The wooden platform is perched above the floral reserve on Clarence Street in Port Macquarie. Mrs Bertha York began the garden in 1961 and passed away in March 1971, leaving the care of the garden to council.

Friends of Mrs York's Garden volunteers and local boat builders have been volunteering their time to finish the curved deck rail over the Christmas holidays.

Mid North Coast Maritime Museum slipway manager Ron Window said the art of boat building is being applied extensively to create a wonderful platform overlooking the garden.

"We are using a bloodwood material, which is a good general hardwood often used in boat-building," he said.

"The principles we are using on the platform are also used in wooden boat-building. Nothing is straight on a ship so we are bending the wood using heat and tension.

"These techniques are more specialised for boat-building, it's a bit of an art and is used especially for the ribs of a boat.

"The Hastings once held two or three boat yards, there were special saw mills and building yards. It is a somewhat dying trade because 99 per cent of boats are now fiberglass or aluminium.

"We are seeing more people who want to build their own traditional boat from timber and copper rivets. This kind of work requires patience and cannot be rushed.

"I would hope that visitors to the platform will look at the rail as quite an achievement. Hopefully some people will think about how it has been made and what a nice job it is."

Bertha York's granddaughter and site supervisor Glenys Pearson said the Maritime Museum boatyard workers have been a joy to work alongside.

"It's been so rewarding to work with the boat building group. They have worked with many projects in the garden," Mrs Pearson said.

"We have had timber donated from forestry. We're hoping it will look like the curved hull of a boat, a bit like looking out over the rail of the Titanic."

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