The Stefano Project
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Over the past 5 years members of MAAWA have walked in the footsteps of the survivors, searching for the caves and other landmarks mentioned in their journal, this maybe one of the caves the survivors sheltered in. THE SEARCH FOR STEFANOOn a stormy night on 27 October, 1875 a three masted barque, STEFANO of 875 tons struck a reef near Pt. Cloates Western Australia. Out of a crew of seventeen, ten managed to reach the beach, a distance of some 3 miles. |
The survivors started an epic trek southwards along an extremely inhospitable coastline, towards the Gascoyne river where they incorrectly believed a settlement existed. The crew encountered a cyclone, poisonous plantfoods and intensive heat, which resulted in only two young seamen surviving, and they would not have done so without the help of friendly Aboriginals located in that region.
The two survivors were subsequently rescued 5 months later by a Pearling Lugger and brought to Fremantle.Over the past 5 years members of MAAWA have walked in the footsteps of the survivors, searching for the caves and other landmarks mentioned in their journal. Intensive investigations along the beach for evidence of shipwreck material has been a feature of this ongoing project. The search first began with my interest in the Ningaloo area, following a visit with a West Australian Museum expedition excavating the American trader RAPID, sunk at Pt. Cloates in 1811. I had been researching all shipwrecks in the area and was most interested in the chart showing "Wrecks on the Beach" as reported by Capt. Walcott on his voyage to search for any further survivors of the STEFANO .
This chart was first brought to my attention by Jill and Peter Worsley who wrote to the British Admiralty, and subsequently received several old charts. STEFANO kept cropping up as an important part of the early history of the area. A chance meeting gave me the opportunity to introduce myself to a gentleman named Monte Sala, who was enthusiastic about my interest, and suggested the first of many lunches to discuss his new translation of the survivors' journal.
Monte generously offered to sponsor an expedition to first: search for any wreckage of the STEFANO in the water near Black Rock and on the Beach; and later to embark on a re-enactment of the survivors trek.The proposal was for a group from MAAWA to undertake a two week expedition supported with a boat and technician from the WA Museum . The primary aim would be to search around Black Rock where the ship was reported to have sunk and the beach area where the survivors and wreckage would have come ashore.
First Expedition April 1993
On this first expedition 16 MAAWA members and Pat Baker, the Museum Photographer, left for Point Cloates. The Maritime Archaeology Department diving boat, Sea Spray, was launched at Coral Bay and driven up the coast to Pt. Cloates. With reasonable weather, an attempt was made to search at Black Rock, however, a large swell and sharks, put off all but a very brief search.
Much time was spent comparing transits and details marked on the old charts and 3 different locations were noted for "Entrance Hill". Possible sites for the first survivors' camp were sought in the sand dunes and members snorkelled along the beach looking for wreckage in the shallows.
Second Expedition July 1995
A smaller party of 8 MAAWA members commenced at Cape Farquhar looking for the caves, as this was the location marked on the survivors' map. Considerable areas of coastline were checked without finding caves fitting the exact description as outlined on the map.
| Moving up to the beach area south of Pt. Cloates, searching commenced using a portable Magnetometer carried by three people. Three strong "strikes " were made along a particular part of the beach one kilometre in length, near the high water mark. After digging to a depth of nearly two metres, iron objects thought to be spar fittings were located. At one site only a small iron fastening with timber was found at similar depth. |
Iron objects thought to be spar fittings were located |
Third Expedition July 1996
Library research by Colin Cockram found mention of caves at Warroora Station as the final resting place for the surviving crew of the Stefano.With an even smaller party of 5 MAAWA Members these caves were located and considered the best prospect thus far as the real "survivors' caves".
Objects were dug out, measured and recorded, then reburied at the same depth. |
The beach sites south of Pt. Cloates were revisited, however due to storm erosion the artefacts were now located at a depth less than a metre. These objects were dug out, measured and recorded, then reburied at the same depth. The third site proved elusive and although located, could not be examined as it was below the watertable. |
Fourth Expedition July 1997
A party of 6 MAAWA Members and the Archaeology Team searched the caves on Warroora Station, however found no absolute evidence of survivor occupation. The team found more supporting evidence that this general area fitted the survivors' description as set out in their account, especially the "Volcano Creek" meeting site. At Ningaloo the team searched for the possible site of the survivors' first camp at Pt. Cloates. However, now that the wreck site has been confirmed south of the Black Rock passage, new emphasis was placed on the Daly Hill location. The team visited the area near the wreck of the FAIRY QUEEN, north of Exmouth, believed to be the rescue point of the STEFANO survivors.