LONSDALE (HMVS)
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Statement of Significance
Ten torpedo boats made up part of the frontline defences of several of the Australian colonies in the late 19th century, when there was a real and perceived threat of invasion by the Russians and French. H.M.V.S Lonsdale is historically significant as a rare and representative example of a Victorian second-class torpedo boat. Lonsdale demonstrates technical significance as an early example of the development of the fast attack torpedo craft, culminating in the 'PT' boats used so effectively during World War II. The vessel has archaeological significance contributing to the study of abandoned watercraft and subsequent site formation processes and scientific significance through future corrosion studies.
Significance assessed against criteria defined in Guidelines for the Management of Australia's Shipwrecks (1994)
CRITERION 1: HISTORIC
H.M.V.S Lonsdale has historical significance as a key element of the Victorian Colonial Navy. International wars, threats of invasions and local rebellions encouraged uncertainty, fed partly by the popular press, in Britain's ability to protect its colonies. As an early member of Victoria's colonial navy, H.M.V.S Lonsdale was a significance part of Victoria's defence. Along with the other first-and second-class torpedo boats - Nepean, Childers, Countess of Hopetoun and Gordon - Lonsdale formed part of the frontline defence for the last twenty years of the Victorian colony.
CRITERION 2: TECHNICAL
H.M.V.S. Lonsdale was built at the shipyard of John Thornycroft who went on to produce the fast attack Patrol Torpedo (PT) boats used with great effect in the Pacific during WWII. Lonsdale represents a rare, early example highlighting the development of these fast, hit-and-run type of vessels.
CRITERION 3: SOCIAL
H.M.V.S. Lonsdale has minor social significance. The vessel has some social significance as a member of the colonial naval defence force of the late 19th century that represented protection for the Victorian colony.
CRITERION 4: ARCHAEOLOGICAL
The 2006 excavation results appeared to indicate that the section forward of the machinery space is no longer coherent, although a 1.7 metre section of the bow exists lying on the port side, disarticulated from the main structure. Information gathered to date suggests that the ship aft of the conning tower still exists, although its condition is unknown (Hewitt and Tucker 2009: 32).
CRITERION 5: SCIENTIFIC
Anodes were placed on the wreck during the archaeological survey in 1997, but there has been no subsequent electrode potential survey. Due to high ground water and tidal fluctuations, the wreck is frequently exposed to water and is at risk of collapse (Hewitt and Tucker 2009:32). Although H.M.V.S Lonsdale has been scrapped and hulked, it still has possible scientific significance through contributions to ongoing work on corrosion studies.
CRITERION 6: INTERPRETIVE
H.M.V.S Lonsdale is currently the subject of a small interpretive display at the Queenscliff Maritime Centre. The vessel has future interpretive significance, not only in the development of the Navy in Australia, but also the types of vessels that contributed to the defence of the colonies.
CRITERION 7: RARE
H.M.V.S Lonsdale is a rare surviving example of a second-class torpedo boat and the only surviving example of a second-class torpedo boat from the Victorian Colonial Navy.
CRITERION 8: REPRESENTATIVE
H.M.V.S Lonsdale is significant as one of only three surviving second-class torpedo boats that were used in the defence of the Australian and New Zealand colonies.