The melancholy wreck of the Terror and pathos – an episode in Australian shipping and social history unrivalled in tragic sweep and Gothic representation. Kieran Hosty, curator of ship technology and maritime archaeology, writes about the wreck and its unprecedented impact on Victorian , 150 years ago this August.

Warning not heard or seen – no help at hand The wide dark bosom of the angry deep With irresistible and cruel force Received them all. One only cast alive Fainting and breathless on the fatal rocks To weeping friends and strangers afterwards Thus told his melancholy tale From A narrative of the melancholy wreck of the Dunbar, James Fryer, Sydney 1857 THE 1850s WERE years of great social and economic growth in , spurred on by the Australian gold rushes and corresponding increase in population, agriculture, industry and commerce. As the demand for goods and services grew, so did the demand for passenger and cargo ships. This persuaded Scottish its fi rst visit to – where the OPPOSITE: Poignantly personal items shipowner and merchant Duncan Dunbar Sydney Morning Herald reported ‘The such as jewellery and gold denture plates to order a series of hardwood clipper Dunbar is a splendid vessel.’ are among the material retrieved from ships from the English shipbuilder James the rocky sea-bed where Dunbar Laing and Sons of Sunderland, England, On 31 May 1857 the ship departed disintegrated. Photographer J Carter ANMM to cater for the new Australian trade. Plymouth for its second voyage to ABOVE: Hand-coloured engraving of Credited with introducing the American- Australia, carrying 63 passengers, 59 Duncan Dunbar’s clipper for the style clipper ship to the Australian run, crew and a substantial cargo, including Australian run. ANMM collection Duncan Dunbar named the various dyes for the colony’s fi rst postage stamps, clippers after his family including Phoebe machinery, furniture, trade tokens Dunbar, Dunbar Castle, Duncan Dunbar (coins privately issued by traders and Thursday 20 August 1857, with a rising and the Dunbar. manufacturers as change and to promote gale and bad visibility. The Macquarie Light on the cliff top a mile south of The impact brought down the topmasts, South Head was seen between squalls, although the night was dark and the land mounting seas stove in the lifeboats and the was invisible. Shortly before midnight Captain Green estimated the ship’s Dunbar heaved broadside to the swells position off the entrance to the Heads Built in 1852, the 1,321 register ton, their business), cutlery, manufactured and changed course to enter, keeping the copper-sheathed, three-masted sailing and fi ne goods, food and alcohol. Macquarie Light on the port bow. ship Dunbar cost over £30,000. Many of the fi rst-class passengers were Captain Green then ordered a blue light to Constructed of British oak and East prominent Sydneysiders, local ‘currency’ be burnt to summon the Sydney Harbour Indian teak and held together by iron that had made it in the colonies and who, pilot. According to the only survivor – a knees, iron riders and iron and copper after a visit ‘home’ to England, were sailor on watch at the time who became fastenings, the 201.9-foot (61.53 m) returning to Australia. the sole source of information about events on board – the urgent cry of vessel, with a breadth of 35 feet (10.66 Dunbar’s master Captain Green was ‘Breakers ahead!’ was heard from the m) and depth of 22.7 feet (6.91 m), a veteran of eight visits to Sydney, second mate on the forepeak. Captain was designed to carry passengers and as fi rst mate aboard the Agincourt Green gave the order ‘Port your helm!’ to cargo quickly between England and and Waterloo, then as commander swing the ship to starboard while the Australia. However, the Dunbar was fi rst of Waterloo, and again commanding watch braced the sails. requisitioned by the Royal Navy for use Vimeira and Dunbar. After a relatively as a troop carrier during the Crimean fast voyage of 81 days Dunbar arrived It was already too late. Captain Green’s War, so it was not until 1856 that it made off Port Jackson on the night of orders instead drove the vessel broadside

