The vessel
The barque Lady Elizabeth was built at Sunderland by Robert Thompson
in 1869. The keel was constructed from American rock elm, with English elm
at the fore end. The vessel's stem was made of teak and English oak, its
stern-post of teak and the apron and floors of iron. The outer planking
was American rock elm. It had one deck and three masts (Henderson &
Henderson, 1988:236).
Owned by the local shipping merchants Messrs Wilson and Oliver, Lady
Elizabeth was regarded as one of the finest vessels engaged in the trade
between Fremantle and London. However, when the wool season clip was missed
the vessel often called at Chinese ports delivering quantities of timber
to the Asian Indian region.
The vessel left Fremantle on 25 June 1878 chartered by Messrs Shenton
and Monger to carry a cargo of lead ore and 611 tons of sandalwood to Shanghai.
Captain Scott's daughter was the only passenger. After safely reaching the
outside of Rottnest Island the vessel was driven southward by heavy weather,
making it impossible to take navigational observations. On the morning of
the 30 June the captain decided to turn back to Fremantle, which was south-south-east
by south about 55 kilometres away (Henderson & Henderson, 1988:233).
In the heavy seas a man was lost overboard and no boat could be launched
to effect a rescue.
The wreck event
Captain Scott sighted what he thought was Parker Point and course was
altered to make for Fremantle via the channel south of Rottnest Island.
However, shortly after the tack the barque struck reef in Bickley Bay. The
vessel swung round to the south making it impossible to manage and the captain
ordered that the port anchor be let go.
By 10.30 p.m. the water was coming over the upper decks and the vessel
was listing over to starboard. The pilot at Rottnest Island, Captain Nash
saw the blue distress signals but could not approach the stricken ship until
daybreak, when he took the crew ashore. The sandalwood began to break free
of the hold, and salvors and beachcombers made substantial gains as the
cargo lay strewn from Rottnest Island to Bunbury (Henderson & Henderson,
1988:235).
Inquiry
The court of inquiry did not press charges against Captain Scott although
it was noted that during the proceedings he had 'made use of expressions
which were both unbecoming and amounted to gross contempt' (Captain Scott,
evidence at inquiry, Fremantle, 17 July 1878, C. S. R. 885, fol. 152, quoted
in Henderson & Henderson 1988:235). The hull, lead ore and sandalwood
were sold at auction for £1 039. The sandalwood had been insured for
£5 000.
Robert Thompson built another vessel of the same name for John Wilson,
one year after the original was lost. |
Site location
The wreck site is located in the sheltered waters of Porpoise Bay, south
of Bickley Point on the shoreward side of Dyer Island.
Site description
The wreck lies in 7 metres of water and displays relative structural
integrity. From examination of the remains it is possible to demonstrate
the process of wrecking and deterioration of Lady Elizabeth. The
vessel first settled on its starboard side. The port side then collapsed
down onto the decking while the starboard side collapsed outward onto the
sand.
The port side framing is shown lying across the deck frames while on
the starboard side of the vessel the frames are not covered and are therefore
more distinguishable. The inside of the starboard hull framing is uppermost
and is situated on the outer edge of the decking. This is indicated by the
deck frames themselves and the position of bollards both fore and aft. Due
to the slope of the wreck both the windlass near the bow and the deck winch
near the mainmast step have slipped outwards from their original position
(Cockram, 1989a:2).
Statement of significance
Historical
This site is of historical significance as the remains of one of the
major trading vessels operating from Fremantle to London in the 1870s. The
cargo which the vessel was carrying at the time of its wrecking demonstrates
the importance of the sandalwood export to Asia and the economic development
of Western Australia.
Archaeological and technical
Through the examination of the hull structure this site has the potential
to reveal elements in the design and construction of the early composite
vessels of the colonial period.
References
Cockram, C., 1988b, The Lady Elizabeth: isometrics
produce results, Maritime Archaeological Association of Western Australia Reports,
Vol. 2, July-December.
1989a, The Lady Elizabeth: a clearer picture emerges,
Maritime Archaeological Association of Western Australia Reports, Vol. 3, December
1988-June 1989.
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