South Australia - Maritime Affairs
Miscellany
Also see:
Port Adelaide - Ships and Shipping
South Australia - Miscellany - Leisure and Allied Matters
Shipwrecks and Disasters
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The whole coast abounds in reefs and the break of the Southern Ocean upon these during a gale is a sight which impresses itself upon the memory. Such places as the Admella Reef, Carpenters Rocks and kindred localities are reminiscent of wrecks and the loss of human life and the sight of them suggests a feeling of thankfulness in the existence of such a grand institution as the light service Many of the lighthouses are necessarily removed from intercourse with the outside world...
(Register, 10 December 1902, p. 4.)
Introduction
As long as men go down to the sea in ships there will be wrecks and the South Australian coast has been the scene of a goodly share of Australia?s marine tragedies, and down through time almost every year has added to the list. From 1837 to 1924 more than 200 vessels were wrecked, stranded, lost or foundered in our waters and many of their skeletons lie half submerged along various parts of the coast, while many have been scattered by the four winds and the pounding waves. In the early days, as discussed in another chapter, the South East ports were important shipping centres and along the wind swept coast many a trim schooner, barque or brigantine crashed to its doom. The beetling crags of Cape Northumberland and the treacherous waters of Guichen Bay lured a large number of vessels to destruction. Indeed, the reputation of the whole south eastern coat was bad, but those two points were the graveyards of the South Australian deep.
Probably the most dangerous and certainly the least frequented part of the South East coast was the stretch between Port MacDonnell and Rivoli Bay. Many melancholy wrecks occurred upon it and few of those wrecked lived to tell the tale. In the case of the Admella the wretched survivors clung for eight weary days and nights to the wreck before they were taken off, but how long the unfortunates who perished in the Iron Age, the Nene Valley and other vessels, no one can tell. This deep oblivion would not have existed if a simple suggestion made by a concerned citizen had been caried out:
The distance between these two places is about 50 miles. There is a trooper stationed at Port MacDonnell [and] one will have to be stationed at Rivoli Bay... Those troopers should patrol the beach after every storm, travelling till they meet [and this] would not seriously encroach on the ordinary police duties of either place.
The government had recognised the necessity of doing something to avert the loss of life and shortly after the Geltwood was wrecked opened communication with the County road board to see if a track could be made along the beach between these two places. The board reported that there would be no difficulty in clearing a track, but if not used regularly would become impassable through the shifting character of the soil and growth of vegetation. The board suggested that finger posts should be erected giving the distances and directions to the nearest placed where help could be found. This was approved by the government and they were expected to be of great service to "unfortunates who get ashore from a wrecked vessel, but meeting with a mounted man who could hasten for aid would save many hours of valuable time and would be a long way more effectual in saving property."
General Notes
"Early SA Shipping and Other Notes" is in the Register,29 December 1924, page 8h,
Observer,
3 January 1925, page 38a,
"Ships of Early Days" is in The News,
12 June 1929, page 12e,
"Sixty Years of Shipping" in the Observer,
16 September 1899, page 55b,
"In the Days of the Clippers" on
25 May 1907, page 51c.
"The Shipping Trade of SA - Some Early Records" is in the Register,
7 November 1896, page 7d.
"Copper Ore Laden Ships from Port Adelaide" is in the Register,
7 December 1925, page 5a.
"The Last Wooden Clipper [Torrens]" is in the Register,
9 and 15 December 1916, pages 5d and 10f,
"The Clipper Orient" on
21 December 1916, page 7g,
"Old Australian Ships - More Memories" on
23 December 1916, page 5a.
"Early Shipping - History of the Orient" is in the Register,
18 April 1928, page 5e.
"Nautical Relics - A Study in Figureheads" in the Observer,
10 June 1899, page 34a,
"Old Figureheads" on
5 December 1925, page 60a.
An article on early local shipping is in the Observer,
10 and 17 October 1874, pages 10f and 20c.
Sketches of "some famous clippers' are in the Observer,
1 January 1921, page 26.
"Some Old Ships" is in the Observer,
3 January 1920, page 44d,
"Famous Old Ships" on
3 October 1925, page 19e.
"Our Marine Administration - A Retrospect" is in the Observer,
8 and 29 September 1888, pages 6e and 34a.
"Pioneering the Coastal Trade" is in the Chronicle,
21 March 1935, page 48.
"The New Mail Contract - From Sailing Ships to Steamers" is in the Observer,
5 February 1898, page 15a.
Also see Communications - Sea Mail.
"Voyages and Adventures Among the Islands of Adjacent Gulfs" is in the South Australian Magazine, 1841-1842, page 281.
"Quick Voyages by Sailing Ships" is in the Advertiser,
24 April 1905, page 9e,
"The Record Sailing Passage" in the Register,
26 April 1905, page 6e.
Information on a "colonial passage boat" is in the Observer,
26 August 1843 and 9 September 1843.
A "sea indenture" of 1844 is discussed in the Observer,
16 January 1915, page 31c.
"Runaway Sailors" is in the Register,
23 December 1846, page 2e and
their problems with the police on
10 November 1847, page 3a; also see
26 December 1849, page 2c.
The loss of the barque, Grecian, is reported in the Observer,
19 October 1850, page 1a (supp.).
the Emu on
7 May 1853, page 2e and
the Flying Fish on
15 December 1860, page 3c.
The loss of the Jane Lovett in 1852 at MacDonnell Bay is discussed in the Register, 1 June 1852, p. 2, 31 August 1916, p. 9, 24 February 1923, p. 11, Observer, 16 May 1852, p. 5, 5 November 1853, p. 5:
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The Jane Lovett, a Yankee schooner bought by Mrs Laura McCarthy for £750, was wrecked in MacDonnell Bay in 1852 while sailing to Adelaide from Melbourne with a cargo of spirits. It was a dark night and Captain Parker thought he had passed Cape Northumberland (these were the days before the light was installed) but the ship struck a reef in the bay and became fixed. In the morning, the mate and four of the crew took a ship?s boat and said they would try to get to Melbourne or Adelaide, but nothing was heard of them, so it was presumed they had perished.
The remainder of the crew elected to walk to the newly formed township of Gambierton but the captain would not leave his ship or cargo and so he was left alone grieving. Tragedy was added to tragedy for, at last when help came, they found the captain had been murdered,. They buried him in the sand dunes but when a small cemetery was opened on top of the cape his bones were removed there, where he lies today within sound of his beloved sea. Two hutkeepers, named Crawford and Stephens, believed to be convicts from either New South Wales or Van Diemen?s Land, employed by John McIntyre who held the Mount Schank station, were arrested.