Page 34 SIGNALS 79 June–August 2007 SIGNALS 79 June–August 2007 Page 35 them to the scene of the disaster. As the Seventeen bodies, including some OPPOSITE: One of many pamphlets narrative of James Fryer (cited in the mutilated by sharks, were recovered on the published in Sydney shortly after the onto the 50-metre-high cliffs just south wreckage and dead bodies. From here Mailbags and other items washed ashore previous paragraph) put it: north shore of Sydney Harbour from the shipwreck. ANMM collection of the signal station at South Head, he climbed up out of the reach of the indicated that the vessel was the Dunbar. ‘The scene is described by parties Mosman Spit around to Taylors Bay. Some ABOVE, LEFT TO RIGHT: Gravestone of a midway between the Macquarie waves and remained on the cliff face Thousands were drawn to the scene of present to have exercised a sort of were identifi ed immediately by names on Dunbar victim, Newtown cemetery; Lighthouse and . The impact until being rescued on 22 August by the wreck over the ensuing days to watch hideous fascination, that seemed to bind their clothing or by personal appearance ballast pigs at the Dunbar wreck site; brought down the topmasts, mounting either the Icelander Antonia Wollier the rescue of Johnson, the recovery them to the spot … each determination but other were so badly mutilated they Hornby Light built at South Head the year seas stove in the lifeboats and the or the diver Joseph Palmer, depending of the bodies and the salvage of some to leave the fatal locality became could not be recognised. The Sydney after the disaster, marking a safer entry. Dunbar heaved broadside to the swells. upon sources. (After recovering from of the cargo. For days afterwards the overpowered by a desire for further Morning Herald reported: ‘Mr P Cohen, Photographs NSW Heritage Office, K Hosty/ANMM Lying on its side, the ship began to break the wreck Johnson became a lighthouse newspapers, journals and local guides knowledge, many dreading lest they of Manly Beach Hotel, saw two bodies up almost immediately. The mizzen and keeper near Newcastle, where by a were fi lled with graphic descriptions of should have to recognise the familiar fl oating and tried to recover them, but in Wales had such a traumatic and long-term main masts crashed over the side but the remarkable coincidence he helped to the wreck – and of the public’s interest in face of a friend or relative.’ consequence of the number of sharks, and effect on the people of the Colony. rescue the sole survivor from the 1866 the horrible ‘spectacle’. the ferocity with which they fought for foremast remained standing. For the Dunbar was not just another wreck of the PS Cawarra.) their prey, he was unable to do so.’ (22 The aftermath One crewman, James Johnson, found ‘The rumours as to the fact of a dreadful ship carrying unknown immigrants August 1857). himself in the poop clinging to the mizzen One of the fi rst on the scene was the small shipwreck having just occurred soon starting a new life in Australia. On The victims of Dunbar were buried at chains. Unable to cross the deck, which coastal steamer Grafton, whose master assumed distinct shape and certainty. board were many local residents At Middle Harbour the majority of the Camperdown Cemetery in O’Connell was being swept by each successive wave, Charles Wiseman had prudently decided At length it generally became known in returning to the colonies after a visit wreckage of the Dunbar appeared to have Town (now Newtown). The bodies of Sydney that numerous dead and mutilated some unidentifi ed victims were placed He realised that a large vessel had been wrecked bodies of men, women and children were Thousands were drawn to the scene to watch in a mass grave funded by the colonial to be seen fl oating in the heavy surf at government. Some 20,000 people lined when he sailed through masses of bodies, large the Gap thrown by immense waves at a the rescue of Johnson, the recovery of the George Street for the funeral procession quantities of timber, bedding and bales great height; and dashed pitilessly against bodies and the salvage of some of the cargo that consisted of the band of the artillery the rugged cliffs, the returning water companies playing Handel’s ‘Dead March he went below and made his way forward to stand off the coast during the heavy sweeping them from the agonised sight of to the old country, including eight drifted ashore, along with several bodies. from Saul’, a company of artillery, seven before climbing out of a cabin skylight weather of the previous night. Now as he hearses, four mourning coaches and a the horrifi ed spectators …’ (A narrative members of the Waller family; Mr and ‘The shore is literally white with candles, and onto the chain plates of the surviving approached the Heads of Sydney Harbour of the melancholy wreck of the Dunbar, long procession of carriages surrounded Mrs Peek; Mrs Egan, the wife of the and the rocks covered or so deep with foremast. When the foremast fi nally