The Port Phillip Lime Economy: the Vessels, the Industry and Their Decline Peter Taylor Submitted in total fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (Research) Federation University Australia Faculty of Education and Arts Collaborative Research Centre in Australian History Email address: [email protected] November 16 2017 Table of Contents Table of contents…………………………………………………………. ii Summary………………………………………………………………….. iv Statement of authorship…………………………………………………. v Acknowledgements………………………………………………………. vi Chapter contents…………………………………………………………. vii List of tables………………………………………………………………. xi List of figures……………………………………………………………… xiii List of imperial weights and measurements: metric equivalent……… xiii Decimalised currency…………………………………………………….. xiv Currency comparison…………………………………………………….. xiv Measuring a vessel……………………………………………………….. xiv Types of lime………………………………………………………………. xiv Weights…………………………………………………………………….. xv Abbreviated rig names……………………………………………………. xv ii Introduction……………………………………………………………….. 1 Chapter 1 Methodology……………………………………………… 13 Chapter 2 Literature review………………………………………….. 16 Chapter 3 First period lime craft: 1835–1851……………………… 25 Chapter 4 Second period lime craft: 1852–1921…………………. 55 Chapter 5 The rise and fall of the Port Phillip lime economy……. 87 Chapter 6 Shipwreck searches and case study…………………… 118 Conclusion………………………………………………………………... 144 Bibliography………………………………………………………………. 147 Primary sources: books and pamphlets………………………… 147 Marine charts……………………………………………………… 148 Secondary sources……………………………………………….. 148 Newspapers………………………………………………………. 152 Appendices………………………………………………………………… 153 A List of first period vessels………………………………… 153 B List of second period vessels…………………………….. 155 C Glossary…………………………………………………….. 158 iii Summary The objective of this Master of Arts thesis is to address the previous knowledge gap that existed with regards to the unwritten history of the Port Phillip lime economy. The particular focus of this thesis concerns the participating craft that helped to drive that economy, the types of craft and a number of shipwrecks concerning lime craft.1 To help address this gap the author found and carried out a partial excavation of an ex lime craft within the waters of Port Phillip. Considering the importance of the vessels that helped build what was then termed ‘Marvellous Melbourne’, it is surprising that the subject had escaped the eyes of both historians and researchers.2 This thesis also explores the transportation of both shell lime and calcined limestone, over the waters of Port Phillip, by those previously mentioned craft. It is also reveals how significant the shell trade was as an early industry and the roles that both convicts and army personnel played in collecting sea-shells from within the waters of Port Phillip. Within the thesis is an exploration of the power structures with regards to the lime-cartels, which operated a hegemonic system, controlling both supply and pricing. 1 Craft that operated in the lime trade within Port Phillip, but not necessarily built for the trade. They quite often carried general cargoes around Port Phillip, to supplement the owners’ income. 2 Graeme Davison, The Rise and Fall of Marvellous Melbourne, (Melbourne University Press, 1981 reprint). iv Statement of authorship I certify that the work presented in this document, to the best of my knowledge, has neither been previously published nor written by another person except from those where due reference has been made within the text nor has been submitted for a degree or diploma at this or any other University. Peter Taylor ________________________________________ Peter Taylor November 16 2017 Federation University Ballarat, Victoria v Acknowledgements The concept of studying and documenting the vessels involved within the Port Phillip lime trade was first suggested to me in 2015 by archaeologist Geoff Hewitt, at an Australasian Institute of Maritime Archaeology conference. Geoff recognised that a comprehensive study of the subject matter had never been undertaken and the topic was just waiting for someone to assume the responsibility for this task. This thesis is the culmination on many years of research and work in the field. I would like to personally thank Federation University Australia and the Commonwealth Government for making such opportunities available under the Research Training Scheme. I would also like to sincerely thank my supervisors, Professor Keir Reeves and Doctor Benjamin Mountford, who have helped to steer this thesis, providing direction and guidance when needed. I would also like to thank the many friends that I have made through my volunteer work as an avocational maritime archaeologist, with both practitioners and avocationals, and the support and guidance of Peter Harvey, from the Maritime Heritage Unit at Heritage Victoria. A key inspiration in my life as a researcher of maritime history has been the friendship and the exchange of knowledge and ideas with Bob Leek. Bob’s methodical approach to the study of maritime history taught me a great deal about the art of research. That knowledge and methodology now forms an essential part of my toolkit. Lastly, the most important person of all is my wonderful wife of 37 years, Jane. Her encouragement and support have proved crucial in finishing this thesis. vi Chapter Contents Introduction……………………………………………….