JOANNA

Statement of Significance

Physical Description
Construction Material	Wood
Rig	Schooner
Propulsion	Sail
Number of Masts	2
Length / Breadth / Depth	38.8 Feet / 12.9 Feet / 6.3 Feet
History
Builder	William Cassidy, Launceston?
Built Date	1843
Built Port / Country	Gravelly Beach, River Tamar, Tasmania / Australia
Registration Port / Country	Launceston / Australia
Details	The maiden voyage of the schooner Joanna proved to be its last. It left Launceston bound for Port Fairy, but encountered bad weather. Leaking badly, the vessel was driven ashore at what is now known as Joanna Beach. Waves swept the deck, washing away the boat and one of the crew. The survivors landed on the beach at daybreak, and after a seven day journey, made their way to Geelong (Geelong Advertiser 2 October 1843). "The part of the coast lying between Moonlight Head and Geelong was thought to first have been trodden by Europeans in 1843, by the shipwrecked crew of the Joanna" (Bellair, 2001)
Voyage Details
Date Lost	22/09/1843
Voyage	from Launceston to Port Fairy
Owner	James Jellie of Port Fairy/ John Cassidy of Launceston?
Master of Vessel	Captain Joseph George Irving
Cause of Loss	Leaking at sea and driven ashore
Further Details
Number of Passengers	0
Comments on Passenger	John Gooch, William Seller & F Hurvie
Number of Crew Members	0
Comments on Crew Members	The surviving crew walked to safety along the coast, and were the first Europeans to have walked the coast between Moonlight Head and Geelong