GEORGE ROPER

Location Lonsdale Reef, Port Phillip Heads VHR Number S286 Date lost 04/07/1883 Year of construction 1883 Official number 87813

Statement of Significance

Physical Description
Construction Material	Iron
Rig	Barque
Hull Details	1 bulk head, cemented 1883; 2 decks (1 part iron) 1;bridge deck amidships (like a steamer); cabin underthis bridge; built especially for carrying large cargo 2;last survey April 1883; anchors & chains proved
Propulsion	Sail
Number of Masts	4
Length / Breadth / Depth	301.7 Feet / 39.1 Feet / 23.6 Feet
History
Builder	W.H. Potter & Sons
Built Date	1883
Built Port / Country	Liverpool / England
Registration Port / Country	Liverpool / England
Details	On its maiden voyage from Liverpool, the four masted barque George Roper was met by headwinds at Bass Strait, about 8 miles off Port Phillip Heads, and was taken under tow by the steam tug Williams with Pilot Gifford (Gafford?) in charge on 4 July 1883. Conditions suddenly worsened, and the Williams had veered too far west in heavy fog. Both the Williams and the George Roper struck Lonsdale Reef, with the tug making water so fast that it had to go up the Bay at once for repairs. As the fog lifted, it was discovered that George Roper was stranded in one of the most dangerous and inaccessible parts of the reef, immediately opposite the green light at Point Lonsdale. Attempts to float George Roper off the reef failed. The barque?s Captain and crew were transferred to Albatross and taken to Queenscliff. After 2 days the underwriters sold the wreck at auction for £3,600 to a Melbourne syndicate. After recovering considerable cargo, the syndicate sold the wreck for £500 to a Geelong syndicate which continued to recover cargo for some months. On 26 August, the George Roper finally broke up and sunk. The Pilot Board later found Gifford (Gafford?) guilty of negligence in approaching Port Phillip Heads in fog when all landmarks were obscured and, as conditions worsened, failing to tow the ship into safer water until the fog cleared. Gifford's (Gafford?s?) certificate was suspended for two years. The tug Blackboy, one of the vessels commissioned to salvage George Roper, also hit the reef after its trailing cable became entangled in its propeller. The crew of the Blackboy was saved, but the tug sunk. The George Roper was built in 1882 for W.T. Dickson and Son in the W.H. Potter and Son shipyard in Liverpool. George Roper was specifically designed for fast sailing and bringing large consignments of cargo to Australia. It was launched on 10 February 1883, and almost immediately was struck by the steamer Bentinc. The damage to the George Roper was a 17 foot gap from the taffrail to near the waterline, and repairs had to be made before its voyage to Melbourne. It was carrying £50,000 worth of soft goods, draperies, household items, spirits, dynamite, and 1,400 tons of steel rails for the Victorian Government when it was towed into the reef. The Captain was John Ward, supported by 31 crew.
Voyage Details
Date Lost	04/07/1883
Voyage	from Liverpool to Melbourne
Cargo	Equal to 3842 tons (2390 dead weight, 1452 measured goods), 20,000 pounds worth of rails for Victorian Government (UID 1), malt and distilled liquors, chemicals and 30 tons of dynamite (UID 9). Drapery & other goods. Russell Stourbridge bricks as paying ballast. Cargo valued at 50,000 pounds
Owner	W.T. Dickson & Son, Liverpool
Master of Vessel	John Ward
Weather conditions	Dense fog
Cause of Loss	Was under tow by steam tug Williams about 8 miles off Port Phillip Heads, Pilot Gifford in charge. Landmarks were obscured by fog, & the pilot continued to approach heads rather than waiting for fog to lift. Both the tug and the George Roper struck Lonsdale Reef.
Further Details
Number of Passengers	0
Number of Crew Members	31
Comments on Crew Members	Lascar hands, white officers