The wreck of Captain Underwood's Victoria is reminisced upon in the Chronicle, 21 March 1935, p. 48.
The wreck of the Nashwauk is reported in the Observer,
19 May 1855, page 8a; also see
27 August 1927, page 58d.
The stranding of the Manhow in 1857 is discussed in the Observer,
27 August 1927, page 58d.
Information on breakwaters and jetties is in the Observer,
10 and 31 May 1856, pages 5f and 6h; also see
6 December 1856, page 6b,
Register,
3 December 1856, page 2c.
The trial of a diving suit is reported in the Register,
5 April 1856, page 2f.
The wrecks of the Phaeton, Sultana and Koenig Willem II at Robe are reported upon in the the Observer, 11 July 1857, page 7h, Chronicle, 12 March 1836, page 16..
- At 7 am on 1 August 1857 the Phaeton sighted the obelisk on Cape Dombey but while she was tacking a beam swell ran her aground on a sand bank. The boats were got out but the sea was too heavy for them so a raft was made. The ship was settling on its port side and, with three feet of water in the between decks, the position became serious. At the critical moment, however, the wind moderated and the passengers were put off in boats and by 2 o'clock the next morning disembarking had been completed. Several of the boats capsized but there was no loss of life.
The Sultana, 350 tons, was wrecked on 27 April 1857 and the first mate had charge, the captain of the vessel, having died on the voyage from Hong Kong. While maneuvering the ship into the bay she struck a reef off Cape Lannes and anchors were let down immediately and, finding that she was making water, the mate decided that the only way to save her was to beach her where his passengers (400 Chinese) scrambled ashore without casualty.
On 25 June 1857 the Dutch barque Koenig Willem II arrived at Guichen Bay with Chinese immigrants and her departure was delayed by bad weather and, on the 30th, during a gale, the 60 fathom chain cut her windlass and, accordingly, the master made sail with the intention of beaching her. As soon as the wreck was perceived at Robe Messrs Ormerod instantly ordered all men in their employ to render assistance, but before the majority of them reached the scene the melancholy result had occurred.
Soon after the barque struck, a boat was got out from the wreck into which the chief mate and crew entered with the exception of the captain who was left on the wreck, owing to the boat's painter breaking. The boat had proceeded but a short distance when, from the want of oars, she broached too, filled, and her living freight was left to struggle for their lives in the breakers and out of the 25 that left the vessel, only nine were dragged ashore and all of them in a state of partial insensibility.
Attention was now turned to the captain who was pacing the few feet of the stern left to him. The wrecked vessel had been swept so close to the shore that every sign made by him was distinctly observed and his voice could be heard above the din of the storm, calling for assistance, while on shore about 100 men were utterly unable to render any help.
The sun went down in a fiery sky, night was drawing on and the majority of the assembled people, with heavy hearts, went home. During the evening various schemes were devised for rescue attempts and Mr John Ormerod guaranteed £50 to a boat?s crew at the bay if they succeeded in bringing off the captain. An Encounter Bay Aborigine volunteered, for a consideration, to swim to the wreck with a rope, while a small boat was despatched by Mr Evans, by land, to be launched as soon as practicable. However, during the evening it was reported that the captain was safe ashore. Fortuitously, there was a wind shift and he was able to float a cask ashore with a rope attached following which rescuers were able to haul him through the surf. Records vary as to whether 15 or 16 were drowned, but several large coffins were made from the wrecked vessel and the victims buried in the nearby sandhills.
The loss of the steamer Melbourne at the Murray mouth is reported in the Chronicle,
26 November 1859, page 5g.
"Survey of the Coast" is in the Observer,
22 June 1861, page 1b (supp.),
"Marine Surveys" in the Express,
30 January 1868, page 2b.
A history of coastal surveys from 1862 is in the Register,
29 June 1871, page 5e and of
"Maritime Affairs" on
25 December 1915, page 8g,
"The Admiralty Surveys of South Australia" is in the Observer,
5 February 1881, page 236e; also see
Chronicle,
19 February 1881, page 2 (supp.).
"Marine Surveys" is in the Observer,
25 April 1868, page 13c,
"The Coast Survey" in the Chronicle,
1 July 1871, page 6d,
"The Coast Survey" in the Observer,
16 June 1877, page 12d.
A marine survey of the West Coast is reported in the Register,
27 March 1877, page 5a.
"Shipwrecks on the Coast" is in the Observer,
4 and 11 January 1862, pages 3d and 6d,
"The Southern Ports" on
15 February 1862, page 6c.
"Sailors and Sea Captains" is in the Observer,
20 August 1864, page 4c.
A complimentary dinner to Captain Bruce of the City of Adelaide is reported in the Express,
20 January 1865, page 2d; also see
12 December 1867, page 2c,
14 May 1868, page 2e,
27 October 1868, page 2d,
5 December 1868, page 3e,
12 August 1878, page 3e,
An obituary of Captain David Bruce is in the Register,
31 March 1903, page 5a.
"An Old Mariner - Return of Captain John Bruce" is in the Register,
18 November 1912, page 7b;
his obituary appears on
26 August 1915, page 7b.
An account of a "clipper" race between the Yatala and the City of Adelaide is in the Register,
