SEA BIRD

Statement of Significance

Physical Description
Construction Material	Wood
Rig	Schooner
Hull Details	Single deck, running bowsprit, square stern, carvel built
Propulsion	Sail
Number of Masts	2
Length / Breadth / Depth	39.2 Feet / 11.0 Feet / 4.8 Feet
History
Builder	J.C. Miller
Built Date	1851
Built Port / Country	Shoalhaven, NSW / Australia
Registration Number	59 of 1856
Registration Port / Country	Melbourne / Australia
Details	The Seabird was owned by Captain Jeffery of Williamstown, Henry Lazemby Costin (described as both a storekeeper of Melbourne and hotelkeeper of Apollo Bay - he built and owned the Ballarat Hotel in Apollo Bay in 1887) and James Ovens, also a storekeeper of Melbourne. Captain Jeffery was described as having traded to Apollo Bay for six years, "and was a careful navigator" (Argus 9/3/1895). However his judgement was to let him down on his last voyage on the Seabird, from Apollo Bay to Melbourne with a cargo of split posts for Portarlington, and a large quantity of butter and cheese for Melbourne. A strong south-west wind was blowing and a moderate sea running, which did not phase the Captain (Argus 9/3/1895). However he was unable to clear far enough out to sea upon leaving Apollo Bay in the strong south-westerly, and accordingly was blown ashore at Cape Patton , the next headland up the coast. The captain may also have been an unwitting victim of a strong coastal setting current. The crew and salvors were fortunately able to recover the sails, running gear and butter and cheese from the stricken vessel lying broadside onto the rocks, however within a couple of days the Seabird was described as "breaking up on every tide" (Argus 11/3/1895). The vessel was not insured. There is some confusion in the historical record as to whether the Seabird was a ketch or schooner, and of 13 or 17 tons gross. Although it was described as a ketch in newspaper reports its registration details record it as a schooner, indicating it may have been re-rigged at some stage in its Victorian/ Otway trading career. The Geelong Advertiser reported that: "The Seabird was a small wooden ketch of 17 tons, registered at Adelaide. She was built at Garden Island, Tasmania, in 1860, and is owned by Mr G McKay" (GA, 9 March 1895). However these details are incorrect, as this Seabird was a schooner built in Shoalhaven, New South Wales in 1851, and was registered in Melbourne (see Parsons, 1988; A.S.R.O. 1855-1859). This is confirmed by the registry entry for this Seabird, closed on 9 April 1896 with the notation "Wrecked at Cape Patton, Victoria near Lorne on 6 March 1895" (A.S.R.O. Melbourne Registry, 59 of 1856). The remains of the Seabird have not been located not reported, though little is predicted to remain of a 44 year old wooden vessel that has lain in such an exposed location for over 100 years. Any remains that have remained on the shoreline and in the intertidal zone may also have been buried by naturally occurring landslides, and collapsed fill as a result of the construction and ongoing maintenance works to the Great Ocean Road.
Voyage Details
Date Lost	06 Mar 1895
Voyage	from Apollo Bay to Melbourne
Cargo	Split posts for Portarlington, a 'large quantity' of butter and cheese for Melbourne
Owner	J.C. Miller, shipowner, Shoalhaven NSW 3/12/1856 - John Hughes and John Tudor, mariners of Williamstown 2/7/1856 - Henry Lazemby Costin and James Ovens, storekeepers of Melbourne, and Capt. Henry Jeffrey, Master Mariner of Melbourne
Master of Vessel	Capt. Henry Jeffery
Weather conditions	strong south-west wind and moderate seas
Cause of Loss	Went ashore in a strong south-west wind and was wrecked
Further Details
Number of Passengers	0
Number of Crew Members	1
Comments on Crew Members	Only one other crew member mentioned in sources