Star (1876)
Shark Bay to Geraldton
The Star with Charles Brennan in command supposedly left Shark Bay on 5 April 1876 for Geraldton, and disappeared. This report must have originated with a short article in The Western Australian Times, 9 May 1876: 3c stating it was 32 days overdue and feared lost.
However, in the WA Times of 12 May 1876: 3a, the owner, Wallace Bickley, hotly disputes this, stating that the Star left Shark Bay on 29 April, arrived Geraldton 3 May and left Geraldton 5 May.
According to Perth newspapers the 5-ton cutter Star arrived at Fremantle on either 14 or 15 May (depending on the paper). All the newspapers report that it called in at Shark Bay after earlier leaving Port Walcott, and that the skipper was R. Maxworthy (presumably Richard Maxworthy, ex-RN, ex-pilot). Therefore the Star is not a shipwreck as previously recorded in Unfinished Voyages (Henderson) and Windswept Coast (Worsley & Worsley).
Ship Built
Master Charles Brennan
Country Built WA
Ship Lost
Gouped Region Mid-West
Sinking Went missing
Crew 3
Deaths 4
When Lost 1876
Where Lost Shark Bay to Geraldton
Port From Shark Bay
Port To Geraldton
Cargo Shell
Ship Details
Engine N
Length 24.10
Beam 5.30
TONA 5.00
Draft 2.30
Museum Reference
Unique Number 513
Sunk Code Unknown
Protected Protected Federal
Found N
Inspected N
Confidential NO