11 June 1867, page 2g.
The grounding of the City of Adelaide at Kirkcaldy is reported in the Observer,
17 October 1874, page 20c
(a sketch is in the Australasian Sketcher,
2 October 1874, page 108).
Information on the City of Adelaide is in the Register,
31 January 1924, page 11c,
6 January 1928, page 9b,
Observer,
14 January 1928, page 18d,
The loss of the government schooner Yatala is reported in the Observer,
18 February 1865, page 6d and
of the Agnes on
25 March 1865, page 5a; also see
Chronicle,
1 April 1865, page 2g,
Express,
2 August 1876, page 3d.
The loss of the Yatala is reported in the Chronicle,
8 June 1872, page 5e.
Storms and wrecks over the period 1856-1865 are itemised in the Observer,
27 May 1865, page 8d.
"A Port for South Australia" is in the Register,
2 September 1865, page 2f.
"Free Ports for South Australia" is in the Chronicle,
9 September 1865, page 4a.
A photograph of the Henry Ellis, which was engaged in the first settlement in the Northern Territory, is in the Observer,
6 May 1905, page 26,
of the Mary Ellis in Sleaford bay on
4 May 1907, page 27.
The arrival of HMS Curacoa is reported in the Observer,
14 April 1866, page 3f.
Information on the missionary ship, John Williams, is in the Register,
5, 9 and 10 May 1866, pages 2g, 3f and 2h,
Observer,
12 May 1866, page 8a; also see
12 July 1867, page 6d.
John Williams IV is discussed in the Observer,
25 August 1894, page 14b.
"Our Visitors [War Vessels]" is in the Register,
16 April 1866, page 2f.
"A Day With the Shipping Reporter" is in the Chronicle,
19 May 1866, page 7f.
An account of a "clipper" race between the Yatala and the City of Adelaide is in the Register,
11 June 1867, page 2g.
"Our Southern Sea-Coast" is in the Observer,
4 January 1868, page 12f.
"Crossing the Line" is in the Express,
26 October 1868, page 3b.
"The Cruise of the Flinders" is in the Chronicle,
8 May 1869, page 6a.
The wreck of theFlying Cloud on Carpenter Rocks is reported in the Observer,
16 April 1870, page 4g and
the founding of the Lady Fergusson off Aldinga on
23 April 1870, page 5c,
the stranding of the Black Diamond and Carnaquheen near Wallaroo on
1 June 1872, page 8b-d and
21 September 1872, page 3e.
- In April 1870 a settler named Varcoe at Carpenter Rocks reported to the police and Harbour master that a brig had been wrecked there. She was the Flying Cloud and went aground during a thick fog. Captain Urquhart, his wife and child, and a crew of six Lascars all got safely to land in the boats, while the hull, lying in two halves, were sold subsequently to Mr John Livingstone for five pounds, while a few spare sails and other items of salvage were sold by auction to other purchasers. Her cargo of sugar was a complete loss while two or three bags of the ship?s ration sugar were saved by means of the boats which went out to the wreck five times until she broke up.
The visit of a Russian warship is reported in the Observer,
14 May 1870, page 15e.
"The Coal Fleet", information on the Black Diamond Line, is in the Register,
27 February 1871, page 5b,
Observer,
4 March 1871, page 7d.
"The Convict Brig" is in the Register, 29 June 1871, page 6c.
The arrival of HMSS Blanche is reported in the Register,
10 February 1871, page 5e.
The founding of the Beltana south of Kangaroo Island is reported in the Observer,
4 and 25 November 1871, pages 8f and 15b and
of the Eclair at Normanville on
8 March 1873, page 7d,
11 October 1873, page 7g,
28 February 1874, page 6c,
the Fairfield at Cape Cassini on
15 August 1874, page 5e.
Information on the Jaffa which was brought from England in pieces and built near Cape Jaffa, is in the Observer,
18 May 1872, page 8f,
1 June 1872, page 8c.
"Desertion of Seaman" is in the Express,
16 July 1872, page 2c.
"An Ocean Race" from England to Semaphore between the Beltana and Outalpa is reported in the Observer,
31 August 1872, page 15d.
The launch of a ketch at Port Adelaide is reported in the Observer,
7 December 1872, page 7e.
An exhibition of underwater diving equipment is reported upon in the Express,
20 January 1873, page 2d.
A visit by HMS Clio is reported in the Chronicle,
8 and 15 February 1873, pages 6f and 4e,
of HMS Barracouta in the Express,
21, 25 and 28 November 1874, pages 3d, 3g and 3b, and
of HMS Nymph in the Chronicle,
17 July 1875, page 17c,
HMS Pearl in the Express,
3 and 13 February 1875, pages 3c and 2c,
HMS Sappho on
12 April 1875, page 3c,
HMS Diamond and HMS Espiegle in the Chronicle,
15 April 1882, page 9d,
HMS Dart on
24 February 1883, page 8b,
HMS Nelson on
8 December 1883, page 9c,
of HMS Nelson and HMS Opal on
16 June 1887, page 5a.
"The Wheat Fleet at Port Adelaide" is in the Chronicle,
22 February 1873, page 12d.
"Mr Plimsoll and the Mercantile Marine" is in the Observer,
31 May 1873, page 10e.
"Sailors' Boarding Houses" is in the Express,
4 August 1873, page 2c; also see Port Adelaide - Prince Alfred Sailors' Home
"Offences by Seamen" on
25 March 1874, page 2a; also see
26 August 1876, page 2b.
"An Hour on Board the Survey Schooner" is in the Chronicle,
23 August 1873, page 7a.
For information on the Black Diamond Line see Port Adelaide - Ships and Shipping.
The wreck of the schooner Adelaide near Wallaroo is reported in the Observer,
8 November 1873, page 6c and
of the Iron King on
20 December 1873, page 10a,
10 January 1874, page 11e,
Register,
20 December 1873, page 5c and
6 January 1874, page 6a.
The grounding of the Iron King on Troubridge Shoal is reported in the Chronicle,
10 January 1874, page 8f and
of the Gurvan at Port Adelaide in the Observer,
28 February 1874, page 5g,
the Fairfield at Cape Cassini on
15 and 22 August 1874, pages 5e and 5f,
the City of Adelaide at Kirkcaldy on
17 October 1874, page 20c
(a sketch is in the Australasian Sketcher,
2 October 1874, page 108),
the Cornuvia at Port Adelaide on
21 November 1874, page 10g,
9 January 1875, page 13c,
the Empress south of Semaphore on
17 April 1875, page 7g,
the Royal Shepherd at Troubridge on
1 May 1875, page 7g.
"Navigation of Gulf St Vincent" is in the Register,
12 January 1874, page 5a.
"Visit to the Hesperus" is in the Observer,
16 May 1874, page 10c.
"Shipmasters and Sailors" is in the Express,
29 November 1875, page 3a;
an editorial on refractory seamen appears on
29 March 1876, page 2b.
"A Trip Around the Coast" is described in the Advertiser,
14 and 17 February 1876, pages 5e and 4e.
