Introduction

The overall objective of this report is to describe the historic shipwreck resource that lies adjacent to the Perth metropolitan coastline.

Survey region within Western Australia

The Western Australian Maritime Museum (the Museum) first began a regional approach to wreck inspection in 1979 with a focus on the northern coast of the State (Sledge, 1979), then Jervoise Bay (McCarthy, 1979), Koombana Bay (McCarthy, 1982a), and the Abrolhos Islands (1982b).

The process of investigating wreck sites within the survey region in Western Australia has been complemented by the historical research of vessels wrecked in the State undertaken by Henderson (1980), Henderson & Henderson (1988) and Cairns & Henderson (1995). These three volumes contain a discussion on the history and wreck event of all vessels lost between the years 1653 and 1900.

Western Australia has the longest coastline (12,500 kilometres) of any State in Australia and a regional approach to the study of shipwrecks has logistic benefits in the planning and implementation of fieldwork. It provides a focus for management, funding resources and research. Stimulus for the selection of the Perth area for a regional study were twofold. Firstly, as the largest population base in the State is centred within its environs interpretation and publication of material about the historic shipwrecks will have the greatest impact here, servicing the needs of the widest audience. Secondly, wreck inspection requirements were able to optimise the prevailing weather patterns and fieldwork was able to be undertaken at short notice.

Another important factor in the choice of the survey area is that it acted as a major focus for colonial shipping in Western Australia. The Port of Fremantle was the main transportation network node for the State. The concentration of the thirty-eight historic wreck sites in the region reflects the level of shipping that was generated by the development of Perth.

Location maps within the survey region

The Department of Maritime Archaeology at the Western Australian Maritime Museum saw the need for a consolidating report identifying and documenting the resource of the region within the definition of cultural resource management. With increasing community and development interests directed to the coastal margins of Perth there is evident requirement for a document that specifies the nature of the shipwreck resource located here.

Community members are increasingly involved in water-based activities and the number of sports divers continues to grow unabated. Western Australia has some of the best diving conditions in the country and is a major tourist attraction for both inter-state and overseas visitors. The developing oceanographic and marine technology allows for greater access to the wreck sites and stimulates the location and discovery of other shipwrecks and submerged sites.

As Perth continues to develop the metropolitan coastline, a document is needed that provides developers and environmental impact assessors, a summary of the historic shipwreck resource that may be encountered before they begin their activities. An increasing stretch of the coastline has come under survey for the exploration of oil and other natural resources. Urban planning allows foreshore reconstruction that affects water quality, run-off and sediment loads in adjacent coastal waters. It is essential that developers have the location, description and significance assessments for the shipwrecks within their area of interest. Appropriate procedures and legal obligations regarding any activities that may impinge on historic shipwrecks must be clearly represented.

For those with a legislative obligation to manage natural and cultural resources, the impacts of development on the coastal fringe within which the shipwrecks lie need to be considered and the implications of these fully understood. Management of the coast within Western Australia resides partly with the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM). This government authority currently administers the Marmion Marine Park adjacent to Hillarys Boat Harbour, north of Perth. Shipwrecks are afforded greater protection by being identified with the general objectives and policy of preservation and conservation that apply in these areas.

The Western Australian Maritime Museum has investigated and collected data on shipwrecks over the past two decades. It is a synthesis of this previous work that has been abstracted for the purposes of this report. The extent of the information on each of the sites is derived from the records of wreck site inspections, site stabilisation reports, and full excavations. Reports on the conservation, display and analysis of artefacts have also been used as source material. Using this information each site has been documented within a cultural resource management (CRM) framework to include a series of significance statements and a number of recommendations for future work. An analysis of the resource signifies directions for maritime archaeological research. This is an important undertaking to give breadth of understanding to the interpretation of shipwrecks.

The material presented in this report reflects part of a dynamic process involving the ongoing study of shipwrecks. The reader is invited to contribute information that can further our understanding of these sites. We seek to assemble and generate a body of information on the vessels that represents many aspects of Australian and world-wide maritime heritage.

Legislation

The survey region encompasses coastal waters under the jurisdiction of both State and Commonwealth Governments. The legislation that applies directly to shipwrecks is the Maritime Archaeology Act 1973 (Western Australia) and the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976 (Commonwealth) including the most recent amendment in 1993. Of the thirty-eight sites all have been protected under the Commonwealth legislation, except Amur which is protected under the State Act. The Conference wreck site is pending declaration as an historic wreck site under State legislation.

Some archaeological sites (jetties, for example) that related to the operation of trade in Western Australia have also been declared `maritime archaeological sites' under the Maritime Archaeology Act 1973. These, however, remain outside the scope of this report.

There are a number of sites related to the maritime heritage of Western Australia that have been protected under the Heritage of Western Australia Act 1990. These include lighthouses, landings, wharves and such buildings that were associated with the early shipping trade in Fremantle. Discussion of these sites in the cultural landscape remain outside the scope of this report.

The project operated under the codes of practice embodied by the Australian International Committee on the Conservation of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) Burra Charter (1981) and the proposals of the ICOMOS International Committee on the Underwater Cultural Heritage (Historic Environment, 1992). It also adhered to the Australian Institute for Maritime Archaeology (AIMA) Code of Practice, and the Guidelines for the management of Australia's shipwrecks (AIMA & ACDO, 1994).