame to see her beached now but what a varied life. Great site. Nick

Amaceing this site is still running - must be genuin feelings for the ship.
We - my wife and daughter(6) did the first season sailing in may 1991 to Thursday Island on the Queen. We jumped on our around the world journey in 8 mnds. It was a unique wonderful cruise with a remarkeble crew who took personal interest of our welbeeng. We where only 25 passengers on board - we the 3 Norwegians and 2 from Netherland - the rest aussies. The crew almost outnumberd us - what a threat. One day I found my doughter streering the ship on the bridge sided by the captain. Yhe ships history says she is bulid and saild initially in England. My mysteri is - why did we find signs and markings of sequirity in norwegian languish text on board? I did a lot of video and took a lot of pictures of sites , ship ,crew and passenders - if that is of interest.
Sad to realise the Queen is dead.
Bjorn

I am trying to find any information on Scillonian 1952 my late husbands brother was assumedmissing (drowned) on this ship he was with sea scouts aged 11yrs old he came from Oxford

For some reason I wondered today what had been the destiny of the Queen of the Isles and I found this wonderful site.
I worked for P & A Campbell Limited for 2 seasons (1968 and 1969). Campbells used to run an annual cruise from Cardiff to the Isles of Scilly at Easter each year taking 3 days and stopping overnight in Penzance in both directions.
In 1969 the cruise was run by the Queen of the Isles and I worked behind the bar for the whole cruise. The cruise started on Saturday morning with the Penzance to St Mary's and return leg being on the Sunday. My recollection of the outward journey from Penzance is that I was extremely seasick throughout the crossing and felt most unwell. However I recovered quickly on reaching dry land and spent a pleasant afternoon exploring St Mary's before a much calmer trip back. During the afternoon ashore I saw Jim Callaghan and his wife who were on holiday there. I believe Jim was deputy Prime Minister of the UK at that time and went on to become Prime Minister in the early 1970s.
To this day, this was my one and only trip to the Isles of Scilly. Thank you for bringing the memories back to life.

I was neither cast or crew, but worked in the Brisbane office (it was my first job - a rather eventful 6 months) as the Receptionist for the 'Queen of the Isles II in 1990), taking bookings, talking to Lesley at the Cairns office...I think I might still have the brochure somewhere Thanks for taking the time to research this special ship and creating this website and the fb page.

Following on from a previous message about this ship operating on the Mersey and serving north Wales - I have a framed picture of the Queen of the Isles with the inscription ''My Ship' during 1968-69' below it. On the back, it says 'Queen of the Isles 1968 - 1969 - 1970 Master Capt Davies'. the background in the photo looks like the Mersey. The picture came to me in Menai Bridge, north Wales.
john

I've been writing some stories re my past employment. I was Third Eng on the Queen not long after she first arrived in Cairns and started the Cairns - Thursday Island cruises. I was fortunate to be able to locate this site which has filled in some missing buts of my memories of those times. Thank you.
Cheers,
Stu

Thank you for this great site: I was trying to date a photo of Queen of the Isles that I have from her Scilly days, and this helped a lot. (My photo is here, if you are interested: )