Navigation of the Gulf of St Vincent is discussed in the Register,
12 January 1874, page 5a.
A letter in respect of a monument to commemorate Matthew Flinders is in the Register,
24 December 1874, page 5e.
"Our Steam Coastal Trade" is in the Observer,
10 April 1875, page 13c.
The loss of the Kadina and Wallaroo near Wallaroo is reported in the Observer,
22 May 1875, page 14c.
The stranding of the Lightning on Troubridge Shoal is reported in the Chronicle,
15 July 1876, page 5a,
of the Agnes near MacDonnell Bay on
22 and 29 July 1876, pages 8e and 6c,
of the Umgeni near Glenelg is reported in the Observer,
19 August 1876, page 9f,
the Postboy in Saint Vincent Gulf on
23 and 30 December 1876, pages 16a and 11d,
3, 10 and 17 March 1877, pages 12b, 11g and 7a,
the Coorong on
13 January 1877, page 13b.
The wreck of the Sarah near Point Lowly is reported in the Chronicle,
30 December 1876, page 10c.
The wreck of the Emily Smith at Cape Borda is reported in the Observer,
26 May 1877, page 3f-12b,
16 June 1877, page 12d,
theEdith Haviland on Carpenter Rocks on
23 June 1877, page 3b,
the Freebridge at Waterloo Bay in the Chronicle on
7 July 1877, page 10b.
- In June 1877, outward bound from Port Adelaide to Sydney with a cargo of flour, the Edith Haviland was wrecked about 10 miles west of Carpenter Rocks and about four miles from where the Geltwood was wrecked a few months earlier. Information was brought into MacDonnell Bay shortly after noon on 20 June that a servant of Captain Gardiner had found a sailor on the beach by the name of Willam Adams who had been wrecked. The unfortunate man was working his way along the coast by means of direction posts that had recently been placed there. He stated that the master, two mates and six men were still on board but that the captain?s wife and three children had been drowned.. He himself swam ashore. Happily, the Claude Hanmilton was in MacDonnell Bay at the time and after discharging cargo she started by direction of Captain Melville, the Harbour Master, at 2.30 on Wednesday afternoon for the scene of the disaster. Later, in a report emanating from the Marine Board, the master was found guilty of grave neglect
For debates and public comment over the establishment of a quarantine station see Register,
2, 3, 4, 5, 17, 24 and 28 May 1877, pages 7c, 6f-g, 5a, 5f, 5b-g, 6f and 7a.
Also see
South Australia - Health - General Health Matters and
Place Names - Torrens Island.
"Finger-Posts on the Coast" for the guidance of shipwrecked mariners is in the Observer,
30 June 1877, page 7c.
Reminiscences of the wrecks of the Fanny and Maria are in the Register,
20 and 25 February 1878, pages 5g; also see
Express,
22 August 1870, for the Maria.
William Giles reminiscences on the Nashwauk and Star of Greece in The Mail,
27 August 1927, page 1d.
The arrival of the Sapphire is reported in the Express,
3 October 1877, page 3e.
A trial trip of the tug Yatala is reported in the Advertiser,
31 May 1878, page 6a.
The arrival of the dredger Torrens is reported in the Register,
28 February 1878, page 6e; also see
10 April 1878, page 5g.
The reminiscences of Captain Underwood are in the Chronicle,
20 July 1878, page 20c,
10 August 1878, page 20b,
"Capt. Emanuel Underwood - Early Voyages and Adventures" is in the Register,
29 August 1922, page 5f,
5 September 1922, page 9c.
The grounding of the Queen of the South at the Murray-Mouth is reported in the Observer,
9 November 1878, page 11a and
the Sorata at Cape Jervis on
11 September 1880, page 449a.
Sketches are in Frearson's Weekly,
11 and 18 September 1880, pages 420 and 436.
"The Floating of the Sorata" is in the Register,
15, 17 and 27 November 1880, pages 4d-5g, 6g and 5a-g,
2 and 3 December 1880, pages 4c-1a (supp.) and 6d,
19 May 1881, page 6f,
24 June 1881, page 1f (supp.).
A proposed Shipmasters' Protection Society is discussed in the Express,
29 January 1879, page 3b.
"On Board the Zephyr During a Dirty Night in the Gulf" is in the Observer,
29 March 1879, page 12a.
"Our Dredging Fleet" is in the Register,
28 December 1880, page 7a.
The stranding of the Chimborazo is reported in the Register,
11, 12 and 14 January 1881, pages 5e, 4e-1c (supp.), 5b and 4g,
5 February 1881, pages 5a-6e.
The stranding of the Garonne near Troubridge Island is reported in the Chronicle,
29 March 1879, page 8d; also see
7 January 1882, page 9a.
The burning of the hulk, Kadina, is reported in the Observer,
3 May 1879, page 11g.
The Admiralty survey of South Australia by the Beatrice is reported in the Register,
31 January 1881, page 6c.
The trial trip of the Mermaid is reported in the Register,
14 February 1881, page 5a.
The formation of the SA Ship-Owners' Association is reported in the Register,
20 April 1881, page 4e; also see
4 April 1882, page 1c (supp.).
The loss of the Experiment off Althorpe Islands is reported in the Register,
10, 11, 12 and 14 May 1881, pages 6d, 6f, 7c and 5a,
Chronicle,
21 May 1881, page 22e and
the Amelia in Avoid Bay on
3 March 1883, page 9g.
Seamen's grievances are aired in the Advertiser,
8 and 28 June 1881, pages 6g and 4d.
"Our Maritime Laws" is in the Register,
10 June 1881, page 6d,
23 July 1881, page 6b,
9 August 1881, page 6d.
"Maritime Disasters" is in the Register,
18 June 1881, page 4f.
"The Sarah Bell Case" is in the Register,
5 and 6 August 1881, pages 4d-6e and 5b.
The arrival of the German corvette, Carola, is reported in the Register,
9, 11 and 16 February 1882, pages 5f, 6c and 5a,
Express,
9 February 1882, page 3e,
of the Russian squadron on
27 and 28 February 1882, pages 2b and 2b,
Register,
27 and 28 February 1882, pages 4g-6a and 5g,
1 and 2 March 1882, pages 5a an 5g,
of the Japanese corvette, Ryujo, in the Register,
10 and 12 May 1887, pages 7a and 5a,
Observer,
14 and 28 May 1887, pages 32e and 5d.
