The vessel
Centaur was an iron-hulled brig with one deck, a square stern
and male bust figure-head. Built in Aberdeen in 1849 by Messrs Blaikie Brothers,
it was initially employed in the conveyance of machinery to Mauritius. Entry
of its movements are recorded in the Aberdeen Directory until 186566
(Hayes, 1976:134).
In the early 1870s, Centaur was employed in the trade between
Champion Bay and Melbourne and was described as one of the pioneer line
traders. The shallow harbours of the GeraldtonNorthhampton mining region
were ideally suited to the use of small brigs. The usual return cargo from
the colony of Western Australia was galena (lead ore) and it was with a
cargo of 200 tonnes of ore that the Centaur left Champion Bay on
4 December 1874. Also aboard were nine crew and four passengers including
the surveyor general and Commissioner for Crown Lands, the Honourable Malcolm
Fraser. The vessel was under the command of Captain Brabham.
The wreck event
After leaving Champion Bay the vessel encountered adverse winds. Rottnest
Island was sighted on 9 December at 3.30 p.m. Conditions were hazyand a
strong southerly breeze was blowing. Brabham put the brig on a starboard
tack and headed for Trigg Island. The order was given for the ship to go
about, but before the manoeuvre could be completed Centaur struck
a reef at about 6 knots at 5.00 p.m., the momentum carrying the vessel fully
onto it.
Captain Brabham set about trying to free his vessel and the sails were
set 'full aback'. However, the ship would not budge due to the extra metre
that the cargo had added to the depth. The rudder was soon smashed off by
the swell and the order was given to abandon ship while it remained in an
upright position. Two lifeboats were lowered over the port side and soon
all that remained of the hull above the water was a section of the starboard
poop.
At the subsequent inquiry, Captain Brabham estimated that his vessel
had been 8 to 10 kilometres offshore at the time of the shipwreck. The court
employed Lieutenant Archdeacon to calculate the distance of the vessel from
the shore and it was estimated at 3.4 kilometres. The Captain was found
exclusively to blame for the wreck of the Centaur, for incautiously
allowing the vessel to stand on an east-south-east course on the starboard
tack until it struck. The chart in his possession showed the whole part
of the coastline to be dangerous at 2.5 kilometres from shore.
His certificate was suspended for six months although this was reduced
to three months after petition (Hayes, 1976:15). |
The wreck and its cargo were auctioned and sold for £150 on 11
December 1874 to Fremantle businessman and politician, Mr Marmion. It was
reported that, after two weeks, a large portion of the cargo had been salvaged.
Site location
Centaur Reef, south-eastern side, 3 kilometres west-south-west of North
Beach.
Site description
The wreck site lies in 7 to 9 metres of water adjacent to a section of
reef on the port side of the remains of the vessel. The starboard side lies
on a sand bottom with weed surround. Distributed along the port side of
the vessel are sections of iron frames and plating that rise above the wreck
to 5 metres below the water surface. Small amounts of galena ore are spread
throughout the wreckage and a lead scupper is also visible. The overall
dimensions of the site are 26 metres by 7 metres. Extraneous material associated
with the wreckage includes a 44-gallon drum and a rubber covered metal pipe
(Kenderdine, 1994a:6).
Statement of significance
Recreational and educational
This site lies in the Marmion Marine Park and is associated with a reef
that supports diverse flora and fauna population. There is significant recreational
dive activity in the area, and the wreck site is marked on the associated
CALM publication about the reserve. The site, however, is not generally
well known or visited by divers. Interpretation of the site and its history
can demonstrate the importance of early coastal shipping, the development
of the Western Australian mining industry, the hazards of navigation along
the coastline, and the importance of wreck site protection.
References
Hayes, K., 1976, 'Wreck of the Brig Centaur: pioneer
trader of the WA coast', Port of Fremantle Magazine, Spring, pp.
Kenderdine, S., 1994a, Centaur, unpub. Wreck Inspection Report, Department of Maritime Archaeology, Western Australian Maritime Museum, No. 116.
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