The vessel
Gem was originally constructed as a yacht, built in Cowes, England.
It was of carvel construction with one deck, no figure-head, a square stern.
Some time after construction the vessel came out to Australia and was involved
in trade between the colonies although one voyage to Singapore is recorded.
Gem was also known to have operated as a pilot boat (Passmore, 1984:5).
With 500 tons of wheat on board the vessel left Port Irwin on 17 May
1876 before a strong north-easterly wind, and made good progress to Fremantle.
Early the next morning the assistant lighthouse keeper at Rottnest Island
reported seeing the vessel 3 kilometres east of the island. The lighthouse
keeper at Arthur Head also noticed the vessel, but when he returned his
attention to it saw only the top mast and crosstree visible above the water.
The wreck event
The contemporary newspaper reports described the vessel as having sunk
while standing on her course as the mainsail was set, with ensign flying,
and the vessel's head pointing straight for Fremantle (Passmore, 1984:7).
The harbour-master had some difficulty in reaching the vessel due to a strong
wind and northerly sea. He found Gem lying on the bottom, resting
on the bilge, mainsail set but the topmast carried away at the cap. No survivors
could be seen. He went to Rottnest and after finding no rescue attempt had
been carried out returned to the wreckage, cut away the topsail and retrieved
an overcoat containing personal belongings.
Several boats were sent to search for Gem's crew near Carnac Island,
the Stragglers Rocks and the Mewstone Reef but it soon became apparent that
all hands had gone down with the vessel.
Two days after the vessel foundered a cutter and several whale-boats
returned to the site with a number of Macassan divers. Examination of the
captain's cabin revealed only a rug. The companion way was littered with
rigging and too narrow for the divers to examine but it was thought that
here most of the bodies would have been found. From 21 to 24 May numerous
police reports recorded decking, personal items and sacks of grain washing
ashore. The vessel was breaking up quickly as the wheat cargo became swollen
and its planks split apart.
The loss of all hands led to some speculation as to the cause of the
wreck. It was possible that Gem had sprung a small leak early in
the voyage, causing the wheat to swell and split open the hull. It is possible
that the ensign that had been observed by the lighthouse keeper was in fact
upside down and thereby signalled distress. Another theory was that the
vessel had struck nearby Kingston Reef and foundered as a result of being
holed. A cover-up by the harbour-master was also suggested because of the
discrepancies in the information he gave about the vessel's position. He
is thought to have profited from unlawful salvage. |
Site location
The site lies 300 metres (0.16 nautical miles) approximately south-east
of Kingston Reef, 1 kilometre north-east of Phillip Rock.
Site description
The wreck lies on a sand bottom in about 10 metres of water and consists
of the keelson, with ribs and frames protruding, and substantial planking.
Copper alloy bolts can been seen on most of the timbers. Extensive timbers
and planking also extend below the sand. Following the line of the keel
southwards more wreckage appears. This is less cohesive and consists mainly
of separate timbers. Scattered around the reef nearby are pieces of wood
attached to copper alloy bolts.
In 1984 a swim search made in the vicinity of the main Gem shipwreck
located a section of wooden wreckage. This material lay on top of a small
mound of sand and was covered by weed, at a depth of 6.5 metres. The size
of the timbers and the combination of iron bolts for major joints and copper
pins to hold the planks to the ribs, and the position just south-east of
the main wreck site, tend to suggest that it is probably part of the same
vessel (Passmore, 1984: comm. in MA 67/76).
The extremities of the site are 8.7 metres long and 2.5 metres wide.
At the northern end there is a mound of concretion and a flared lead pipe
(possibly a scupper) stands vertically at the eastern edge approximately
15 centimetres clear of the timbers that surround the base. An elongated
jawbone from a sheep, complete with teeth was found wedged between the frames
at the southern end of the site.
Further inspection revealed that a section of inverted bow timbers was
with the frames upper-most and with the ceiling timbers (35 mm thick) underneath.
The lead scupper was attached to an iron cleat, and many of the copper fastenings
were concreted. The hawse timbers were thicker than those found on the rest
of the site.
Statement of significance
Social
The wreck event had a significant social impact because all crew members
perished and there was controversy over the process of wrecking, and the
testimony of the harbour-master.
References
Passmore, N., et al. 1984, 'The loss of the Gem,' Bulletin
of the Australian Institute for Maritime Archaeology, 8.1:5-12.
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