An obituary of Captain George B. Johnston is in the Chronicle,
1 July 1882, page 7g; also see
Chronicle,
5 April 1934, page 31.
The arrival of the German gunboat, Habicht, is reported in the Observer,
25 March 1882, page 34d,
of HMS Espieglein the Register,
13 April 1882, page 6a.
"Smuggling" is in the Register,
14 February 1882, page 4c,
24 March 1882, page 6b.
"How I Got to Adelaide", an account of a voyage from Melbourne, is in the Observer,
15 July 1882, page 41e.
The arrival of HMS Nelson is reported in the Register,
2 December 1882, page 6b,
3 March 1886, page 6d.
A presentation to Captain Lockyer is reported in the Chronicle,
7 July 1883, page 12g.
"The London-Australia Shipping Ring" is in the Register,
11 October 1883, page 4f.
The wreck of the Mars at West Bay on Kangaroo Island is reported in the Observer,
4 July 1885, page 33 and
the Fannie M in the Chronicle,
27 June 1885, page 4e
of the You Yang on Kangaroo Island on
17 and 21 June 1890, pages 5a and 7a.
"French Man-of-War [Magon] at Glenelg" is in the Chronicle,
22 August 1885, page 23d.
Register,
22 and 24 August 1885, pages 7b and 7b,
of the warship Duchaffault on
18 February 1888, page 5b.
Photographs of a visit of the French Navy are in the Observer,
20 and 27 January 1923, pages 28-29 and 27.
Information on sea-mail contracts is in the Register,
27 October 1885, page 6c.
Also see South Australia - Communications - Sea Mail.
The arrival of HMS Opal is reported in the Register,
31 August 1885, page 7a.
Ships' captains and their crews are discussed in the Register,
30 March 1887, page 6a.
The arrival of HMS Rapid is reported in the Register,
22 October 1886, page 5f.
A gulf trip on the SS Franklin is reported in the Express,
27 December 1887, page 2c.
"The Gulf Trip" in the Register,
29 and 31 January 1912, pages 5h and 6f-7a,
The Critic,
21 January 1914, page 6,
The Mail,
6 December 1913, page 5f,
29 April 1922, page 15g,
3 February 1923, page 7g.
"A Happy Time at Sea" - On the Morialta" is in the Register on
31 January 1912, page 7a,
Observer, 13 July 1912, page 47b.
Photographs are in the Observer,
10 February 1912, page 32,
Chronicle,
6 April 1929, page 41.
Also see South Australia - Miscellany - Leisure & Allied Matters.
"Ten Days Cruise With the Field Naturalists" is in the Register,
9 April 1888, page 6d.
"Our Marine Administration - A Retrospect" is in the Register,
3 September 1888, page 6d; also see
4, 6, 11, 12, 17 and 28 September 1888, pages 7a, 7h, 7a, 4g, 7a and 7h.
"An Outer Harbour for South Australia" is in the Observer,
24 November 1888, page 25b;
also see Place Names - Outer Harbour.
The grounding of the Ashmore at the Althorpe's is reported in the Chronicle,
17 November 1888, page 23c and
of the Maldon Lewis at Point Morrison on
16 February 1889, page 8b.
A banquet to Captain Angel is reported in the Register,
16 January 1889, page 6c and
biographical deatails of W.R. Claridge on
22 April 1889, page 5a.
A banquet for Mr G. von der Heyde is reported in the Register,
30 May 1889, page 5a.
The stranding of the Apollo near Port Augusta is reported in the Register,
30 December 1889, page 5h,
of the Glen Rosa near Cape Banks is reported in the Register,
23 January 1890, page 4f,
Chronicle,
25 January 1890, page 9b,
the Cathcart at Cape Jervis in the Observer,
13 September 1890, page 29a and
the Theophane on Sir Joseph Banks Islands on
8 and 29 August 1891, pages 31a and 34b.
A photograph of the Notre Dame de la Garde ashore near the Port Adelaide lighthouse is in the Pictorial Australian in November 1890, page 153.
Information on the arrival of the Storm King is in the Express,
9 and 11 August 1890, pages 2d and 4c.
"Maritime Board of Conciliation" is in the Register,
30 August 1890, page 6e.
"The Great Strike of 1890" is in the Observer,
22 and 29 November 1890, pages 33-34 and 5-6.
The arrival of the Austrian warship Saida is reported in the Express,
16 January 1891, page 3f.
The lost ketch Ruby is discussed in the Observer,
5 September 1891, page 29e.
The arrival of the Australian Auxiliary Squadron is reported in the Observer,
3 and 10 October 1891, pages 32c and 31a.
Information on the hulk, Success, is in the Express,
11 November 1891, page 7f,
15 November 1895, page 2c; also see
Register,
25 and 29 May 1894, pages 3e and 7a,
4 June 1894, page 7g and
11 August 1894, page 7e,
30 March 1895, page 4h.
Information on other hulks appears on
23 August 1902, page 4h.
"A Remarkable Nautical Invention" is in the Observer,
19 November 1892, page 41d.
"The Explosion of the Hazel Branch" is in the Register,
12 and 14 September 1893, pages 6a and 6c.
The arrival of the French Warship, Duguay Trouin, is reported in the Register,
30 November 1893, page 6c.
The wreck of the Aeolus at Cape Banks is reported in the Chronicle,
8 September 1894, page 9g.
- The Aelous bound from Cape Town for Sydney went ashore on the Agnes Reef off Cape Banks on the morning of 2 September 1894. The crew were ordered to take to boats and they succeeded in landing near Mr Carrison?s camp - Mr W. Carrison had guided the party by signals to a safe landing place. The site of the wreck was close to where the Admella was wrecked and where many vessels had come to grief ?the last being the Glen Rosa?.
An obituary of Captain Alexander McCoy is in the Chronicle,
5 October 1895, page 19a.
Biographical details of Richard Jagoe are in the Observer,
16 February 1895, page 16a.
The stranding of the Castle Holme at Sturt Bay is reported in the Register,
1 May 1895, page 7e.
Biographical details of Captain Weir are in the Observer,
18 April 1896, page 30a.
The retrieval of sovereigns from the wreck of SS Catterthun is discussed in the Observer,
12 September 1896, page 14b.
"The Shipping Trade of SA - Some Early Records" is in the Register,
7 November 1896, page 7d.
"A Floating Palace - The New Mailboat", RMS China, is in the Advertiser,
25 January 1897, page 6d,
"Changes in Sea Travel" on
23 April 1897, page 4g,
"The Shipping Trade" on
4 April 1898, page 5h.
The grounding of the Candida on Wardang Island is reported in the Chronicle,
26 February 1898, page 17d,
of the Lucretia on Buffalo Reef in the Observer,
23 September 1899, page 14a.
"A Tide Predicting Machine - An Ingenious Invention" is in the Observer,
8 January 1898, page 33d.
The wreck of the Lurline near Beachport is reported in the Register,
3 November 1898, page 7h,
1 and 23 December 1898, pages 7e and 3e.
