The vessel
Star was built for Messrs J. and W. Bateman by veteran Fremantle
boat-builder Thomas Mews. The fore-and-aft rigged schooner was designed
for fast sailing. It had one deck and an oval counter stern. Originally
the owners were unsure where to employ the vessel and it was first sent
to Batavia (Jakarta) with a cargo of jarrah, but by the latter half of 1877
it was employed in the whaling industry, initially at Rosemary Island, in
the Dampier Archipelago. The venture was successful and Star returned
to Fremantle with 147 casks of oil.
On 28 September 1880 Star was fitted out for a voyage in the hope
of encountering whales sighted in Geographe Bay. The vessel was under the
command of Captain Sheppard and the crew was all Malay. Two whale-boat crews
and a whale hand were also aboard although they had nothing to do with the
sailing of the schooner. John Bateman senior was also on the vessel. Although
eight whales were sighted during the voyage these eluded capture, so at
3 p.m. on 19 October the course was set for Fremantle (Henderson & Henderson,
1988:281).
Under advice from Bateman as to the strong inshore currents, Captain
Sheppard steered north-north-east for the Rottnest Island light. A fresh
south-westerly breeze propelled the vessel speed forward. At 1 a.m. Cape
Bouvard was seen bearing east at a distance of 11 or 12 kilometres (Henderson
& Henderson, 1988:281). The vessel's course was altered two points to
the east, the captain making for the north end of Garden Island.
The wreck event
In the early morning of 20 October the helmsman saw breakers on the starboard
bow and put the helm up. The captain was alerted and in the confusion the
vessel swung back onto the reef, striking so violently that the crew were
thrown from their berths. The vessel had struck on the weather side of Murray
Reef but it was nearly an hour before the hull was pierced and began to
take water, suddenly sinking in 3.7 metres of water.
The crew managed to save their traps and all the sails, and in the ship's
boats made for Point Becher and then onto Fremantle. It was soon evident
that the whaling gear, including trypots and firing apparatus were lost.
The vessel was uninsured and anchors, chains and running gear also went
to the bottom. |
Inquiry
At the preliminary inquiry Bateman maintained that the captain was at
fault because he had altered course. The court found him guilty of four
charges and his certificate was suspended for eighteen months. The wrecking
was the fifth in a succession of losses for the Bateman Company, others
being Favourite, Flying Foam, Twinkling Star and Bungaree.
Site location
The wreck is located about 2 kilometres south of Sisters Rocks on the
Murray Reef chain out from Becher Point.
Site description
The wooden hull is badly broken up lying in 2.7 metres of water. The
various elements of the site are identified in the site plan. Limited excavation
has been undertaken and the removal of timber samples helped to identify
the remains as the of Star . These were analysed to indicate local
jarrah, a sapwood, red mahogany and red gum, the latter two possibly of
New South Wales origin.
Statement of significance
Historical
The wreck site is significant because of its association with the operations
of a local merchant and shipowners, Batemans, and also for the role it had
in the operation of whaling in Western Australia.
Archaeological
The remains of the vessel are of significance as an example of local
shipbuilding.
References
Anderton, G., 1972, Department of Maritime Archaeology, Western Australian Maritime Museum File No. 19/73.
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