……………… 1 Introduction………………………………………………… 1 Understanding lime……………………………………….. 2 Shell lime…………………………………………………… 5 Early limeburning at Port Phillip…………………………. 5 The emergence of the Port Phillip lime craft…………… 6 Fire and other catastrophic events……………………… 8 Disappearing forests……………………………………… 9 Melbourne Gas Works…………………………………… . 9 The two periods of the Port Phillip lime economy…….. 11 The decline of the lime craft……………………………… 11 Primary research question……………………………….. 12 Summary…………………………………………………… 12 Chapter 1 Methodology……………………………………………… 13 Research aims…………………………………………….. 13 Method approaches………………………………………. 13 Search for a case study………………………………….. 13 Search methodology……………………………………… 13 Fieldwork…………………………………………………... 13 Resources used for lime trader database……………… 14 Database…………………………………………………… 14 Estimating quantities of lime consumed………………… 14 Carrying capacity of vessels……………………………... 15 Methods of determining sizes, and, or tonnages……… 15 Port Phillip wind and weather conditions………………. 15 Summary…………………………………………………… 15 vii Chapter Contents Chapter 2 Literature Review………………………………………… 16 Introduction………………………………………………… 16 George McCrae: Mornington Peninsula pioneer………. 17 Olaf Ruhen: author………………………………………… 18 Charles Hollinshed: Mornington Peninsula historian…. 19 Historical Records of Victoria 1835–1840………………. 20 John Alexander: avocational historian…………………... 20 Jane Harrington: archaeologist…………………………… 21 Chris Nelms: Melbourne University student…………….. 22 Rod Elphinstone: Planning Officer National Trust (Vic.).. 22 Justin McCarthy, Robert Varman: archaeologists……… 23 Summary……………………………………………………. 24 Chapter 3 First period lime craft ………………………………….. 25 Introduction……………………………………………….. 25 The early lime and shell trades at Port Phillip………… 25 Convict verses private enterprise in the shell trade…... 29 Shell boats………………………………………………… 31 Estimating tonnage of boats…………………………….. 33 Possible earning capacity of shell boats………………. 34 Shell boats—tools and equipment……………………… 35 Bushels and bags………………………………………… 38 Limeburners’ incomes…………………………………… 39 First period lime craft—origins and rigs……………….. 40 Division of ownership……………………………………. 42 Classes of vessels……………………………………….. 43 Port Phillip wind conditions……………………………… 46 Shipwrecks……………………………………………….. 47 Crewing a vessel………………………………………… 48 Fleet owners and their vessels…………………………. 49 viii Chapter Contents Summary………………………………………………….. 54 Chapter 4 Second period lime craft............................................ 55 Introduction……………………………………………….. 55 The corporatisation of the lime trade…………………… 56 The disappearance of the local shell trade……………. 60 Second period lime craft—origins and rigs……………. 61 The John McDouall Stuart—a lime packet…………….. 65 The 100 ton lime traders…………………………………. 66 Interpreting the Rosetta through historic photographs… 68 Interpreting wharf facilities through historic photographs 72 Second period fleet owners……………………………… 75 Lime craft at Lime wharf—1859………………………… . 82 Lime trading incidents and shipwrecks………………… . 83 Summary…………………………………………………… 86 Chapter 5 The rise and fall of the Port Phillip lime economy... 87 Introduction………………………………………………… 87 The rise and decline of Marvellous Melbourne………… 87 Lime production data……………………………………… 98 The decline in lime production…………………………… 101 A sideways shift in the lime economy…………………… 101 The introduction of the railway…………………………… 102 The end of the Port Phillip lime craft……………………. 103 The last lime fleet owner…………………………………. 107 Summary…………………………………………………… 111 ix Chapter Contents Chapter 6 Shipwreck searches and case study………………… 113 Introduction………………………………………………… 113 The Water Witch—ex lime craft………………………… . 114 The wreck confirmed……………………………………… 115 Choosing remote sensing equipment for search……… 115 Interpreting the historical position………………………. .. 116 Outcomes of the Water Witch search…………………… 119 Google Earth desktop wreck search…………………….. 119 Wreck signatures from airborne derived data………….. 120 The on-water search …………………………………….. 122 Site description……………………………………………. 122 Fastenings…………………………………………………. 126 Diagnostic evidence found……………………………….