SPEKE

Location

Kitty Millers Bay, Phillip Island

VHR Number

S627

Date lost

22/02/1906

Year of construction

1891

Official number

97847

Statement of Significance

Physical Description

Construction Material Composite

Rig Full Rigged Ship

Hull Details The vessel had two decks, 1 cemented bulkhead, upper decks sheathed in wood. Anchors and chains prooved and tested by Lloyds. Poop deck 60.0', Bridge Deck 60.0', Forecastle 38.0'. Freeboard 6.0'. Lower masts steel, topmasts timber.

Propulsion Sail

Number of Masts 3

Length / Breadth / Depth 310.0 Feet / 42.2 Feet / 25.6 Feet

History

Builder T.R. Oswald & Co.

Built Date 1891

Built Port / Country Milford Haven / Wales

Registration Port / Country Liverpool / England

Details
The Speke was the second largest ship-rigged vessel ever built. In February 1906 it ran ashore on Phillip Island as a result of poor navigation by the captain. One man was drowned when one of the lifeboats capsized, but the remainder of the crew reached safety. Although the Speke eventually broke up, it was extensively salvaged. After battling headwinds on a voyage from Sydney to Melbourne in ballast, the ship Speke was forced ashore east of Kitty Miller's Bay. A boat was launched but capsized in the heavy surf. One man was drowned, but the remaining occupants swam ashore with a line allowing the rest of the crew to reach safety. During the Marine Board of Inquiry, the master stated that a bush fire had obscured the land, and that heavy seas from the south-west caused the vessel to go ashore. He was found guilty of poor navigation and lost his master's certificate for 12 months. According to Lubbock, the SPEKE was the second largest ship-rigged sailing vessel ever built.

Voyage Details

Date Lost 22/02/1906

Voyage from Peru-Sydney to Melbourne

Cargo
1500 tons sand ballast

Owner Sailing Ships SPEKE Co. (Lim). (R.W. Leyland & Co)

Master of Vessel Captain Tilson

Cause of Loss
Vessel missed stays in poor visibility and ran ashore. Navigational error

Further Details

Number of Passengers 0

Number of Crew Members 0

Physical Description
Construction Material	Composite
Rig	Full Rigged Ship
Hull Details	The vessel had two decks, 1 cemented bulkhead, upper decks sheathed in wood. Anchors and chains prooved and tested by Lloyds. Poop deck 60.0', Bridge Deck 60.0', Forecastle 38.0'. Freeboard 6.0'. Lower masts steel, topmasts timber.
Propulsion	Sail
Number of Masts	3
Length / Breadth / Depth	310.0 Feet / 42.2 Feet / 25.6 Feet

Builder	T.R. Oswald & Co.
Built Date	1891
Built Port / Country	Milford Haven / Wales
Registration Port / Country	Liverpool / England
Details	The Speke was the second largest ship-rigged vessel ever built. In February 1906 it ran ashore on Phillip Island as a result of poor navigation by the captain. One man was drowned when one of the lifeboats capsized, but the remainder of the crew reached safety. Although the Speke eventually broke up, it was extensively salvaged. After battling headwinds on a voyage from Sydney to Melbourne in ballast, the ship Speke was forced ashore east of Kitty Miller's Bay. A boat was launched but capsized in the heavy surf. One man was drowned, but the remaining occupants swam ashore with a line allowing the rest of the crew to reach safety. During the Marine Board of Inquiry, the master stated that a bush fire had obscured the land, and that heavy seas from the south-west caused the vessel to go ashore. He was found guilty of poor navigation and lost his master's certificate for 12 months. According to Lubbock, the SPEKE was the second largest ship-rigged sailing vessel ever built.


Date Lost	22/02/1906
Voyage	from Peru-Sydney to Melbourne
Cargo	1500 tons sand ballast
Owner	Sailing Ships SPEKE Co. (Lim). (R.W. Leyland & Co)
Master of Vessel	Captain Tilson
Cause of Loss	Vessel missed stays in poor visibility and ran ashore. Navigational error

Number of Passengers	0
Number of Crew Members	0

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