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OLD PATTERN ADMIRALTY LONG SHANKED ANCHOR North Head

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OLD PATTERN ADMIRALTY LONG SHANKED ANCHOR North Head OLD PATTERN ADMIRALTY LONG SHANKED ANCHOR North Head, Sydney CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PLAN April, 2000 Heritage Office NSW AUSTRALIA Project leader: David Nutley Research and Report Preparation: Tim Smith Report Released: April, 2000. © NSW Heritage Office, Sydney NSW, Australia The material contained within may be quoted with appropriate attribution. Disclaimer Any representation, statement, opinion or advice, expressed or implied in this publication is made in good faith but on the basis that the State of New South Wales, its agents and employees are not liable (whether by reason of negligence, lack of care or otherwise) to any person for any damage or loss whatsoever which has occurred or may occur in relation to that person taking or not taking (as the case may be) action in respect of any representation, statement or advice referred to above. Cover: Drawing of the Old Plan Admiralty anchor discovered off North Head, Port Jackson (Sydney). Drawing by Tim Smith. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Heritage Office wishes to thank the following individuals for their assistance with the Sydney anchor survey: Mr John Riley Site discoverer Ms Sue Bassett Conservator, Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney. Mr Colin Browne Manly Hydraulics Laboratory (MHL), Department of Mr Phil Clark Public Works & Services Mr John Carpenter Materials Conservator, Western Australian Maritime Museum Mr Bill Jeffery State Heritage Branch. South Australia. Mr Mike Nash Cultural Heritage Branch, Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment. Tasmania. Ms Frances Prentice Librarian, Australian National Maritime Museum Dr Richard Smith Freelance underwater video Ms Myra Stanbury Western Australian Maritime Museum. Fremantle. OLD PATTERN ADMIRALTY LONG SHANKED ANCHOR CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction Page 1 2.0 Objectives 3 2.1 General 3 2.2 Specific 3 2.3 Methodology 3 2.4 Position 4 3.0 Historical Analysis 5 3.1 “Here an anchor ... “ 5 3.2 The North Head anchor, type and period 6 3.3 North Head anchor description 8 3.4 18th Century anchor development 9 3.5 Size, weight and number 10 3.6 Anchor size and vessel tonnage 11 3.7 Old Plan anchors – survival 12 3.8 Iron stock as a dating guide 12 4.0 The Shipwreck Resource 14 4.1 Known wrecks in the study region 14 4.2 Likely origins for the anchor 15 4.3 Summary of shipwreck contenders 18 4.4 Associated brick debris field 18 4.5 Comparative analysis 20 5.0 Legislative Protection 29 6.0 Assessment of Significance 30 6.1 Nature of significance 30 6.2 Degree of significance 30 6.3 Statement of significance 31 7.0 Site Management 32 7.1 Background 32 7.2 Development of a site management strategy 33 7.3 Future Directions 33 8.0 Management Recommendations 34 9.0 Bibliography 35 Appendix - Anchor terminology 38 NORTH HEAD ANCHOR CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PLAN 1.0 INTRODUCTION This report details the inspection of an Admiralty Pattern anchor discovered by Mr John Riley at inner North Head, Port Jackson (Sydney), Australia. The anchor’s discovery was important for two reasons: firstly, it had not been reported before, and secondly, it represented a very early design in British Admiralty pattern anchors. This raises immediate questions regarding the origin of the anchor for the style was commonly seen during the late eighteenth and into the early nineteenth century - the period of exploration and convict transportation at Sydney. Or could it have continued in use on a sailing vessel into the early nineteenth century? The NSW Heritage Office has undertaken many visits to the Sydney Heads with earlier diving inspections at the Catherine Adamson (1857) and Centurion (1887) wrecks, and at the Quarantine Station, Old Man’s Hat, South Reef and Dunbar (1857) sites. The current inspections were coordinated by the Heritage Office’s Maritime Archaeology Program with the assistance of the anchor’s finder, Mr John Riley. Mr Riley had notified the Office of his discovery on 12 September, 1998 while diving through the Heads (Heritage Office: Shipwreck Reporting Form received 16 September, 1999). Notification was a requirement of Section 17:1 of the Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Act, 1976. This report summarises the two initial pre-disturbance surveys of the anchor site conducted by the Heritage Office, and the resulting analysis of its style and associated debris field. Visits were conducted on 13 November 1998 and 5 August 1999; Mr John Riley making several independent visits. The survey work had a number of objectives: · to gain an accurate position for the anchor · to conduct a preliminary inspection · to record the object’s dimensions · to continue historic research into the possible origin of the anchor · to determine the date range of the bricks observed in association · to assist in discussions regarding the conservation and care of the item The field inspections were organised by the Heritage Office as part of its role in administering the NSW component of the Commonwealth Historic Shipwreck Program (CHSP). Heritage Office maritime archaeologists, David Nutley (Project Leader) and Tim Smith coordinated the fieldwork. Fieldwork support was obtained from Mr Colin Browne and Mr Phil Clark of Manly Hydraulics Laboratory (a division of DPW&S) and Mr John Riley (site discoverer), who assisted at all stages of the work. 1 Figure 1: Location map of Sydney Heads, showing the position of the anchor. Manly Hydraulics Laboratory (DPW&S). Position shown using Easting/Northing coordinates. 