PORT Fairy will play host to a visit from the motorised fishing vessel, Tacoma, over the Easter long weekend, with a series of events planned.

The Tacoma is Australia’s first purpose-built purse seine fishing boat and was built by the Haldane brothers on the banks of the Moyne River between 1944 and 1951.

This will be the first time the Tacoma has returned to Port Fairy since its departure to Port Lincoln about 73 years ago.

The Tacoma had been scheduled to arrive at the Port of Port Fairy on Tuesday (yesterday);  with Jack Bellamy on board, who crewed the boat on its journey to Port Lincoln as an 18-year-old, and is returning as a 90-year-old and Ross Haldane who was four-years-old when the Tacoma departed.

The boat will be open to the public while in Port Fairy and a series of seafood cooking demonstrations by celebrity chef, Tony Ford and talks about the history of the boat are planned for the weekend.

An official civic welcome will be held at 5pm on Saturday, March 29 - Mayor of Moyne Cr, Ian Smith will officially welcome the Mayor of Port Lincoln Cr, Diana Mislov and the crew of the Tacoma to Port Fairy.

For more information, please go online to tacoma.org.au