AWAROA

Location

Bass Strait, off Cape Liptrap

VHR Number

S50

Date lost

25 Jul 1925

Year of construction

1904

Official number

117670

Statement of Significance

The vessel is of historical significance for its participation in the coastal passenger and cargo trades around Southern Australia during the early 1900s. It is impossible to assess the archaeological significance of the site as it has not been located or inspected.

Physical Description

Construction Material Wood

Hull Details Steel; water ballast; 2 decks sheathed with wood; spardeck; poop 4O ft, bridge deck 232 ft, fore 74 ft; 4 tiers of beams; 10 9" bulkheads, cemented; cellular doublebottom 288 ft, 780 tons; moulded depth 28'3"; freeboard10'11" 12

Propulsion Steam - Screw

Engine Specification Built by Wallsend Slipway Co.Ltd, Newcastle, NSW

Engine Builder Triple expansion engine, 3 cylinder13, 21 & 35 x 21.

Number of Masts 2

Length / Breadth / Depth 139.0 Feet / 25.4 Feet / 12.5 Feet

History

Builder Morrison & Sinclair

Built Date 1904

Built Port / Country Sydney / Australia

Registration Number No 3 of 1918

Registration Port / Country Melbourne / Australia

Details
The steamer Awaroa began to leak while crossing Bass Strait in bad weather. The crew continued to pump after the rising water extinguished the boiler fires. After the steamer Huntingdon had rescued the crew, the Awaroa finally sank off Cape Liptrap. The vessel was built for the New Zealand coastal trade with accommodation for passengers. In February 1919 it was reported that it underwent alterations at Launceston to fit out for the Melbourne-King Island-Launceston passenger and cargo trade. Accommodation was included for 40 passengers. The Awaroa sank following a collision with the steam hopper BATMAN in the Yarra at Melbourne in July 1915. It was raised and repaired, but sunk in collision with S.S. Katoomba in 1921 and was again raised and repaired. The vessel sailed from Launceston bound for Melbourme on 21 July 1925 with a volunteer crew on board (due to industrial action against the owner). The ship struck heavy seas as soon as it cleared the Tamar Heads, and the vessel started to take in water. The crew manned the pumps, but the water level continued to rise eventually drowning the fires. The crew continued to pump out water using buckets and hand pumps but to no avail. When the steamer HUNTINGDON was sighted just south of Cape Liptrap, the AWAROA made signals of distress. The HUNTINGDON hove to in large seas and the crew of the AWAROA abandoned ship, the vessel foundering shortly afterwards, twelve miles off Cape Liptrap. #VHR: The steamer Awaroa began to leak while crossing Bass Strait in bad weather. The crew continued to pump after the rising water extinguished the boiler fires. After the steamer Huntingdon had rescued the crew, the Awaroa finally sank off Cape Liptrap.#

Voyage Details

Date Lost 25 Jul 1925

Voyage from Launceston to Melbourne

Cargo
Timber and general.

Owner 1905: Northern Union Steam, Auckland.

Master of Vessel Captain Holyman

Weather conditions
Heavy seas

Cause of Loss
Sprang a leak. Abandoned.

Further Details

Number of Passengers 0

Number of Crew Members 13

Physical Description
Construction Material	Wood
Hull Details	Steel; water ballast; 2 decks sheathed with wood; spardeck; poop 4O ft, bridge deck 232 ft, fore 74 ft; 4 tiers of beams; 10 9" bulkheads, cemented; cellular doublebottom 288 ft, 780 tons; moulded depth 28'3"; freeboard10'11" 12
Propulsion	Steam - Screw
Engine Specification	Built by Wallsend Slipway Co.Ltd, Newcastle, NSW
Engine Builder	Triple expansion engine, 3 cylinder13, 21 & 35 x 21.
Number of Masts	2
Length / Breadth / Depth	139.0 Feet / 25.4 Feet / 12.5 Feet

Builder	Morrison & Sinclair
Built Date	1904
Built Port / Country	Sydney / Australia
Registration Number	No 3 of 1918
Registration Port / Country	Melbourne / Australia
Details	The steamer Awaroa began to leak while crossing Bass Strait in bad weather. The crew continued to pump after the rising water extinguished the boiler fires. After the steamer Huntingdon had rescued the crew, the Awaroa finally sank off Cape Liptrap. The vessel was built for the New Zealand coastal trade with accommodation for passengers. In February 1919 it was reported that it underwent alterations at Launceston to fit out for the Melbourne-King Island-Launceston passenger and cargo trade. Accommodation was included for 40 passengers. The Awaroa sank following a collision with the steam hopper BATMAN in the Yarra at Melbourne in July 1915. It was raised and repaired, but sunk in collision with S.S. Katoomba in 1921 and was again raised and repaired. The vessel sailed from Launceston bound for Melbourme on 21 July 1925 with a volunteer crew on board (due to industrial action against the owner). The ship struck heavy seas as soon as it cleared the Tamar Heads, and the vessel started to take in water. The crew manned the pumps, but the water level continued to rise eventually drowning the fires. The crew continued to pump out water using buckets and hand pumps but to no avail. When the steamer HUNTINGDON was sighted just south of Cape Liptrap, the AWAROA made signals of distress. The HUNTINGDON hove to in large seas and the crew of the AWAROA abandoned ship, the vessel foundering shortly afterwards, twelve miles off Cape Liptrap. #VHR: The steamer Awaroa began to leak while crossing Bass Strait in bad weather. The crew continued to pump after the rising water extinguished the boiler fires. After the steamer Huntingdon had rescued the crew, the Awaroa finally sank off Cape Liptrap.#


Date Lost	25 Jul 1925
Voyage	from Launceston to Melbourne
Cargo	Timber and general.
Owner	1905: Northern Union Steam, Auckland.
Master of Vessel	Captain Holyman
Weather conditions	Heavy seas
Cause of Loss	Sprang a leak. Abandoned.

Number of Passengers	0
Number of Crew Members	13

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