2 2.0 OBJECTIVES 2.1 General To investigate an anchor reported at the Heads and to determine its type and possible origin. To undertake a preliminary archaeological assessment of the site and possible threats to its long term survival. To utilise this documentation in the management and advancement of the remains. 2.2 Specific 1. to re-locate the newly reported anchor with the aid of its finder, Mr John Riley; 2. to record an accurate position; 3. to complete a general orientation dive at the site; 4. to initiate a site plan or other graphic representation of the remains; 5. to utilise the results of the site survey in the development of management options for the archaeological site; 6. to temporarily recover a brick from the site to assist with dating (through the granting of an excavation permit issued under the Heritage Act, 1977); 7. To complete an archaeological report on the survey work including management recommendations 2.3 Methodology Background histories of 29 known shipwreck losses between Sydney Heads were compiled by the Heritage Office prior to the site inspections. All known sites, whether located or not, had been previously included in the Office’s Shipwreck Atlas of New South Wales, edition 3. Research into the history of wrecks at the Sydney Heads is continuing through British and Australian archives. This documentation includes information on the general history of each vessel, details of construction and the wreck event. Primary sources for study include Lloyds Register of British Shipping, London, the British Register of Ships (Australian ports) and contemporary newspapers. At the time of writing, no original building plans have been located for any of these vessels. The discovery of original plans would greatly assist the survey of individual wreck sites. Similarly, the anchor types used by all vessels lost in the study region have not been possible to ascertain. The number of incidents where anchors have been lost between the Heads is also unrecorded. However, it remains possible that an as yet unknown event led to the loss of the anchor. The survey work was undertaken by boat when weather conditions allowed access to the relatively exposed site. Because of the water depth (28 metres), dive times were 3 necessarily limited to approximately twenty minutes (AS2299 Commercial Diving Standard - DCIEM tables). This constrained the amount of recording that could be obtained on any one visit. The survey was sufficient to record the anchor details, although the associated brick scatter and underlying reef pattern was not recorded in any way. An accurate position for the anchor was obtained using differential GPS supplied by Manly Hydraulics Laboratory (Department of Public Works & Services). Photo transits were also taken to allow rapid relocation. Figure 2: View of North Head from above the anchor site. The anchor is lying with the ring pointed out of the Heads following this view. Photo: Tim Smith. 2.4 Position The anchor’s position was obtained using a GPS (Global Position System) based on the WGS 84 Spheroid, Zone 56. LAT -33 49° 37.7696 S LONG 151 17° 46.6964 E AMG Coordinates relate to AGD 66, 342340.000E 6255690.000N 4 3.0 HISTORICAL ANALYSIS 3.1 “Here an anchor, there an anchor ... “ Ship’s anchors are amongst the most ubiquitous objects in the local environment. Most “Returned Service”, yacht clubs, surf clubs and marina’s have an obligatory anchor on display at the main gates. Others are commonly seen at Navy installations, at council operated reserves and parks, as coastal monuments to merchants and seamen, in public spaces at foreshore redevelopments and at regional and national museums. The quantity of anchors on display reflects the number in use throughout the two hundred-year maritime history of European Australia. The majority were recovered from underwater, particularly through the actions of keen scuba diving clubs in the 1960’s and 70’s. Others were located through harbour dredging or commercial fishing operations. Many of these recoveries occurred before there were any systematic programs to guard against uncontrolled removal of heritage items, at both a State and Commonwealth level. The activity also occurred before there was any desire for protection at a community level. Figure 3: Parts of an anchor discussed in this report. See glossary at Appendix 2 for a detailed explanation.
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