COLUMBINE
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Statement of Significance
The Columbine is of historic, technical, social and archaeological significance internationally and to the State of Victoria.
The Columbine has other aspects of cultural heritage significance which are listed below.
CRITERION 1: HISTORIC
The Columbine is historically significant as an example of an international cargo and passenger vessel travelling between the UK and Victoria in the gold rush era. It is also historically significant because of its links to the expansion of the Port Phillip Pilot service to cope with increased shipping through the heads in this period.
CRITERION 2: TECHNICAL
The Columbine is technologically significant as a rare example of a type of a small international snow brig, which although was once numerous now has few surviving examples. No plans survive for the Columbine, but it is possible that surviving elements of the hull are intact beneath the cargo mound.
CRITERION 3: SOCIAL
The Columbine has social significance through its association with the Port Phillip Pilot service, and the surviving family of Pilot Matthew Davidson who died during the wrecking.
CRITERION 4: ARCHAEOLOGICAL
The wreck site of the Columbine is archaeologically significant as an example of the small general cargos being imported to Victoria during the gold rush.
The Columbine wreck site has potential for archaeological research as initial surveys of the site suggest that a large number and range of artefacts survive on the site, in addition to possible surviving hull structure beneath the cargo mound.
The Columbine wreck site has potential to provide archaeological information about ship construction, trade, international passenger transport for a type of vessel which is not well represented in the archaeological record.
CRITERION 5: SCIENTIFIC
The Columbine site may have scientific significance however the site has not yet been investigated in enough detail to establish particular areas of scientific research potential.
CRITERION 6: INTERPRETIVE
The Columbine has potential to contribute towards public education as the site is on a popular surf beach, however is difficult to access by snorkelling or diving. The Columbine has an interesting story which could be told using interpretation panels at beach access points, without compromising the stability of the site.
CRITERION 7: RARE
The Columbine is significant as a rare archaeological example of a brig involved in international voyages during the Gold Rush period.
There are 13 located wrecks of brigs in Victoria dating between 1844 and 1912. Of the 13, 7 were built in the UK, but only 4 were involved in international voyages at the time of their sinking. As detailed above (Section 6) this is a tiny number compared to the hundreds of brigs recorded as sailing between the UK and Victoria in the mid 19th century.
There are currently 13 located examples (not including the Columbine) of British built wooden hulled brigs wrecked in Australian waters between 1824-1880, of which 5 were wrecked in the Gold Rush period between 1851-1860 (Australian National Shipwreck Database).
It is also of note that 504 brigs are recorded to have wrecked in English waters between 1850-1861. Of these the vast majority (436) were British registered, but only 4 Scottish built (NMR). In addition, no wrecked brigs from this period have been located in English, Scottish or Welsh waters (NMR, RCAHMS, RCAHMW).
CRITERION 8: REPRESENTATIVE
The Columbine is significant as an example of what was one of the most common ship types frequenting Melbourne during the mid 19th century. Although there are historical records for hundreds of brigs arriving in Victoria during the gold rush period, very few of these are recorded as wrecking and even fewer have been located as archaeological sites.