CHILDREN

Location

Childers Cove, west of Peterborough

VHR Number

S116

Date lost

14/01/1838

Year of construction

1825

Statement of Significance

One of the first vessels to be lost in the Western District was the barque Children, which was wrecked to the east of Warrnambool in February 1839. When the vessel ran ashore in hurricane-force winds, 22 passengers and crew were fortunate to escape being battered to death on the rocks. The Children broke up within 20 minutes, sweeping sixteen of those on board to their deaths. After eleven days, the survivors, all of whom were injured, were rescued and taken to Portland.

Physical Description

Construction Material Wood

Rig Barque

Hull Details Part pitch pine, felt sheathed, coppered 1837, 2 decks, square stern

Propulsion Sail

Number of Masts 3

Length / Breadth / Depth 93.2 Feet / 25.0 Feet / 16.6 Feet

History

Built Date 1825

Built Port / Country Liverpool / England

Registration Number 6 of 1837

Registration Port / Country Launceston / Australia

Former Details of Registration 123 of 1837

Details
Bound from Launceston to Adelaide, the barque Children stood off the Victorian coast in gale force winds. On the night the vessel was lost, the master had retired to his cabin, leaving the second mate in command. The first indication of danger was the cry from the lookout of "Breakers close ahead". Less than a minute later the vessel struck. The second sea that swept over the stern caused the hull to part at the mizen mast. The passengers and crew, 38 in number, sought shelter on the forward end of the ship, but is was breaking up rapidly. Within 20 minutes it had broken up completely. The dawn revealed that 22 survivors, naked and injured, had been washed ashore on the rocks. The shore was strewn with wreckage and the bodies from the sixteen who had perished and the cargo of livestock. Some of the survivors made an unsuccessful attempt to reach Port Phillip, while another party reached Port Fairy. Help was immediately sent from the whaling station, and all of the survivors were rescued, reaching Portland eleven days after the wreck. One of the passengers, Mr Bryan, was fortunate to escape when he was pinned by an anchor when the deck parted. He held onto a rope to keep his head above water, and only escaped by a struggle that tore the first joint from three of his toes. Later, one of the other survivors had to amputate another of his injured toes using a knife (Sydney Gazette 7 March 1839).

Uses of Vessel

Primary Use Transport

Secondary Use Cargo - Coastal

Voyage Details

Date Lost 14/01/1838

Voyage from Launceston to Adelaide

Cargo
1500 sheep and a number of cattle and horses

Owner James Henty & Co

Master of Vessel Capt. H. Browne

Weather conditions
Hurricane force winds

Cause of Loss
Driven ashore in a gale

Further Details

Number of Passengers 24

Number of Crew Members 14

Physical Description
Construction Material	Wood
Rig	Barque
Hull Details	Part pitch pine, felt sheathed, coppered 1837, 2 decks, square stern
Propulsion	Sail
Number of Masts	3
Length / Breadth / Depth	93.2 Feet / 25.0 Feet / 16.6 Feet

Built Date	1825
Built Port / Country	Liverpool / England
Registration Number	6 of 1837
Registration Port / Country	Launceston / Australia
Former Details of Registration	123 of 1837
Details	Bound from Launceston to Adelaide, the barque Children stood off the Victorian coast in gale force winds. On the night the vessel was lost, the master had retired to his cabin, leaving the second mate in command. The first indication of danger was the cry from the lookout of "Breakers close ahead". Less than a minute later the vessel struck. The second sea that swept over the stern caused the hull to part at the mizen mast. The passengers and crew, 38 in number, sought shelter on the forward end of the ship, but is was breaking up rapidly. Within 20 minutes it had broken up completely. The dawn revealed that 22 survivors, naked and injured, had been washed ashore on the rocks. The shore was strewn with wreckage and the bodies from the sixteen who had perished and the cargo of livestock. Some of the survivors made an unsuccessful attempt to reach Port Phillip, while another party reached Port Fairy. Help was immediately sent from the whaling station, and all of the survivors were rescued, reaching Portland eleven days after the wreck. One of the passengers, Mr Bryan, was fortunate to escape when he was pinned by an anchor when the deck parted. He held onto a rope to keep his head above water, and only escaped by a struggle that tore the first joint from three of his toes. Later, one of the other survivors had to amputate another of his injured toes using a knife (Sydney Gazette 7 March 1839).

Primary Use	Transport
Secondary Use	Cargo - Coastal

Date Lost	14/01/1838
Voyage	from Launceston to Adelaide
Cargo	1500 sheep and a number of cattle and horses
Owner	James Henty & Co
Master of Vessel	Capt. H. Browne
Weather conditions	Hurricane force winds
Cause of Loss	Driven ashore in a gale

Number of Passengers	24
Number of Crew Members	14

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