Sand erosion during storms in 2015 exposed parts of the Amazon shipwreck on the Inverloch surf beach. Photo: Heritage Victoria FOR almost 155 years, the remains of a wooden sailing ship have been buried in the sands of the Inverloch surf beach.
Next month a team of maritime archaeologists and students will begin a major project to discover more about the wreck of the Amazon, a rare example of a mid-19th century wooden cargo carrier.
Next month a team of maritime archaeologists and students will begin a major project to discover more about the wreck of the Amazon, a rare example of a mid-19th century wooden cargo carrier.
The joint archaeological project between Heritage Victoria and Flinders University will use the latest archaeological technologies – drones, photogrammetry, 3D modelling – to develop a comprehensive record of the Amazon.
Heritage Victoria maritime archaeologist Maddy McAllister said the wreck had never been properly investigated or mapped. The team hopes to excavate parts of the site to learn a bit more about the construction of the ship.
Heritage Victoria maritime archaeologist Maddy McAllister said the wreck had never been properly investigated or mapped. The team hopes to excavate parts of the site to learn a bit more about the construction of the ship.
A three-masted barque, similar to the Amazon, which was wrecked on the Inverloch beach in 1863. Illustration: Heritage Victoria According to the Victorian Heritage Register account, the Amazon left Melbourne bound for Mauritius on 12 December 1863 with a cargo of salted meats. It cleared Port Phillip Heads at 8pm that evening and turned to starboard to head west towards the Indian Ocean.
“By 2am on the 13 December the wind had picked up and by 4am the Captain reported the gale had turned into a hurricane. 14 miles off Cape Otway, the wind tore off some of Amazon’s sails. By the 14 December, Amazon attempted to return to the Heads and the relative safety of Port Phillip but by noon on the 15th, the Captain realised they weren't going to make it and turned his attention to keeping his vessel away from the shore.
“Amazon continued to drift east as the storm still raged through into the next day and at 6am, there were breakers off the port bow and rocks ahead. Amazon struck the beach near what is now the Inverloch surf beach at 10am. Captain Ogier kept the vessel on course in an effort to drive the ship as far up the beach as possible.
“The crew, having been on deck for 48 hours straight, were exhausted, and it wasn’t until 3pm in the afternoon that everyone made it to shore. They set up tents on the beach the next day and searched the nearby area for signs of inhabitants. There was no sign of anyone until the 21st December when Mr Heales who was passing close by on his way to Melbourne to visit family for Christmas saw a distress flag flying.
“He escorted Captain Ogier to Melbourne who raised the alarm. The crew were rescued by HMCS Victoria (which happened to be the first vessel of the Victorian Colonial Navy). Victoria's captain reported that the wreck was lying broadside onto the beach but embedded into the sand about three metres. The ship was high enough up the beach that it was dry at low tide. He also reported that sixty feet of the main keel and forefoot was broken off and lying on the beach at the high-water mark.”
Today that isolated beach is one of Victoria’s most popular holiday destinations.
Parts of the wreck could occasionally be seen at very low tide but until recently few residents and even fewer visitors were aware of its presence.
“Much of the wreck is in the intertidal zone, and is only uncovered at rare times,” Ms McAllister said. “However, there is a large amount of erosion at the moment which means it is more visible than previous years.
“A dead eye (a part of the rigging of a ship – it looks a lot like a wooden pulley block) and some fragile rope were uncovered during the 2015 storms. Unfortunately this was removed at some stage and the rope deteriorated during the storms.”
As the fieldwork is part of an advanced academic practicum, the public won’t be able to join in the digging or archaeology. However, Heritage Victoria, Parks Victoria and the council are working towards a community archaeological tour day and a public lecture during the fieldwork, which starts in late November.
Residents and visitors are being urged not to disrupt the wreck before or during excavation. It is an offence under the Heritage Act to remove anything from a shipwreck site.
The project team are also interested to hear from local people with photos, stories or other memorabilia associated with the wreck. They are particularly interested in any changes to the site. Contact Heritage Victoria via maddy.mcallister@delwp.vic.gov.au or (03) 9938 6894.
“By 2am on the 13 December the wind had picked up and by 4am the Captain reported the gale had turned into a hurricane. 14 miles off Cape Otway, the wind tore off some of Amazon’s sails. By the 14 December, Amazon attempted to return to the Heads and the relative safety of Port Phillip but by noon on the 15th, the Captain realised they weren't going to make it and turned his attention to keeping his vessel away from the shore.
“Amazon continued to drift east as the storm still raged through into the next day and at 6am, there were breakers off the port bow and rocks ahead. Amazon struck the beach near what is now the Inverloch surf beach at 10am. Captain Ogier kept the vessel on course in an effort to drive the ship as far up the beach as possible.
“The crew, having been on deck for 48 hours straight, were exhausted, and it wasn’t until 3pm in the afternoon that everyone made it to shore. They set up tents on the beach the next day and searched the nearby area for signs of inhabitants. There was no sign of anyone until the 21st December when Mr Heales who was passing close by on his way to Melbourne to visit family for Christmas saw a distress flag flying.
“He escorted Captain Ogier to Melbourne who raised the alarm. The crew were rescued by HMCS Victoria (which happened to be the first vessel of the Victorian Colonial Navy). Victoria's captain reported that the wreck was lying broadside onto the beach but embedded into the sand about three metres. The ship was high enough up the beach that it was dry at low tide. He also reported that sixty feet of the main keel and forefoot was broken off and lying on the beach at the high-water mark.”
Today that isolated beach is one of Victoria’s most popular holiday destinations.
Parts of the wreck could occasionally be seen at very low tide but until recently few residents and even fewer visitors were aware of its presence.
“Much of the wreck is in the intertidal zone, and is only uncovered at rare times,” Ms McAllister said. “However, there is a large amount of erosion at the moment which means it is more visible than previous years.
“A dead eye (a part of the rigging of a ship – it looks a lot like a wooden pulley block) and some fragile rope were uncovered during the 2015 storms. Unfortunately this was removed at some stage and the rope deteriorated during the storms.”
As the fieldwork is part of an advanced academic practicum, the public won’t be able to join in the digging or archaeology. However, Heritage Victoria, Parks Victoria and the council are working towards a community archaeological tour day and a public lecture during the fieldwork, which starts in late November.
Residents and visitors are being urged not to disrupt the wreck before or during excavation. It is an offence under the Heritage Act to remove anything from a shipwreck site.
The project team are also interested to hear from local people with photos, stories or other memorabilia associated with the wreck. They are particularly interested in any changes to the site. Contact Heritage Victoria via maddy.mcallister@delwp.vic.gov.au or (03) 9938 6894.