Shipwrecks 1656–1942 a Guide to Historic Wreck Sites of Perth
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SHIPWRECKS 1656 –1942 i ii Shipwrecks 1656–1942 A guide to historic wreck sites of Perth Sarah Kenderdine Department of Maritime Archaeology Western Australian Maritime Museum Fremantle, Western Australia Report—Department of Maritime Archaeology, Western Australian Maritime Museum: No. 257. iii First published in 1995 by Western Australian Maritime Museum Fremantle Western Australia 6160 This book is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission. Enquiries should be made to the publisher. © Copyright Western Australian Maritime Museum 1995 Shipwrecks 1656–1942: A guide to historic wreck sites of Perth ISBN: 0 7309 6974 6 Cover design: Sarah Kenderdine Typeset: Sarah Kenderdine Consultant editor: Judith Robinson Funding: Western Australian Maritime Museum and Department of Communications and the Arts Sponsorship: Fremantle City Council and Gingin Shire Council Printed: Scott Four Colour Print Front cover: A diver retrieving an astrolabe from the Vergulde Draeck (photograph by Brian Richards, GA/A/339) Back cover: A diver’s view of SS Macedon (photograph by Patrick Baker, MA 35) National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry Kenderdine, Sarah. Shipwrecks 1656–1942: A guide to historic wreck sites of Perth Bibliography. Includes index. ISBN 0 7309 6974 6 1. Shipwrecks - Western Australia - Perth Region - Guidebooks. 2. Historic ships - Western Australia - Perth Region - Guidebooks. 3. Historic sites - Western Australia - Perth Region - Guidebooks. I Western Australian Maritime Museum. Dept. of Maritime Archaeology. II. Title. 919.41 iv and recorded at various levels. Site plans, for Foreword example, display different styles and details, The aim of Shipwrecks 1656‑1942: A guide to ranging from very simple to more complex. Some historic wreck sites of Perth is to present to the wreck sites have little recorded information, public the wealth of history to be discovered so plans have not been included here. There under the sea in the Perth region between Ledge are practical tips for site relocation, historical Point and north Mandurah, in the form of historic summaries and references for those interested in shipwrecks. Not all the wreck sites located in further research. The guide seeks to encompass all these waters are included here, but the thirty- aspects of the Museum’s programme for resource eight wreck sites described are examples of the management, from wreck inspection, excavation maritime archaeological remains of historic and analysis to protection and interpretation, shipping in Western Australia between 1656 and developing a series of significance statements for 1942, and all of these are currently protected under each historic wreck site. historic shipwreck legislation. The management Finally, Shipwrecks 1656–1942 is published in and protection of this priceless historic resource the hope that it will find a local readership which is entrusted to both Commonwealth and State- values its own cultural heritage and which is willing appointed agencies. This book is offered to the to strive to protect this rich cultural resource for public as a guide to the significance and locality the benefit and enjoyment of present and future of the wreck sites within the region, providing generations. The author commends the book to historical and geographical information on each of the public as part of the dynamic process involving the sites. In addition, it is a plea for their protection. the ongoing study of shipwrecks. The reader is This publication is the result of nine months of invited to contribute information that can further marine fieldwork, but also draws its material from our understanding of these sites, and thereby assist over two decades of painstaking work undertaken the Museum in assembling a body of information by the Western Australian Maritime Museum. For on the vessels which represents many aspects of the many years the Museum has been responsible Western Australian, Australian and indeed world- for the identification, documentation, research, wide maritime heritage. protection and interpretation of the wreck sites, and the book highlights some aspects of this Sarah Kenderdine previous work. The sites are interpreted to show the September 1995 significance of historic shipping in the development of Fremantle and Western Australia. In an effort to be concise, only a précis of all the available material has been presented here. Over the years each site has been investigated v vi Contents Foreword ..................................................................................................................................................................v List of illustrations Figures ................................................................................................................................................................ix Tables ..............................................................................................................................................................xiii Maps .................................................................................................................................................................xiii List of historic shipwrecks Chronological ...................................................................................................................................................xiv Alphabetical ...................................................................................................................................................xiv Wreck sites on each location map ..........................................................................................................................xv Preface ..................................................................................................................................................................xvii Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................................................xviii Disclaimer .............................................................................................................................................................xix List of abbreviations ...............................................................................................................................................xx PART 1. An introduction to historic shipwrecks 1.1 Survey overview .................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction, 1; Cultural Resource Management, 1; The coastal environment, 1; Analysis of the shipwreck resource, 2 1.2 Historic shipping in Western Australia ...............................................................................................................3 Introduction, 3; Trading routes, 3; Settlement and development of Fremantle, 5; Early colonial trade routes, 6; Development of trade prior to 1870, 7; Development of trade after 1870, 8; Ownership, 9; Associated maritime enterprise, 10; Hazards of shipping at the Port of Fremantle, 11; Navigational aids, 13; Jetties, 14; Construction of the Port of Fremantle, 15; Port of Rockingham, 16 PART 2. A guide to historic shipwrecks Overview ................................................................................................................................................................17 Overall map of survey region ................................................................................................................................19 Map 1 Ledge Point to Marmion Marine Park (south) ............................................................................................20 Vergulde Draeck, 22; Villalta, 26; Ville de Rouen, 30; Eglinton, 34; Conference, 38; Centaur, 42 Map 2 Rottnest Island ............................................................................................................................................46 Denton Holme, 48; SS Macedon, 52; Janet, 56; Gem, 60; City of York, 64; Mira Flores, 68; Uribes, 72; Lady Elizabeth, 76; Raven, 80 Map 3 Cottesloe to Pt Peron (inshore) ...................................................................................................................82 Elizabeth, 84; Priestman Dredge, 88; James, 92; Diana, 96; Omeo, 98; James Matthews, 102; Amur, 106; Contest, 110 Map 4 Fremantle to Pt Peron (offshore) .............................................................................................................. 114 Ulidia, 116; Lancier, 120; Zedora, 124; Sepia, 128; Dato, 132; Day Dawn, 136 Map 5 Pt Peron to Mandurah (north) ...................................................................................................................140 SS Orizaba, 142; Belle of Bunbury, 146; Carlisle Castle, 150; Chalmers, 154; Hero of the Nile, 156; Star, 158; Robertina, 162; Highland Forest, 166; James Service, 170 vii PART 3. Appendix 3.1 Managing shipwrecks ....................................................................................................................................175 3.1.1: A regional survey ..................................................................................................................................175 Introduction, 175; Survey brief, 175; Sources of information, 177; Constraints, 177 3.1.2: