Narrow Backstairs Passage separates Australia's third largest islan from South Australia's Cape Jervis. With Yorke Peninsular to the north separated by Investigator Strait, the island forms the southern shores of the entrance to Spencer Gulf. Kangaroo Island was discovered by Matthew Flinders in 1802, during his survey in the 'Investigator'. He named the island, saying, "in gratitude for so seasonable a supply, I name this southern land Kangaroo Island." It is now a prosperous island with four towns - Kingscote, American River, Penneshaw and the inland rural centre Parndana, and a population of 3000 involved in tourism, fishing and the land. The island is 145 km long lying east-west, and roughly fifty km wide.
Three magnificent lighthouses were built in 1852, 1858 and 1906, respectively. Cape Willoughby (to the east), Cape Borda (north-west) and Cape Du Couedic (north-south). No less than twelve conservation parks exist on the island. Native life flourishes as the island is free from foxes and dingoes to attack small marsupials, and there are no rabbits to destroy the fauna. Over eighty shipwrecks are literally scattered around the island, the largest being the 5865 ton Japanese freighter Portland Maru, lost in 1935. The most famous however are the 1552 ton fully-rigged clipper Loch Vennachar, lost of the far west tip of the island, and the 1280 ton ship Loch Sloy, also lost at the western end of the island, in 1899. Chapman writes, 'The surfbound, rugged and precipitous coastline of Kangaroo Island claimed many ships and lives during the latter part of the (19th) century.
However, in the later years, after more lighthouses had been erected, and ships had become equipped with more modern and sophisticated instruments and radio, shipping now moves around this previously treacherous island in greater safety'. Even so, many vessels were lost in the latter half of the 20th century, mainly due to the proliferation of fishing in the islands rich waters. Kangaroo Island offers excellent diving, not only on shipwrecks, but also for its magnificent marine life, particularly the beautiful seadragons. Offshore, the Great White is frequently known to feed on the large seal colony on the island.
References:
The main references consulted to date are those by Chapman [GC] and
Loney [LS], although it must be stressed that the prolific work of South
Australian-based historian Ron Parsons has not as yet been included. Gifford
Chapman is the most authorative and informative source, a Kangaroo Island
resident (and diver) who has discovered the location of a few of the wrecks
and has had access to local knowledge, as well as the formality of the
reading rooms.
[84 records]
Associated links: SOUTH
AUSTRALIA
Albert. Two-masted wooden schooner, 19 tons. Built Port Adelaide, 1863; reg. Adelaide, 1863, 1875. Lbd 45.8 x 12.4 x 5 ft. Broke from her moorings while anchored in Antechamber Bay, Kangaroo Island and drifted ashore, wrecked, 7 June 1874. [LS],[GC]
Amber Star. Shark fishing baot, 32 tons. Built Smithton, Tasmania, 1966. Lbd 50 x 16.6 x 7 ft. Launched as Gabanel. Skipper Gus Mere. From Port Adelaide on a shark fishing trip, lost off Kangaroo Island, 14 January 1973. She had been hit by a huge wave which had sprung her planking. Sank whilst under tow to the vessel Westward, one mile south of Cape Bouger [LS],[GC]
Argyle. Coastal steamer. Involved in rescue - see schooner Vale, lost north of Cape Borda, Kangaroo Island, 1900. [GC]
Atalanta. Oyster cutter, 8 tons. Wrecked in heavy weather at Emu Green,
western end of Kangaroo Island, 28 November 1860. Two men picked up by
cutter Henry and Mary. [GC]
Barcoo. HMAS. Involved in rescue - see Grelka, lost off Kangaroo Island,
1957. [GC]
Breeze. Cutter, 18 tons. Built 1848. Lbd 33.9 x 9.4 x 5.9 ft. Captain J. Moraje. Bound from Adelaide to Yankalilla, was forced south by a gale and wrecked near American River, Kangaroo Island, 5 July 1863. [LS]
Brothers. Fishing cutter, 50 ft. Lost when drifted ashore after the
anchor rope broke, Cape Cassini, Kangaroo Island, 13 June 1909. No lives
lost. [LS][GC]
@ Located in 1969 in ten feet, although only 700 lb of lead baallast
remained.
Byron. Brig, 174 tons. Dismasted in a squall off Kangaroo Island on
22 May 1860, while on a voyage from Fremantle to Adelaide; towed to Adelaide
for conversion to a hulk. [LS]
Cape Arid. South Australian Fisheries Department patrol boat. Capsized
near Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, 12 December 1979. One of two crew drowned.The
wreck washed up on the beach near Kangaroo Head, and was taken in tow to
Kingscote. [LS]
Clara. Yacht - see Grelka, lost off Kangaroo Island, 1957. [GC]
Cookaburra. Fishing boat. Built Milang, South Austraslia, early 1930s. Lbd 32 x 10 x 3.6 ft. Previously named Jason. In a gale, wrecked in Emu Bay, Kangaroo Island, 19 May 1962. [LS],[GC]
Corona Astron. Cutter, 18 ton. Built Hobart, 1928, as a two-masted fore and aft schooner. Skipper Dean Curtis. Wrecked ashore, north east of Cape St. Albans on Kangaroo Island, 3 March 1976. [LS],[#GC]
Cygnet. Two-masted topsail schooner, 74 tons. Built Port Adelaide, 1875.
Lbd 79 x 20 x 7.8 ft. Captain L. Hill. Disappeared off the northern coast
of Kangaroo Island, August 1905. All four crew lost their lives. She left
Port Adelaide for Port Victoria on 5 August, but failed to arrive. A few
days later wreckage was sighted in Investigator Strait and the remains
of the schooner were eventually located a few miles off shore. The ketch
Lureline later reported seeing the schooner sink, about 9 miles south of
Cape Yorke. [LS],[GC]
Daring. Ketch. Captain G.W. Phillips. Wrecked when she struck
an anchor left by a Mr. H.P.Bates in the fairway in the Hog Bay Basin,
Pennesahw, Kangaroo Island, SA, 10 August 1855. [GC],[LS - 10 August 1884,
anchor left by the vessel, H.P.Bates]
Duncow. Fully rigged sailing ship, 1115 tons. Captain F.A.Graves. Was abandoned in a gale, close to shore and at anchor below the precipitious cliffs of Cape du Couedic, Kangaroo Island, 25 May 1897. Crew saved after rowing for 24 hours. The tug Yatala was sent to the scene; to their surprise the Duncow still rode at anchor and after a battle against the sea her crew were placed back on board. After towing her clear the Yatala took her on past Cape Borda to Port Pirie. [LS],[#GC]
Dunmosa. Interstate collier. Stook by the stricken steamer Portland
Maru, off Kangaroo Island, 1935. [GC]
Ekalta. Fishing vessel. Built Port Adelaide, 1955. Lbd 56 x 15 x 6
ft. launched as Elka. Skipper J. Swincer. Hit a submerged object off Cape
Catastrophe, Kangaroo Island, 17 September 1972. Sank near Shag Cove,
but later salvaged. Under new owners, and with skipper Gus Mere in charge,
ran aground in Windmill Bay, under Cape Willoughby, eastern tip of Kangaroo
Island. Salvaged again by cutting her in half with a chain saw and dragging
the halves up the beach, where she was stripped of all useful fittings.
[#GC]
Elka. See fishing vessel Ekalta.
Emily Smith. Brigantine, 129 tons. Built 1849. Lbd 87.5 x 19.5 x 12 ft. Driven off course by rough weather while sailing from Albany to Port Adelaide with thirty-nine passengers and crew, forced ashore on the rugged west coast of Kangaroo Island, 15 May 1877. The brigantine broke up rapidly; only five survived to reach the shore. The party split up to seek help, three reaching the Cape Borda lighthouse. The Government steamer Governor Musgrave was sent. The other party of two were never seen again. [LS],[#GC]
Ester. Cutter. Involved in salvage. See fishing cutter Stormbird, lost Kangaroo Island, 1943. In 1966, involved in rescue - see vessel Jeanette S, lost Kangaroo Island. [GC]
Eva. Steamer, wooden, 8 tons. Built 1876. Lbd 38.6 x 9.3 x 5.3 ft. Spencer Gulf Steamship Company, then Adealide Steamtug Company in 1899, and others in 1896, 1903. In a leaking condition, beached, lost at Antechamber Bay,near Cape Willoughby, Kangaroo Island, 4 September 1903. [LS],[LI indicates beached ],[GC]
Ewbank. Two-masted schooner, 17 tons. Built Port Adelaide, 1851. Lbd
38 x 13.2 x 4.4 ft. In 1852 alteered to a two-masted barge, 40 x 13.8 x
3.5 ft. Lost on the south coast of Kangaroo Island, 1886. [GC],[LS]
Also listed:
Ewbank. Barge. Reported lost at Kangaroo Island, 1903. [LS]
Fairfield. Barque, wooden, 534 tons. Built at New York, 1846. Lbd 138.5
x 30.5 x 17.9 ft. Black Diamond Line. Captain J. Taylor. Wrecked on
rocks at Cape Cassini, Kangaroo Island, in hazy conditions, whilst in ballast
from Port Adelaide to Wallaroo, 9 August 1874. A boat was lowered,
and when a line was fastened all the crew reached safety. A salvage crew,
sent to the scene in the paddle tug Eleanor, were able to recover most
of her gear and stores. [LS],[LAH],[#GC]
Fanny M. Barque, composite, 678 tons. Built at Carleton, New Brunswick,
USA, 1877. Lbd 159.3 x 32.2 x 18.2 ft. Captain Samuel Henry Stockton. Ashore
in strong winds, a few miles north east from Kingscote, Kangaroo Island,
15 May 1884. Coal was jettisoned in an attempt to refloat her but she remained
fast until destroyed by a fire in mysterious circumstances two days later.
[LS],[LAH],[#GC]
@ Her anchors are about all that can be seen, in seven metres.
Favourite. Barque. Ashore at Antechamber Bay, Kangaroo Island, while sheltering from a gale, 1859. Sold, refloated, then converted into a coal hulk at Port Adelaide. [LS]
Fides. Wooden barque, 387 tons. Registered Finland. Captain Frederich
Aspland. Drifted ashore a few miles to the east of Cape Borda, Kangaroo
Island, 22 May 1859. Soon after striking she broke up rapidly and only
six of her crew of fifteen reached the shore. After resting for a few days
the crew left by lifeboat for Port Adelaide, and after a miserable voyage
eventually reached their destination about a fortnight after the wreck.
The schooner Alexander proceeded to the wreck and recovered some cargo.
[#GC],[LS],[LAH]
Gabanel. See shark fishing boat Amber Star, lost Kangaroo Island, 1973.
[GC]
George Home. Barque, 441 tons. Built 1809 as the 16 gun brig Talbot. Abandoned with eight feet of water in the hold and beginning to break up, about 150 nautical miles S.S.E. of Kangaroo Island, 25 April 1851. The crew spent several days in the boats before being picked up by the schooner Elizabeth near Cape Jervis. [LS]
Golden Hope. Fishing cutter, 60 ft. Lost in Nepean Bay, Kangaroo Island, after hitting an uncharted reef, March 1895. [GC],[LS - lost 1894]
Goulburn. Barge. Foundered between Cape Jervis and Kangaroo Island while under tow, 1856. [LS]
Governor Musgrave. Steamer. Involved in rescue - see loss of steamer Montebello on Kangaroo Island, 1906. [GC]
Grelka. Motor launch. Built Southampton, UK, 1910 as the Clara for Baron
von Bissing at the German Embassy in London. Confiscated by the Royal Navy
at the commencement of World War One. Shipped to Australia in 1930. Taken
over by thge Australian Navy at the outbreak of World War 2, and based
in Fremantle as a patrol vessel. Lbd 65 x 10.5 x 4.5 ft. Skipper Jack Wood.
On a fishing expedition, destroyed by two explosions in the engine room
when in Backstairs Passage off Kangaroo Island, 26 January 1955. Seven
people in a small dinghy had a harrowing trip to Cape St. Albans on the
eastern tip of Kangaroo Island, being followed, nudged and harrassed by
an eighteen foot shark (White Pointer?) which was finally distracted when
the defunct outboard was let loose and the shark followed it down. HMAS
Barcoo assisted in the rescue of the men from the rocks. [#GC],[LS]
Henry & Mary. Cutter. Involved in rescue - see cutter Atalanta,
Kangaroo Island, 1860. [GC]
Hougomont. Four masted barque, 2428 tons. Built at Greenock, 1897. Lbd
292.4 x 43.2 x 24 ft. Dismasted when 800 km south of Cape Borda, Kangaroo
Island, 20 April 1932; limped into Port Adelaide nineteen days later, where
she was condemned, then towed around to Stenhouse Bay and sunk there as
a breakwater. [LS]
Island Girl. Fishing boat. Sank off Kangaroo Island, 18 February 1981.
[LS]
Janet. Fishing boat, Built 1880, as a private yacht for the Commodore
Royal Yacht Club of Melbourne. Lbd 60 x 13 x 9-2 ft. Skipper Frank Frinsdorf.
Lost while crayfishing near Cape Cassini, Kangaroo Island, 29 March 1938.
Some equipment salvaged and taken to Adelaide on steamer Karatta. [LS],[#GC]
Jeanette S. Fishing cutter17.7 tons.. Built Sydney, 1913. Lbd 42.5 x 10.5 x 4.5 ft. 'A beautifully appointed vessel'. Skipper Harry Siborowski. Was crayfishing when she foundered off West Bay, Kangaroo Island, 28 April 1966. Crew saved. Cutter Ester involved in rescue. [LS],[GC]
Jedda. Fishing boat. Disappeared between Kangaroo Island and the SA mainland, 17 April 1985. Wreckage was recovered near Robe and at the mouth of the Murray River but there was no sign of the four crew. [LS]
Joan Margaret. Cutter, fishing boat. Built Western Beach, Geelong, 1948.
Lbd 47 x 13-9 x 6-6 ft. Sold to Kangaroo Island interests in 1961. Ashore
when her anchor parted while sheltering from a storm off Kangaroo Island,
18 March 1963. Lost near Black Point, three miles west of Cape Gantheaume.
[LS],[GS]
In 1953, under skipper Jack Olsen, aground at Port Campbell, Victoria,
in a storm.
Joliet Percy. Fishing boat. Wrecked on Kangaroo Island, 10 December
1990. Crew of four were rescued by flying fox. [LS]
Kangaroo. Two-masted schooner, 58 tons. Built at Kangaroo Island, 1855,
as a cutter of 36 tons; considerably enlarged in 1863 to a schooner of
lbd 80.5 x 15.9 x 7.2 ft. Ashore, wrecked, on a reef north of Cape Elizabeth,
SA, 10 February 1873. [LS]
Karatta. Steamer. Involved in rescue - see schooner Kona, lost Antechamber
Bay, 1917.
In 1938, involved in salvage - see fishing cutter Janet, lost near
Cape Cassini. [GC]
Kate. Cray boat. Wrecked in a storm of the north coast of Kangaroo Island, 1 December 1986. One life lost. [LS]
Kona. Four-masted schooner, 679 tons. Built Alamedo, California, 1901. Lbd 184 x 38.5 x 14 ft. Wrecked on a shoal when in gale in Backstairs Passage, Kangaroo Island after seventy- three days out from San Francisco, 3 January 1917. Lost in Antechamber Bay. The crew of eleven escaped shortly before she went to pieces, and returned to Adelaide on the steamer Karatta. [LS],[LAH],[#GC]
Kookaburra. Cutter, 28 ft. Built Largs Bay, SA, 1962. Lost off the Ravine
des Casoars, five miles south of Cape Borda, Kangaroo Island, 16 April
1963. Skipper Ted Zwolinski. Two men lost their lives. [LS],[GC]
Lismore Star. Fishing vessel. Built Sydney, 1945, as a service craaft
for the Australian Army. Arrived Adelaide private ownership 1949. Lbd 48
x 16 x 6 ft. Skipper William Wehl. Lost near Shag Rock, north coast
Kangaroo Island, just west of King George's beach, 30 April 1978. No lives
lost. [LS],[#GC]
Loch Sloy. Ship, iron, 1280/1225 tons. Built at Glasgow, Scotland, 1877. Lbd 225.3 x 35.6 x 21.2 ft for the Glasgow Shipping Line. Captain Nicol. Carrying 34 passengers and crew, on a passage from Glasgow to Melbourne via Adelaide, ran ashore on the south west coast of Kangaroo Island, 24 April 1899. Those on board took refuge in the rigging as giant seas swept the decks, but as the masts collapsed most were hurled to their death. Only four reached the shore alive. On the night of 8 May, fifteen days after the wreck, two survivors saw the Cape Borda light; another stumbled across the home of the May family. The person left behind did not survived. The steam tug Euro was despatched from Adelaide to make a search from the sea. [LS],[#NH],[ASW6],[LAH - iron barque],[#GC - barque]
Loch Vennachar. Full rigged iron clipper, 1552 tons. Built 1875. Lbd
250.1 x 38.3 x 22.4 ft. Owned by the Glasgow Shipping Company. Captain
Hawkins Bound for South Australia on what turned out to be her last voyage
out to Australia, she was sighted by S.S.Yongala on 6 September 1905, 160
miles west of the Neptune Islands, SA, about four days out of Port Adelaide.
When the Loch Vennachar was reported overdue the Government steamer Governor
Musgrave left to search for her on 18 September, but was unsuccessful.
More than two months later the Adelaide Observer reported the finding of
a body and piles of wreckage in the vicinity of West Bay, Kangaroo Island.
[#LS],[#LM],[ASW6],[CWR],[LAH],[#GC]
In 1892, June, under command of Captain Bennett, was run down and sunk
in the Thames (London) by the SS Corio, and remained on the bottom for
a month before being refloated.
@ The wreck was not found until 1976 by three members of the South
Australian Society for Underwater Historical Research. She lies just north
from the entrance into West Bay, in eight fathoms, below 100-foot cliffs.
Their find paved the way for a major expedition to the wreck. The inaccessibility
and dangerous seas place the wrecksite beyond the reach for casual sport
divers.
Lureline. Ketch. Capatin A.G.Littlely. Saw the schooner Cygney sink,
and attempted to render assistance, nine miles south of Cape York, South
Australia, 1905. [GC]
Magee Two. Shark-fishing boat. Wrecked near Port Lincoln, 8 August
1990. [LS]
Magic. Initially a racing yacht; shark-fishing boat when lost. Built Sydney, 1874. Lbd 48 x 12 x 9 ft. From West Bay to Kingscote, ashore on Kangaroo Island, 3 April 1958. Four crew safe. [LS],[#GC]
Mariner. Two-masted wooden schooner, 46 tons. Built Launceston 1839; reg. Launceston 1/1841, Melbourne 1 July, 6/1842, 2/1844. Lbd 42.3 x 16.6 x 9.1ft. Captain Henry Ludwick (Lodwick). From Melbourne to Adelaide; after encouting a gale near Kangaroo Island, went ashore, wrecked, on the Coorong, SA, 7 November 1845. Passengers and crew struggled ashore, only to be met by hostile natives apparently intent on plundering the cargo, however police and friendly natives arrived to the rescue arranged transport overland to Goolwa. [LS],[LPA],[AS1]
Mars. Barque, wooden, 487 tons. Built 1877. Lbd 150 x 29.9 x 16.8 ft.
Captain Robert Pringle. From Melbourne to Port Pirie, ashore at Weir Cove,
Cape du Couedic, Kangaroo Island, 15 June 1884.Three crew washed overboard
and lost, but eventually a sailor swam ashore and fastened a line which
helped eight of the crew to land; three reached the lighthouse on Cape
Borda. Later taken on to Adelaide aboard the steamer Lady Diana. [LS],[LAH],[#GC]
@ Broken spars and wreckage have been washed ashore at Maggie's Creek,
but it appears that there is nothing left to dive on.
Mars. Wooden shark-fishing boat. Built Brisbane, as a tug to tow sugar barges. Lbd 62 x 18 x 9 ft. Sold to Victorian interests, then to Port Lincoln. Skipper Jerry Jelinek. From Port Adelaide to Kangaroo Island, lost in a gale at Weir Cove, Kangaroo Island, 20 July 1957. [LS],[#GC]
Mary. Wooden ketch, 35/27 ton. Built Port Adelaide, 1876. Lbd 63 x 15-4 x 5 ft. Ashore on Kangaroo Island while sailing from Adelaide to the mouth of the Murray River where she was to be converted into a river boat, 1 August 1951. She was lost in Antechamber Bay near the Chapman River. Four on board saved. [LS]
Master Jack. Barge. Built in 1965 as the 452 tonne bucket dredge H.C.Meyer. Broke away from the tow of the tug E.H.Price off Cape Spencer and grounded on Emme’s Reef., 8 May 1984. After drifting free it was then taken in tow by the fishing boat Marian H., but the towline parted on 10 May and the barge finished on rocks at Cape Forbin on the north western side of Kangaroo Island. [LS]
May. Fishing boat. 'An old vessel', built well before 1895. Lbd 40 x 13 x 6ft. Skipper William Hardy. From Robe to Port Adelaide, ashore near Cape Willoughby on Kangaroo Island, 10 March 1951. Three crew saved. [LS],[GC]
Mermaid. Single masted cray fishing cutter, 16 ton. Builr Port Adelaide 1897. Lbd 41 x 14.8 x 6.6 ft. Skipper Enock Polk. Left Port Adelaide for a fishing trip to Kangaroo Island; drifted on to rocks near Cape Borda, Kangaroo Island, September 1905. [LS],[GC]
Midge. Cutter, 11 ton. Built Melbourne, 1840; reg. Port Adelaide 1847.
. Lbd 29.9 x 10.7 x 5.1 ft. Wrecked on rocks near Cape Willoughby lighthouse,
eastern end of Kangaroo Island, SA, while trading between Port Adelaide
and Encounter Bay, 29 June 1853. [GC],[LS]
In 1850, assisted as a salvage vessel to remove cargo from the Grecian.
Mimosa. Two masted wooden vessel, 81 tons. Built Huon River, Tasmaniaa, 1874; reg. Port Adelaide 1875. Lbd 85 x 22 x 7.2 ft. Wrecked ashore in a gale when anchored off Stokes Bay, north coast Kangaroo Island, 14 April 1884. No lives lost. [GC]
Minnie Sims. Cutter, 28 ton. Built Birkenhead, 1899. Lbd 54 x 13.3 x 7.43 ft. Ashore when her anchor chain parted, wrecked, whilst sheltering at Cape Willoughby, Kangaroo Island, 26 August 1933. No lives lost. [GC],[LS - lost 1932]
Miss Jeanette. Cray-fishing boat. Lost off Kangaroo Island, 1966. [LS]
Not listed by Chapman.
Montebello. Barque, steel, 2284/1944 tons. Built Nantes, France, 1900.
Lbd 276.8 x 40.3 x 22.5 ft. Captain Alphonse Kervegan. Out of Liverpool
and Brest for Hobart, she was heading for Port Pirie to load wheat when
ashore in rough and misty weather on the south coast of Kangaroo Island,
18 November 1906. All the crew eventually reached the beach 100 yards distant
where they decided to split into two parties to seek help. All reached
safety, but the barque was soon reduced to a total wreck. One of the men
was injured, having falled from the rigging a few days before her loss.
The steamer Governor Musgrave, our off Port Adelaide, rendered assistance.
[#GC],[LS]
@ Her remains lie well scattered in fifteen metres.
~ Items from the vessel are on display at the Kingscote Museum.
Nola Too. Shark boat, initially cray boat. Built Hobart, 1946. Lbd
39 x 10 x 6 ft. Wrecked ashore in strong winds and a heavy swell, Vivonne
Bay, Kangaroo Island, 23 August 1978. [LS],[#GC]
Osmanli. Steamship, 403 tons. Built Dumbarton, 1846. Original lb 127.1
x 21; lengthened in 1852 to 180 x 23.7 ft. Captain Corbitt. Wrecked on
a reef in D’Estree Bay, south side of Kangaroo Island, 25 November 1853.
All 83 crew and passengers landed safely by boat and remained on shore
while some of the crew returned to the wreck for food and other necessities.
Despite salvage attempts, the ship was lost. [LS]
@ Site discovered in 1969 in about three metres on Tinline Reef about
a kilometres offshore. (Discoverers included the author GC). Large pieces
of the wreckage remain. [#GC],[LAH]
~ Relics may be seen in the Kingscote Museum.
Portland Maru. Steel steamship, 5865 tons. Built Kobe, Japan, 1919.
Lbd 385 x 51 x 36 ft. Captain Horino. When off Kangaroo Island she
apparently struck an unidentified object, and began to settle in the bow
as she headed back towards Port Adelaide for repairs; it soon became obvious
she would not reach port so was beached a short distance to the west of
Cape Torrens, north-west end of Kangaroo Island, 20 March 1935. Abandoned
and soon broke up. Crew transferred to the tug Wato. Interstate collier
Dunmosa also assisted. A generator was recovered from the wreck which ended
up supplying electricity for the town of Kingscote. The manganese bronze
prop was recovered in 1967.
[LS],[LI],[#GC],[LAH]
@ She lies in twenty-five metres and iss in a reasonable condition.
~ Relics may be seen at the Kingscote and Penneshaw Museums.
Queen Maria. Fishing boat. Foundered south of Kangaroo Island, 22 January
1988. [LS]
Robert Burns. Wooden schooner, 45 tons. Built Long Bay, Hobart, 1857;
reg. Port Adelaide 1897. Lbd 66.7 x 17.4 x 6.8 ft. Captain P.O.Johnson.
Ashore, wrecked, in Nepean Bay, Kangaroo Island, 4 December 1908.
It appears that one of the leading lughts on shore at Kingscote had gone
out, and the captain mistook a light from the Ozone Hotel, thus steering
an incorrect course.
[GC],[LS]
Ruby. Ketch, wooden, 20 tons. Lost on Kangaroo Island, November 1904.
[LS]
Sea Spray. Single masted, double ended cutter, 11.9 tons. Built Port
Lincoln, South Australiaa, 1939. Lbd 32 x 11 x 6 ft. Skipper Alan Brandt.
Sank at her anchor in Little Weirs Cove, near Cape Gantheaume, Kangaroo
Island, 30 March 1979. [LS],[#GC]
Stella. Fishing cutter, 40ft. First crayboat to take cray for sale in South Australian waters, in 1899. Skipper Peter Sandin.Wrecked when swept on to rocks near Cape du Couedic, Kangaroo Island, 8 May 1938. Two crew saved. [LS],[GC]
Storm Eagle. Fishing vessel. Built Port Adelaide, 1951. Lbd 32 x 11-9 x 5 ft. Wrecked ashore, Snug Cove, Kangaroo Island, 17 February, 1970. [#GC]
Stormbird. Fishing cutter. Built Port Adelaide, 1924. Lbd 46 x 13 x 6 ft. Skipper-owner Arnold Miller. While crayfishing off the northern coast of Kangaroo Island, struck rocks near Cape Forbin, was run ashore, March 1943. Crew saved. Cutter Ester assisted with salvage of gear before the vessel was abandoned. [LS],[GC]
Stormy Petrel. Ketch, 24 tons. Built Hobart, 1907 as a lighthouse inspection
vessel, then used as a yacht, 'one of the finest in SA waters'. Wrecked
on a reef when fishing near Cape Cassini, Kangaroo Island, 21 December
1937. Five men saved. The five ton lead keel was salvaged in 1957.
[LS],[GC]
Vale. Two-masted topsail schooner, 65 tons. Built at Crookhaven, NSW,
1876. Lbd 76 x 18.9 x 7 ft. Captain Anderson. Loaded with wheat from Kangaroo
Island, left 22 February 1900; abandoned north of Cape Borda after
springing a leak, 23 February 1900. It appears she sank in fifty fathoms.
No lives lost, however having abandoned ship in the ship's boat, a four-
masted barque passed within a half mile and did not sight them - or at
leats did not stop to render assistance. The crew made Wedge Island
at the entrance to Spencer Gulf, and were later picked up by the coastal
steamer Argyle.
[LI],[#GC],[LS]
Vectis. Fishing cutter. Built Port Adelaide 1914. Lbd 32 x 10 x 4.5 ft. Skipper 'Pop' Simmonds. Run ashore after springing a leak near Dashwood Bay on Kangaroo Island, 8 August 1932. Salvage attempts were unsuccessful, although some gear was taken off by he cutter Magpie. No lives lost. . [LS],[GC - lost 8 July 1932]
Venture. Cutter. Lost at Snapper Point, Kangaroo Island, 14 September 1858. No lives lost. [GC],[LS]
Vera. Fishing cutter, 50 ft. Built Port Adelaide. Skipper Jack Ticklie.
Wrecked near Cape du Couedic, Kangaroo Island, 26 July 1915. Two
crew survived inspite of their dinghy capsizing. [#GC],[LS],[LI indicates
lost at Cape Cassini]
Wanderer. Fishing cutter, 11 tons. Disappeared off Kangaroo Island,
5 April 1906. She had left Gelenelg, South Australia, and was last seen
heading in the direction of Cape Willoughby, with a gale sweeping Backstaairs
Passage. [GC],[LS]
Wanderer. Fishing boat. Built Streaky Bay, South Australia, 1932. See Adelaide Renown. [GC]
Westward. Skiper Lionel Puckeridge. Involved in rescue - see Amber Star, lost Kangaroo Island, 1973. [GC]
William. Cutter, 20 tons. Built on Kangaroo Island; unregistered. Master-builder-owner William Walker. Traded between Port Adelaide and Kangaroo Island with general cargo. Wrecked on a reef while entering Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, in near gale conditions, 23 August 1847. [GC],[LS],[AS1]
Winnie. Cray boat. Built Port Adelaide, early 1900s. Lbd 38 x 12 x 6
ft. Skipper Mayland Bird. Run ashore in West Bay, Kangaroo Island, after
being damaged by heavy seas, 7 January 1942. Two crew saved. [LS],[GC]
You Yangs. Steamship, 690 tons. Built at London, 1856, to carry water
to the Crimean War; originally named Kief, then purchased in 1864 by William
Howard Smith & Company for trade between Melbourne, Sydney and Tasmanian.
Lbd 185.2 x 21.9 x 15 ft. Captain Veitch. Struck a rock, took water, abandoned
east of Kangaroo Island, 14 June 1890. Prior to this, some of her iron
cargo stowed on deck shifted, causing a dangerous list. The three lifeboats
lowered were separated in the rising seas but all the crew were eventually
located after a land and sea search. Some cargo was salvaged but the steamer
broke up quickly.
[LS],[#NH],[LAH],[DB],[DG],[#GC]