LocationCape Howe, VHR NumberS300 Date lost03/11/1929 Year of construction1915 |
The Gunundaal has historical significance for its involvement in World War I as a minesweeper. It can be compared with other wrecks such as the Brolga and HMAS Goorangai that were similar Castle-type trawlers wrecked in Victorian waters.
| Physical Description | |
|---|---|
| Construction Material | Iron |
| Hull Details | One deck, two masts, ketch rigged, elliptical stern, clincher built, straight head, three water tight bulkheads |
| Propulsion | Steam - Screw |
| Number of Masts | 2 |
| Length / Breadth / Depth | 115.0 Feet / 22.0 Feet / 11.9 Feet |
| History | |
| Builder | Smith s Dock Co. Ltd, Middlesborough |
| Built Date | 1915 |
| Built Port / Country | South Bank-on-Tees / England |
| Registration Number | 2 of 1928 |
| Registration Port / Country | Sydney / Australia |
| Former Details of Registration | 10 of 1923 |
| Details |
The Gilbert San was a 'Castle' type steam side trawler, capable of a speed of 8-10 knots built in 1915 at Southdale on Tees, England at a cost of 12,600 pounds.
Originally intended for an experimental NSW Government trawl fishery, cost cutting forced its sale to New Zealand owners, but that venture was unsuccessful and the vessel was returned to NSW. It was owned by the Coastal Trawling Co. which merged with the Red Funnel Fisheries Ltd. It was a sister ship to HMAS Goorangai (wrecked in a collision in 1940 in Port Phillip Bay) and the Albert San/ Brolga (lost on Beware Reef near Marlo in 1926).
The Gilbert San served as an auxiliary minesweeper wiht the RAN in 1917-1918 with a crew of RAN brigade members. Between October 1917 and January 1918 it swept for mines off Gabo Island laid by the German raider Wolf. A further minesweeping operation in the same area was conducted in September-October 1918. After the war the Gilbert San was returned to the NSW Government who sold it in 1923. After several changes in ownership the Gunundaal was acquired by Caminiti and Sons for use as a steam trawler. Renamed the Gilbert San on 22 March 1928, it was wrecked on a reef near Cape Howe on 4 November 1929. All hands were saved. The Register was closed on 9 December 1929 on advice from the owners, who had abandoned it as a total wreck.
|
| Voyage Details | |
| Date Lost | 03/11/1929 |
| Voyage | from Sydney to Cape Everard, southern fishing grounds |
| Owner | 1915-22: State Trawling Industry 1923-24: Stanford Ltd 1925: not listed 1926-27: Coastal Trawling Co. Ltd. 1928-29: Red Funnel Ltd., Charles Caminiti trading as Cam and Sons |
| Cause of Loss |
Ran ashore on Cape Howe
|
| Further Details | |
| Number of Passengers | 0 |
| Number of Crew Members | 0 |