- The Lurline, a coastal trading vessel, was wrecked near Beachport in November 1898. The captain was at the wheel when those on board felt her graze a rock and in another moment heard a loud thump when the rudder chains gave way. On looking over the side Captain Behn was astounded to see dry land and his cry went out, ?Hold on boys; dry land here.? The seas had evidently caught her just at the right moment and thrown her high up. . The crew, all told were four in number changed clothes and came ashore when two of them made their way over the sandhills to Beachport where some residents were aroused and proceeded to the scene of the wreck... It was miraculous how the ship had escaped for she came through about a mile of surf and breakers and took the shore in a sandy spot. Fifty yards north or south the coast was solid rock and stood out into the water...
Information on the wreck of the Tenterden at Port MacDonnell is reported in the Register, 1 July 1899, p. 10d.
"The Coasting Fleet" is in the Register,
6 June 1903, page 5g,
"Coasting Trade" on
15 August 1903, page 6e.
The arrival of the Italian warship, Etna, is reported in the Register,
14 April 1899, page 5b,
Observer,
22 April 1899, page 27c.
The wreck of the Loch Sloy on Kangaroo Island is reported in the Observer,
27 May 1899, page 31a.
"Sailing Ships - Famous Vessels Recalled" is in The Mail,
27 October 1928, page 3a.
The wrecking of the Glen Park on Wedge Island is reported in the Chronicle,
9 February 1901, page 31,
30 March 1901, page 31c and
of theGwydir near Tickera on
29 June 1901, page 34a,
2 November 1901, page 23a.
"Death of a Lonely French Sailor" is in the Observer,
17 August 1901, page 31c.
A steamer service for the West Coast is discussed in the Express,
18 September 1901, page 2c.
An obituary of Captain Hansford Ward is in the Express,
17 February 1903, page 1g,
of Captain Thomas Swiggs on
25 August 1903, page 4c.
"Oil in Bulk" is in the Register,
10 and 11 September 1901, pages 8g and 4f.
The arrival of the NDL training ship, Herzogin Sophie Charlotte, is reported in the Observer,
14 December 1901, page 24a.
The arrival of a Russian cruiser is reported in the Observer,
11 April 1903, page 32e.
Photographs of the Japanese Squadron during its visit to SA are in the Observer,
16 May 1903, pages 25-26,
Chronicle,
16 May 1903, pages 41-42; also see
16 April 1910, page 34.
"Ambassadors of Friendship - Japanese Training Ships Arrive" is in the Observer,
30 June 1928, page 10d. Also see
Observer,
23 February 1926, page 34.
Photographs are in the Observer,
7 July 1928, page 35.
"The Coasting Fleet" is in the Register,
6 and 10 June 1903, pages 5g and 10e,
Observer,
13 June 1903, page 34a; also see
4 July 1903, page 3b.
"The Steamer Investigator" is in the Register,
3 June 1903, page 8c.
Information on and photographs of the wreck of the Ethel on Reef Head are in the Chronicle,
16 and 23 January 1904, pages 35a and 44,
of the Margitnear Kingston on
25 November 1911, page 45a,
24 February 1912.
The question "Is the Sailing Ship Doomed?" is in the Register,
14 March 1904, page 4c,
"The Passing of the Clipper" on
18 August 1904, page 7e,
"The Coastal Trade" on
21 September 1904, page 7d,
20 November 1907, page 9f.
"Shipping Nomenclature" is in the Register,
21 March 1904, page 6f.
The "Record Sailing Passage", United Kingdom to Australia, is in the Register,
26 April 1905, page 6e,
"Forerunners of Today's Fleets" on
5 October 1907, pages 4g-8d-13h.
The grounding of the barque Lochee at Grange is reported in the Express,
8 February 1906, page 4d.
"Exporting Wheat - A Busy Coastal Fleet" is in the Advertiser,
13 February 1906, page 5g.
An obituary of George Wills is in the Observer,
22 December 1906, page 38d.
The arrival of the Italian cruiser Calabria is reported in the Observer,
6 January 1906, page 45d.
The wreck of the Montebello on Kangaroo Island is reported in the Observer,
24 November 1906, page 43
(photos are in the Chronicle,
1 December 1906, page 31),
the stranding of the Willyama at Marion Bay in the Observer,
20 April 1907, page 43;
photographs are in the Observer,
20 April 1907, page 28,
4 may 1907, page 28.
"A Forgotten Wreck [Eliza Corry] - Japanese Care for the Graves of Adelaide Sailors" is in the Register,
29 May 1907, page 9e.
The wrecking of the Aagot (Asgot?)at Wardang Island is reported in the Observer,
19 October 1907, page 45a,
the Clan Ranaldin Saint Vincent Gulf on
6 February 1909, page 33c;
photographs are in the Chronicle,
6 February 1909, pages 29-30,
Observer,
6 February 1909, pages 29-30,
Register,
31 January 1917, page 5c.
The sinking of the Norma off Semaphore is reported in the Observer,
27 April 1907, page 40,
"The Sunken Norma - A Menace to Shipping" is in the Advertiser,
22 December 1909, page 12a; also see
22 January 1910, page 9g.
Photographs of the collision between the Norma, Jessie Darling and the Ardencraig are in the Chronicle,
27 April 1907, page 27,
Observer,
27 April 1907, page 27.
"Raising the Jessie Darling" is in the Register,
7 November 1907, page 4h,
7 January 1908, page 4g.
"New Island Steamer [Karatta]" is in the Register,
20 November 1907, page 9f,
4 and 7 December 1907, pages 8g and 12e.
