The vessel
Belle of Bunbury was a coastal vessel trading between Bunbury,
Fremantle and Geraldton during the 1880s. A fore-and-aft rigged schooner,
the carvel-built vessel had one deck, two masts, a billet head and an oval
stern. Built by James Gibbs it was owned by Hayward, Stewart and Reid.
The vessel carried mainly general agricultural produce along the coast.
It was during one such voyage that Belle of Bunbury came to be wrecked.
The schooner left Bunbury on 9 December 1886. On board the vessel were the
master William Miller, the mate, the cook and two passengers, and a cargo
of potatoes and seventy bales of wool (Cairns & Henderson, 1995:66).
A southerly wind was blowing and the captain ordered the crew to keep the
vessel close to the coast. The weather was fine with a light wind blowing
in an easterly direction. The decision was made to run up the inside of
Murray Reef, a common course for local vessels travelling the coast in these
conditions.
The wreck event
Despite the mild conditions and the ten-year experience of the captain
in these coastal waters, the vessel when running under free sail, struck
a rock at 8.45 a.m. on 10 December. At the subsequent inquiry it was revealed
that the lead had been on deck since 8.00 a.m. but Captain Miller saw no
need to deploy it. The mate was stationed as look-out. The vessel struck
a rock just off Penguin Island and sailed a further 80 metres before sinking
in 6 metres of water. It was maintained throughout the inquiry that all
the crew were sober, despite allegations to the contrary.
Site location
The site is located in Safety Bay, south of Penguin Island.
Site description
The wreck of Belle of Bunbury, which lies in 6 to 7 metres of
water on a sand bottom, consists mainly of scattered timbers. Most of these
timbers are half buried and the site is often subject to complete burial,
especially during the summer months before the winter storms scour the site.
A section of keelson, recorded during a site inspection in 1977, suggests
that the vessel lies on a south-east by north-west axis. |
An anchor with an iron stock is located at the western end probably indicates
the bow. The anchor measures 1.4 metres along the shank from ring to crown
and the flukes are 1.6 metres across. The stock has a length of 1.8 metres.
Although the hull is broken up it is likely that a significant proportion
of the vessel remains buried in the sand. The predominant south-westerly
swell can reduce visibility to zero and subject the site to bottom surge.
Artefacts
Several of the ship's fittings and cargoes have been removed from the
site. Those from the initial site inspection of 1977 include a rib or frame
with iron bolts, a sample of copper sheathing on wood, a wine bottle with
contents and cork, an iron dead eye and a chain plate with wire rope attached.
A rudder was raised in 1981, 30 metres south-west of the site. It is well
preserved with copper-zinc alloy sheathing and wooden fastening bolts.
Statement of significance
Historical
This site is of historical significance as an example of a locally built
vessel involved in the coastal trade of Western Australia. It is one of
only three wrecks in the survey region to have been built in Western Australia.
Archaeological
Through the examination of hull remains this site could contribute to
the knowledge of locally built coastal traders. The number of Western Australian
vessels in the overall shipwreck resource of Western Australia is limited.
References
Sledge, S., 1975a, Belle of Bunbury, unpub. Wreck Inspection Report, Department of Maritime Archaeology Department, Western Australian Maritime Museum, No. 22.
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