gave he realised that a large vessel had been James Fryer, Sydney 1857). by a guard of honour provided by the Sydney MP Daniel Egan; and Mr and articles of every kind – boots, panama way Johnson was hurled onto the cliffs wrecked when he sailed through masses Mounted Police Force. The last hearse To some this spectacle would have been Mrs Cahuac, son and daughter-in-law of where he managed to gain a fi nger hold. of bodies, large quantities of timber, hats and bonnets are here in abundance. contained the body of Captain Steane, a one of morbid curiosity, something to the former Sheriff of Sydney. Also on Scrambling higher, he became the sole bedding and bales fl oating between Drums of fi gs, hams, pork, raisins, Royal Navy offi cer who had sailed out record in a diary or in a letter home board were family members migrating survivor amid a sea of bodies. All 63 the Heads. By now more reports were drapery, boots and pieces of timber are on the Dunbar to take up his post on the to relatives in Europe, but to many, from Europe to join family members in passengers and the remaining 58 crew fi ltering in to Sydney town from Watsons piled in heaps along with the keel of Australia Station. The coffi n was wrapped many others, once the wreck had been Australia such as the two Miss Hunts, perished in the disaster. Bay and Manly about mangled bodies the Dunbar,’ said the Sydney Morning in the Union Jack and accompanied by identifi ed as the Dunbar, it would have the only sisters of Robert Hunt the First being washed ashore. Herald on 23 August 1857. a company of sailors and offi cers from When dawn came, Johnson found been the need to identify or possibly Clerk of the Sydney Branch of The HMS Herald and HMS Iris. himself on a rocky ledge some 10 Dawn had unveiled the enormity of recover the body of a father or mother, Royal Mint, who was a well-known Never before, and probably never since, feet above the wreck, surrounded by the event to the community of Sydney. sister or brother or friend, that drew colonial scientist and photographer. had a shipwreck off the coast of New South Sydney’s banks and offi ces closed for

Page 36 SIGNALS 79 June–August 2007 SIGNALS 79 June–August 2007 Page 37 given the details of this melancholy shipwreck …’ The Dunbar memorial at The Gap, government as a permanent memorial This was often accompanied by Watsons Bay. It’s 500 metres north of the of the horrendous loss. This memorial a misguided belief that they were wreck site where the anchor was raised was refurbished in 1907 at the 50th preserving relics from the ravages of Many of the narratives were sent back in 1907, 50 years after the catastrophe. anniversary of the wreck, when an anchor the sea, when in fact being brought to relatives and friends in England, no The plaque was unveiled in 1930. was raised and installed, and again in up from the sea bed accelerated the Photographer J Mellefont/ANMM doubt reinforcing the impression that sea 1930 and 1992 – indicating a long-lasting deterioration of items that did not travel and immigration were hazardous memory of the events of 1857. and serious undertakings. Yet the receive the appropriate conservation the funeral. One of the most detailed and treatments. The divers’ efforts also demand for these accounts was huge, and Two initiatives should also be considered accurate accounts of the wreck published destabilised what was already a fragile the advertisements for them stressed how memorials to the tragedy. One was the was extensively promoted: site – the protective concretions that readily they could be sent – the following erection in 1858 of the red-and-white ‘BANCROFT’S EDITION – The one placed by Fryer himself: striped and the covered parts of the wreck were Authentic Narrative of the loss of the accompanying lighthouse-keepers’ houses removed and the site was exposed ‘For England – the postage by the Dunbar ... Printed for transmission on South Head, immediately adjacent further to the actions of the waves, overland mail to England for printed by post, containing sixteen pages of the entrance to Port Jackson and Sydney sand and rock. books is eight pence per half pound. closely printed matter and illustrations, Harbour, which no doubt prevented other For one postage eight copies of Fryer’s Today, the main elements of the Dunbar the whole weighing only half-an- vessels from being cast ashore against Illustrated Narrative of the Wreck of wreck site consist of one Admiralty and ounce. Price sixpence. This is the most the cliffs of South Head. And the wreck the Dunbar can be forwarded. A work one Porters iron anchor, concreted anchor complete narrative yet published. The possessing the greatest possible interest site itself became a memorial in October chain, pig iron ballast blocks scattered public is informed that this edition is to home readers on receiving news of 1991 when it was protected under the through the sandstone rock gullies, and comprised into the form of a narrative; this awful catastrophe. James Fryer, 323 Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Act many fragmentary remains of copper that it contains all information up to the George Street.’ (Sydney Morning Herald 1976 due to it historical, archaeological sheathing, cargo items, ships fi ttings and present time, and is not a mere copy of 7 September 1857) and symbolic signifi cance. fastenings. newspaper reports; and has also a correct the service, church bells tolled, every of judgement in the vessel being so list of names of Passengers and Crew, Besides the pamphlets and brochures The wreck today In 1991 the Dunbar and its associated ship in the harbour fl ew their ensigns at as far as ascertained.’ (Sydney Morning other items began to appear as part of the relics were declared a historic shipwreck close to the shore at night in such bad Due to the exposed nature of the site near half mast and minute guns were fi red as Herald 7 September 1857). memorabilia industry associated with under the Commonwealth Historic weather, [we] do not attach any blame to South Head, its shallow depth and the the seven hearses and over 100 carriages Captain Green or his offi cers for the loss the tragedy. Salvors had acquired bits of Shipwrecks Act. This meant that the The Narrative was sold out in a few days constant southerly swells that crash into went past. Additional church services of the Dunbar …’ (reported by James the vessel and were manufacturing all site was to be protected from any future prompting at least six other editions the cliffs for most of the year, the Dunbar were also held throughout Sydney manner of items including a set of chairs unauthorised interference and subsequent Fryer, 1857, cited above). – no doubt helped by the illustrations has been greatly reduced by the elements including the Congregational Church, marked ‘Made from the wreck of the damage. Two years later, in 1993, the The calamitous shipwreck not only of the wreck and its graphic description since August 1857 when the magnifi cent Pitt Street; Wesleyan Chapel, York Dunbar’ by Andrew Lenehan of Sydney. Commonwealth Department of the Arts generated much speculation about the of the dead: ‘Corpses of men, women, vessel, the pride of Duncan Dunbar’s ‘Church, House and Garden Furniture and Administrative Services declared an Street; Presbyterian Church, Palmer and children, some of then fearfully fl eet, slewed into the cliffs. Nineteenth- causes but also a minor industry in manufactured to any design from the amnesty from prosecution to encourage Street; The Free Church, Macquarie mutilated, were dashed against the century salvors, of course, tried to recover memorialising the event. The wreck wreck of the Dunbar in teak and oak’ people who had material from protected Street; The Centenary Chapel, York beating crags, and as rapidly borne back anything of value that they could reach. event formed the focus for several were advertised in the Sydney Morning shipwrecks to come forward and declare Street; and in The Sydney Synagogue. again by the relentless surge, while here The archaeological remains have also contemporary artists, including S Herald, 27 June 1859. that material. While the victims were being buried F Gregory, Samuel Thomas Gill and there heads or limbs which had been been severely reduced due to the actions of conjecture was rife regarding the and Robert Hunt who captured the torn off by repeated concussions against More offi cial and in most cases longer- salvage and recreational divers at the site As a result of this amnesty, John Gillies, wrecking. The great loss of life led terrifying scene through notable the rocks, were thrown up as if in jeering lasting memorials were also built since its rediscovery in the early 1950s, an active sports diver in the 1950s immediately to letters to the editor lithographs, paintings and photographs. mockery by the very element that had including the one marking the mass when scuba diving equipment became and 60s, declared a collection of over caused their destructions.’ 