"Spencer Gulf Trade - Arrival of the Paringa" is in the Advertiser,
11 July 1908, page 9g.
The arrival of the Koombana is reported in the Express,
17 February 1909, page 1d; also see
4 April 1912, page 2g.
Reminiscences of W. Barlow on the voyage of the Moontafor Port Darwin in 1868 are in the Register,
28 December 1908, page 7d,
Observer,
2 January 1909, page 48b.
"Shipwrecks" is in the Register,
16 February 1909, page 4d.
The invention of a signal lamp by Leslie R. Sundercombe is reported in the Advertiser,
3 May 1909, page 6e.
The wreck of SS Investigator near Moonta Bay is reported in the Register,
18 August 1910, page 6d.
The arrival of Dutch warships is reported in the Register,
24 October 1910, page 4i,
Express,
27 October 1910, page 1g.
Photographs of a visit of the Dutch navy are in the Chronicle,
25 September 1930, page 38.
"The Australian Destroyers - Reception at Port Adelaide" is in the Express,
6 December 1910, page 1i.
"The Dredger Adelaide" is in the Register,
17 December 1910, page 19e.
The wreck of the Time near Beachport is reported in the Chronicle,
21 January 1911, page 45a,
of the Songvaar on
10 August 1912, page 29 (photos).
"Men of the Merchant Service" is in the Register,
30 September 1911, page 7b.
"Men of the Fo'c'tle" on
2 October 1911, page 2a.
"A First Trip on a Coaster" is in the Register,
11 October 1911, page 8f.
"Aboard the Trawler" in the Register,
14 February 1912, page 10d.
An obituary of Captain Charles Dingle is in the Register,
20 September 1913, page 16b,
reminiscences of Captain J.C. Watson on
19 November 1913, page 14d,
Captain Richardson in The Mail,
11 October 1913, page 8c,
"The Late Captain H.D. Dale" on
6 December 1913, page 6e.
A report of the wrecking of theJean Bart on Wardang Island is in the Chronicle,
15 March 1913, page 42a.
"The Coastal Fleet - Arrival of the Wandilla" is in the Advertiser,
4 January 1913, page 21e,
"Captain Inglis Retires" on
30 June 1915, page 11d;
his obituary is in the Chronicle,
7 May 1921, page 15g,
Observer,
7 May 1921, page 31d.
"Home for the Harbours Board" is in the Register,
6 May 1914, page 8g.
Biographical details of Captain P. Weir are in the Register,
10 July 1915, page 8g.
"A Port of the Future - Goolwa or Victor Harbor" is in the Advertiser,
18 August 1915, page 13a.
"Maritime History" is in the Register,
25 December 1915, page 8g.
"The Romance of the Ferret - From Pirate Ship to Gulf Tripper" is in the Register,
17 January 1914, page 15a,
"The Ferret Aground" on
15, 16 and 17 November 1920, pages 7a, 5a and 8a.
"Beer from the Ferret - Alleged Orgie on the Peninsula" is in the Register,
23 November 1920, page 5a.
"History of Famous Windjammers" is in the Register,
6 and 13 February 1915, pages 12d and 12c.
"Romantic Sails With the Grain Fleet" is in the Chronicle,
4 February 1937, page 51b.
Biographical details of O.H. Rogers, Chief Engineer of the Harbours Board, are in the Observer,
1 January 1916, page 32e,
of Captain T.E. Creer on
4 September 1926, page 62e,
of J.B. Labbatt on
14 May 1928, page 14a.
"Old Time Wrecks" is in the Register,
31 August 1916, page 9g,
Observer,
9 June 1923, page 52a,
"Early Disasters Recalled" in The Mail,
15 March 1924, page 1a.
A list of wrecks on the South Australian coasts is in the Register,
29 December 1919, page 6c,
31 August 1923, page 10e,
"Old Time Wrecks in SA Waters" on
30 May 1923, page 11g,
1 June 1923, page 12d.
"Early Shipping - The Torrens and Orient" is in the Register,
15 and 21 December 1916, pages 10f and 7g,
"Old Australian Ships" on
23 December 1916, page 5a.
"A Memory of the Torrens" is in the Observer,
26 May 1928, page 68a.
"Adelaide's Most Famous Clipper",
the Torrens, is in the Chronicle,
28 January 1932, page 49c.
"Old Ships and Shipmasters" is in the Register,
6 January 1917, page 4h,
reminiscences of the Clan Ranald on
31 January 1917, page 5c.
"Wrecks, Wreckers and Wrecking - Old Disasters" is in the Observer,
3 February 1917, page 35c.
The wreck of the Kona on Kangaroo Island is reported in the Observer,
10 February 1917, page 14b.
Biographical details of Captain R. Glenn are in the Register,
28 April 1917, page 8h.
"Refitting Old Hulks" is in the Advertiser,
20 August 1917, page 6g.
"Steamer Pareora Lost - Wrecked on the Althorpes" is in the Register,
19 September 1919, page 7a.
"Heroes of the Pareora Wreck" is in The Critic,
24 November 1920, page 16.
The launching of the Eurimbla, the first overseas vessel built by Messrs Poole and Steel at Osborne, is reported in the Advertiser,
16 and 21 April 1921, pages 8i and 7a.
Also see Place Names - Eurimbla and
Place Names - Osborne.
Information on the Adelaide Steamship Company is in the Register,
15 April 1922, page 7e,
Observer,
22 April 1922, page 11b.
Photographs of "Historic Clippers of SA" are in the Chronicle,
20 May 1922, page 29.
"Spencer's Gulf Service" is in the Observer,
14 July 1923, page 24e,
3 November 1923, page 15e.
"Retirement of Capt. T.B. Richardson" is in the Register,
5 and 13 July 1923, pages 7h and 7f,
an obituary of Captain Marshall-Smith on
18 and 19 July 1923, pages 11e and 8c,
biographical details of Captain C.J. Clare on
6 April 1927, page 11c,
Register,
27 April 1900, page 5d.
Biographical details of Captain T.B. Richardson are in the Register,
5 July 1923, page 7h.
"The Roaring Forties in the Sixties" is in the Register,
11 June 1924, page 10a,
"Stories of the Sea" on
16 August 1924, page 11a,
6 September 1924, page 13d,
"Some Reminiscences - Afloat and Ashore", by Arthur Searcy, is in the Register,
6 June 1925, page 10g,
"Famous Old Ships" on
22 September 1925, page 12g.
"Wrecks on the Southern Coasts" is in the Observer,
12 July 1924, page 59a.
Photographs of the funeral of Fireman Greenman following a fire on the Singapore at Port Adelaide are in The Critic,
7 May 1924, page 11.
"The Clipper, Cutty Sark" is in the Register,
1 and 6 September 1924, pages 9g and 8f.
