The vessel
Contest was built in Wilmont, Nova Scotia in 1860. It was a wooden-framed
barque with a square stern, and was half-pooped with a female figure-head.
The vessel was registered to and built for the Black Diamond Line of Liverpool's
fleet. It was later registered at Port Adelaide, bought by H. Simpson in
1868 and used in the intercolonial trade.
On 3 June 1874, Contest arrived in Fremantle from Darwin and was
taken down to anchorage at Rockingham three days later. The vessel discharged
a cargo including 50 tons of coal, 75 bags of copper ore, eight mail bags
and ballast. Two cabin and sixteen steerage passengers also disembarked.
The master was Captain Thomas Allen and there were twelve crew aboard. Ballast
was discharged and the vessel returned to anchorage. The intended return
voyage was to transport railway sleepers to the Lacepede Islands (Bathgate
1979:1).
The wreck event
On 16 June 1874 a north-west gale blew up and Contest dragged
its anchor going ashore on Rockingham Beach, adjacent to the timber station.
On 14 July the harbour master reported:
she is now lying with her head to the N. W., with her bows in
12 feet and her stern in about 2 feet, with the water as high inside her as out.
She is very seriously hogged on her port side and strained greatly about the covering
boards and deck...Nothing is being done to her at present as the master expects
instructions from the owners in the next mail (Report of L. Black, Gingin, 27
June 1874, Police Records quoted in Henderson & Henderson, 1988:146-8).
The preliminary inquiry into the wrecking exonerated the master and crew
of any blame.
Salvage
An auction was held by Messrs L. Samson and Son on 6 August 1874. The
condemned hull and a portion of the coal cargo was bought by Mr Tapper who
was ordered to remove the wreck from the timber company's jetty within ten
days. Attempts to refloat the vessel were abandoned, although there are
reports that some of the wreck was taken away (Henderson & Henderson,
1988:148).
Site location
This site is presently buried and its location needs confirmation. The
wreck site is located approximately 50 metres offshore from the western
boat launching ramp, Palm Beach, Rockingham. |
Site description
In 1994 an inspection of the site was not possible because the wreck
was completely buried by sand. However, an earlier report had recorded the
extent of the structure. The site lies in a depth of 1.3 metres on a bottom
that consists of sand and sea grass which also covers the wreckage. It is
exposed to the storm surf from the north-west to north-east but is sheltered
from other winds especially the prevalent south-west breeze.
A number of iron deck support knees lie partially exposed with iron and
yellow metal bolts protruding. The regular spacing of these indicate the
possible outline of the hull amidships. Iron knees are also visible on the
southern side of the site. The bow section is also visible and consists
of wooden frames and planking sheathed in yellow metal. Large lumps of coal
are scattered around and between the frames. (Sledge, 1978:1). The overall
length of the site remains observed on the sea-bed is 26.8 metres.
Statement of significance
Historical
This site is of historical significance as the remains of a vessel important
in the development of Western Australia and the intercolonial trade. The
vessel's subsequent engagement in delivery of railway sleepers for the guano
workings at the Lacepede Islands demonstrate this. Its involvement with
the Black Diamond Line of Liverpool also gives the vessel historical significance.
Archaeological
Through the investigation of the hull remains, the site has the potential
to reveal elements in the design and shipbuilding techniques of wooden vessels
built in Canada during the colonial period. It is an example of a deep-water,
fast-sailing merchant vessel of the nineteenth century.
References
Bathgate, D., 1979, Site survey of the barque Contest, unpub. MAAWA Report, Department of Maritime Archaeology, Western Australian Maritime Museum, File No. MA 5/79.
Sledge, S., 1978a, Contest, unpub. Wreck Inspection Report, Department of Maritime Archaeology, Western Australian Maritime Museum, No. 32.
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