The vessel
Omeo was a clinker-built barque with one deck, four masts, a square
stern, a woman bust figure-head, and was iron framed. Originally the vessel
was built as a three-masted barque-rigged steamship with auxiliary power
from a 120 hp engine. In 1882, the registered quarterdeck length was 27.4
metres, the forecastle, 7.62 metres, and the bar keel had a measurement
of 0.18 metres. It had three water tanks as ballast and a gross underdeck
tonnage of 710 tons. The auxiliary engine was removed and it was rigged
as a four-masted jackass barque. The vessel's owners were W. H. Smith and
Sons.
Omeo was a popular general trading vessel in the international
trade and intercolonial passenger networks. Its original voyage was from
England with a cargo of telegraphic cable for Tasmania, and immediately
after that it was used on the run to New Zealand, transporting miners to
the goldfields at Hokitika.
Contemporary illustration from 1881 of Omeo colliding with Swanspit Light at Queenscliff,Victoria.
Omeo had an interesting series of near wreckings and close encounters
before it finally came to rest on Coogee Beach in 1905. In September 1881,
after completing a voyage from Newcastle, New South Wales with a cargo of
coal Omeo was involved in a serious accident. Forced to anchor off
Queenscliff, Victoria, overnight due to the weather, the vessel was trying
to enter the west channel the following morning on the flood tide when it
missed stays, lost steerage, and collided broadside with the Swanspit Light,
completely destroying the latter. In early October 1895, Omeo sailed
from Melbourne en route to Hamelin Bay under the command of Captain
Campbell. The vessel encountered severe weather off Cape Leeuwin and a lot
of cargo was washed overboard.
At Hamelin Bay the vessel loaded a cargo of jarrah. With 500 tons aboard
the vessel bumped against the jetty in a severe storm, and finally broke
its moorings to run headlong ashore, to the south side of the jetty (Cairns
& Henderson, 1995:235).
Omeo had not been badly holed but there was doubt that it could
be refloated. The owners sold the vessel to the North Queensland Insurance
Company and a contractor undertook to refloat it. It was connected to the
jetty by a trestle bridge and 200 loads of timber were discharged. This
sufficiently lightened the hull by 17 March for the barque to be hauled
off by means of a steam winch on the jetty. After survey the vessel was
sold to Connor and Doherty who had the vessel towed to Fremantle, where
it was converted to a coal hulk for use by the Blue Star Line.
The wreck event
On 11 September 1905 Omeo was at anchor in Cockburn Sound. At
5,30 pm the vessel broke its moorings in a gale and was swept ashore opposite
Ocean Street where it was finally abandoned. There the vessel remained on
Coogee Beach behind the local abattoirs. In September 1972, a plan was mooted
to move the vessel to the Northern Territory to serve as a permanent memorial
to the Overland Telegraph. Inspection of the vessel showed that the wreck
had deteriorated to such an extent that this was not feasible. |
Site location
The site lies in the semi-submerged intertidal zone south of the Cockburn
Power Station. The transit photographs show views of the site as it extends
above the water's surface.
Site description
The Omeo wreck site has always been partially visible and photographic
documentation shows the process of deterioration over the last 90 years.
A photograph taken in 1915 shows the vessel with the hull intact and with
four masts still in place, and some form of deck housing structure. Later
the masts had gone, with most of the superstructure collapsing. The hull
has remained largely intact, although holes have begun to appear in the
cladding as deterioration takes place.
Two of the vessel's anchors were located on the site. They were raised
in 1993 and are under conservation. Both chains from the two large anchors
remain in situ. Artefacts are also found in the bilge hold. The bow
and stern sections are above the water while the rest of the site remains
submerged.
Photograph of Omeo alongside a wharf on the Roper River, Northern Territory.
Statement of significance
Historical
The vessel had a noteable association with the development of the Overland
Telegraph.
Archaeological
Through the examination of the wreck site information on the construction
of the iron plate clinker hull and rare hybrid rig type, the jackass barque
can be obtained. Ship's fittings that remain could also give evidence in
the development of shipbuilding techniques.
Scientific
The site has been the subject of a conservation assessment and has the
potential to yield data on the deterioration and preservation of iron hulls
situated in intertidal zones subject to surge and tidal movement, and particularly
at the airwater interface.
References
Halls, C., 1979, 'Saga of the Omeo ' ,Port of Fremantle
Quarterly, Winter, 1979:18-19.
Maritime Archaeological Association of Western Australia Reports,
1990-1992:6-11.
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