Biographical details of Captain Marcus M. Osborne are in the Register,
18 March 1925, page 9f.
"Eyre Peninsula Shipping Service" is in the Register,
30 July 1925, pages 8e-11e.
"Minnipa for Spencer's Gulf" is in the Advertiser,
20 May 1926, page 14c.
Its grounding on Boston Island is reported in The News,
29 May 1928, page 1f.
Photographs are in the Observer,
9 June 1928, page 36.
"Minnipa Fatality - Alleged Poisonous Food" is in the Observer,
26 February 1927, page 39b.
The vessel is described in the Observer,
30 July 1927, page 37c; also see
19 November 1927, page 8d.
"Decline of Sailing Ships" is in The News,
6 March 1926, page 4d,
"Last Days of Sail" in The Mail,
12 March 1927, page 1e,
"The Vanishing Windjammer" on
2 February 1935, page 2.
"Another Windjammer Race" is in the Observer,
12 January 1929, page 19a.
The reminiscences of Capt. William Rodrick are in The News,
5 April 1927, page 14e.
"Wireless to Ships - Rosewater Station" is in The News,
7 July 1927, page 11b.
Also see South Australia - Communications - Wireless.
"A Great Ocean Race - Wheat Ships Left Yesterday" is in the Register,
20 January 1928, page 10c.
Information on the City of Adelaide is in the Register,
6 January 1928, page 9b,
"A Great Ocean Race - Wheat Ships Left Yesterday" in the Register,
20 January 1928, page 10c.
Information on the ketch Napperby is in the Register,
17 and 18 February 1928, pages 12a and 13g,
Observer,
21 January 1928, page 11e and
the barque Garthpool on
28 January 1928, page 70c.
"A Great Ocean Race - Adelaide to Falmouth" is in the Observer,
28 January 1928, page 51a.
"The Motor Ship - Vessel of the Future" is in the Observer,
28 January 1928, page 20a.
"Jubilee of the Orient Company" is in the Register,
21 April 1928, page 10a.
"The Two Aldinga's" is in the Register,
2 June 1928, page 5d,
"Memories of the Goolwa - An Early Orient Windjammer" on
7, 9 and 13 July 1928, pages 5a, 13d and 16h.
"Port Adelaide Ketches" is in The News,
16 May 1929, page 20c,
"Vanishing Ketches of the Coast" in The Mail,
6 January 1934, page 4.
"The Manunda - An Outstanding Vessel" is in the Advertiser,
24 May 1929, page 14b.
"Builders Who Fashion Pleasure Boats" is in The News,
23 May 1929, page 18c.
The wreck of the Eleanor is reported in The News,
20 February 1930, page 4f.
"Work of the Harbors Board" is discussed in the Advertiser,
11 January 1932, page 8b.
Photographs of the windjammer Ponape at Port Lincoln are in the Chronicle,
25 February 1932, page 33.
"Tragic Record of Our Coast" is in the Advertiser,
7 May 1932, page 11g,
"Grain Ships' Exciting Race" on
1 September 1934, page 11g,
"Windjammers Away and the Wheat Race is On" in The News,
7 April 1936, page 6f.
An article on the "Last Cape Horn Fully-Rigged Ship", the Grace Harwar, is in the Chronicle,
26 September 1935, page 59.
"Windjammer's [Lawhill] Eventful Voyage" is in the Advertiser,
4 January 1937, page 12c.
"Sea Chanties - Versions and Origins" is in the Advertiser,
9 January 1937, page 9g.
"Sailing Ships Leave Europe for South Australia" is in the Advertiser, 19 October 1937, page 14d.
Maritime Affairs - Miscellany - Obituaries
An obituary of Captain Blanch is in the Register, 24 February 1880, page 5a,of Captain Daniel Tapley on 28 February 1881, page 5a.
An obituary of Captain George B. Johnston is in the Chronicle, 1 July 1882, page 7g; also see Chronicle, 5 April 1934, page 31.
An obituary of George Wells is in the Observer, 29 October 1887, page 30b,
biographical details of Captain Thomas E Creer on 15 June 1895, page 16a,
an obituary of Captain Alexander Inglis on 4 June 1898, page 16d.
An obituary of Captain Harry Walker is in the Observer, 6 December 1890, page 30a,
of Alexander McGregor on 12 June 1897, page 29a,
of W. Holder on 7 March 1908, page 40a,
of Captain William Crocker on 13 March 1909, page 40b,
of Captain W.J. Ellis on 29 May 1915, page 45a, of F.W. Vasey on 28 August 1926, page 60c.
An obituary of Captain James English is in the Observer, 16 and 23 March 1895, pages 29e and 28d,
of Captain Alexander McCoy in the Chronicle, 5 October 1895, page 19a.
An obituary of Captain E.L. Bartlett is in the Observer, 8 June 1901, page 23a,
of Captain Hansford Ward in the Express, 17 February 1903, page 1g,
of Captain Thomas Swiggs on 25 August 1903, page 4c,
of Captain Charles Brown on 10 August 1907, page 40b,
of Captain Charles Hill on 14 September 1907, page 40c.
An obituary of George Wills is in the Observer, 22 December 1906, page 38d,
of W.E. Slade, Assistant Engineer of Harbours and Jetties, on 24 February 1906, page 38d,
of Oswald Brown, Hydraulic Engineer for SA, on 24 March 1906, page 38b.
An obituary of John Wishart, bridge and jetty builder, is in the Observer, 28 July 1906, page 38c.
An obituary of George Wisdom, Inspector of Jetties, is in the Observer, 24 February 1912, page 41b,
of W. Isbister on 24 January 1920, page 18d.
An obituary of Captain Charles Dingle is in the Register, 20 September 1913, page 16b,
reminiscences of Captain J.C. Watson on 19 November 1913, page 14d,
Captain Richardson in The Mail, 11 October 1913, page 8c,
"The Late Captain H.D. Dale" on 6 December 1913, page 6e.
An obituary of Captain Alexander Inglis is in the Register, 26 June 1915, page 6h,
of Captain W.H. Kinley on 21 May 1923, page 6h.
An obituary of Captain W.G. Delmont is in the Observer, 18 November 1916, page 34e,
of John W. McPherson on 8 June 1918, page 20a,
of Captain W.H. Kinley on 26 May 1923, page 35b,
of George W. Smith, shipping agent, on 28 April 1928, page 18c.
Maritime Affairs - Choose again
