CLARENCE
LocationColes Channel, Port Phillip Bay VHR NumberS127 Date lost02/09/1850 Year of construction1841 |
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Statement of Significance
The Clarence is significant technically and archaeologically as an example of an early Australian-built vessel. The schooner was built in 1841 on the Williams River in northern NSW. Most ships built in Australia during this time were constructed by rule of thumb, without using models and plans. There is very little evidence, therefore, of ship building techniques used by early Australian ship builders, except in the archaeological record. By studying the Clarence, archaeologists can learn more about the techniques employed by early Australian shipbuilders, to whom supplies in lumber and metal fastenings were tightly restricted.
*There is a 200m diameter Protected Zone around Clarence centred on position Lat: -38.20257, Long: 144.723253 WGS84. No entry is permitted unless a Permit has been authorised by Heritage Victoria. *
| Physical Description | |
|---|---|
| Construction Material | Wood |
| Rig | Schooner |
| Propulsion | Sail |
| Number of Masts | 2 |
| Length / Breadth / Depth | 51.0 Feet / 16.3 Feet / 8.7 Feet |
| History | |
| Builder | Possibly William Lowe (Gesner, Peter; 1984) |
| Built Date | 1841 |
| Built Port / Country | Williams River, NSW / Australia |
| Registration Number | 4 of 1850 |
| Registration Port / Country | Hobart / Australia |
| Former Details of Registration | 7 of 1844 (Sydney) (UID 2)6 of 1846 (UID 2)Gordon Sandeman and Thomas Ayerst; William Walker; John Foster and William Tennant; Alexander Ainslie and William Montgomery; Messrs Must and Flower; JE Baynton and Thomas Barker (Gesner, Peter, 1984) |
| Details |
The schooner Clarence was carvel planked with a square stern and standing bowsprit. The vessel was used in the trade of timber, cattle, sheep and other cargo between Sydney, Port Phillip, Port Albert and Twofold Bay until it was stranded and nearly wrecked in Warrnambool. After repair, of which there is also some indication that it was refitted to accommodate passengers, it transported passengers until late 1848. A female bust figurehead was added sometime during the period between 1842 and 1850, possibly after the vessel was stranded at Warrnambool in September 1847. In 1848, the Clarence was again used as a cargo vessel in Bass Strait trade, sailing between Port Fairy, Port Phillip, and Launceston.
On 2 September 1850, the Clarence ran aground on a sand bank in Port Phillip Bay while transporting 132 sheep from Melbourne to Hobart. It had anchored in Coles Channel for the night, when the cable broke after a southwest to south southwest wind blew up.
The sheep on board were rescued by Geelong residents, who would later enter into a dispute with the ship's owners. The result of the dispute is unknown. The loss of the vessel and cargo was estimated at £500.
The Clarence was first registered as a wood, 51-foot two-masted carvel-built schooner; 67 498/3500 tons with a square stern, standing bowsprit, no galleries and one deck. Timber samples taken from archaeological investigations revealed that the ship was made from a species of eucalyptus, which is indigenous to Australia.
The stranding at Warrnambool at the time brought about allegations of insurance fraud. An investigation was launched, though documents on whether these accusations were proven have not been located.
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| Voyage Details | |
| Date Lost | 02/09/1850 |
| Voyage | from Hobart to Melbourne |
| Cargo |
SheepPrevious cargos included timber, coal, grain and wool (Broxham, G and Nicholson, I; 1988), general goods and cattle, passengers and timber
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| Owner | James Baynton, Thomas Barker |
| Master of Vessel | Capt. William Dalton |
| Weather conditions |
SE wind force 5 Clear
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| Cause of Loss |
Parted from her anchor and was driven ashore on the West Sand.
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| Further Details | |
| Number of Passengers | 0 |
| Number of Crew Members | 0 |