5,000 objects from the Dunbar wreck Never before, and probably never since, had a Another popular publication was A Coins and belt buckles, pipes and pocket to the Department shipwreck had such a traumatic and long-term Narrative of the Melancholy wreck of watches and even gold dentures settled in of Planning. In August 1994 the the Dunbar by James Fryer, introduced department granted Mr Gillies a permit effect on the people of the Colony above, which like Bancroft’s Narrative crevices on the rocky seashore to dispose of his collection at auction provided vivid and graphic descriptions under the condition that the collection of The Empire (28–29/08/1857) and Numerous poems, narratives and of the wreck and its aftermath: ‘… now grave in Camperdown Cemetery along more readily available and affordable both be registered, photographed, remain in Sydney Morning Herald (27–30/08/1857) accounts were written, some published the trunk of a female, from the waist with the fi nal resting places of Captain to professional and recreational divers. Australia and the new owner inform the demanding the upgrading of the just days after the event. upwards – then the legs of a male, the Steine and the Waller family. A memorial department within 30 days of purchase. Without heritage legislation in force lighthouses at the Heads. The issues of body of an infant, the right arm, shoulder, tablet in St James Church, Macquarie These publications, which sold in their and with a lack of understanding of Shortly afterwards, the Australian lighthouses and pilotage were also raised and head of a female, the bleached arm Street, commemorates Captain James thousands, included The Illustrated conservation science and heritage National Maritime Museum negotiated during question time in Parliament, and and extended hand, with the wash of Green. The ‘Dunbar Windows’ Narrative of the wreck of the Dunbar protection, the Dunbar and other wrecks an out-of-auction settlement with were the matter of recommendations by the receding waters almost as ’twere in commemorating the deaths of Mrs Green and Narrative of the wreck (W G Mason, in Australian waters were severely Mr Gillies to prevent this important the jury at the Dunbar inquest. life, beckoning for help! ... one fi gure, a and her two children were originally published by James Fryer 29/08/1857); The damaged by divers using many means, collection from falling into private hands female, tightly clasping an infant to the located in the fi rst St Mary’s Cathedral ‘The verdict of the jury meets with wreck of the Dunbar (J R Clarke, 1857); including explosives, to obtain materials and possible being broken up. Parts of breast, both locked in the fi rm embrace of but are now at the St Benedict’s pretty general concurrence. We may The Dunbar letter paper (J R Clarke, from the wreck. In good weather and this collection went on display in the death, was for a moment seen …’ Monastery in Arcadia. A contemporary observe that the attention of the 08/09/1857); Narrative of the wreck of the fairly shallow water, scuba divers were Age of Sail exhibition at the museum. rock engraving was cut fi ve days after the authorities is now directed to the subject ill fated ship Dunbar (George Bradshaw, But Fryer himself comments on the able to pick over the Dunbar site for Over a period of years thousands of tragedy by C P (identity unknown) above of improving the arrangements for 25/08/1857) and the Sermon occasioned by quality of reporting of the great trinkets – the many small imperishable Dunbar artefacts have undergone the wreck of the ship Dunbar (Rev. Salmon, the site of the Dunbar, possibly by one of lighting the entrance to the harbour ...’ tragedy: ‘Nothing is perhaps a more items such as coins and belt buckles, conservation, registration and curatorial J W Waugh, 30/08/1857). the thousands of spectators who lined the (reported in Brennan, I: ‘The Dunbar faithful reflex of the anxiety and pipes and pocket watches and even gold research, and can now provide the focus cliffs in August 1857. – A Melancholy Wreck’, unpublished All provided sketches of the scene consternation of the public mind than dentures that spilled from smashed for activities at the museum that will paper 1993.) The jury also stated that of the wreck, the survivor’s account, A Dunbar memorial on the cliff top near trunks and cabins and settled in crevices commemorate the 150th anniversary of the vague, hurried, and contradictory „ although ‘there may have been an error passenger and crew lists and accounts of manner in which our journals have The Gap was also established by the local on the rocky seashore. the wrecking of the Dunbar.

Page 38 SIGNALS 79 June–August 2007 SIGNALS 79 June–August 2007 Page 39