Australian Institute for Maritime Archaeology
NEWSLETTER
Volume 14, Number 1, February 1995
ISSN 0814-1479
Australian Institute for Maritime Archaeology (Inc)
Editors: Kieran Hosty , Lindsey Shaw
Australian National Maritime Museum
GPO Box 5131,
SYDNEY NSW 2001
PH: 02 552 7777 FAX: 02 552 2318
Registered by Australia Post, Publication No. WBH 1635
AIMA Executive Council for 1994 - 1995
President: Bill Jeffrey
Sen Vice President: Jeremy Green
Vice President: Mark Staniforth
Secretary: Cos Coroneos
c/-State Heritage Branch,
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
GPO Box 1047
ADELAIDE SA 5001
PH: 08 207 2378 FAX: 08 207 2490
Treasurer: Patrick Baker
c/- Western Australian Maritime Museum
Cliff Street
FREMANTLE WA 6160
PH: 09 431 8443 FAX: 09 430 5120
Honorary Auditor: Tom van Leeuwen
7 Delamere Avenue,
SOUTH PERTH WA 6151.
PH: 09 277 1611
From the Editors
Welcome to the first AIMA newsletter to be produced at the Australian National Maritime Museum. As members of the Australian Institute for Maritime Archaeology we have been very fortunate over the last two years to have had the services of Myra Stanbury in the editing and production of the AIMA newsletter. In the last AIMA Newsletter (Vol 13, No 2) and at the 1994 AIMA Annual General Meeting the Executive requested that a couple of new editors come forward to take over the production of the newsletter for a period of time. As Australia's National Maritime Museum, the ANMM is only too pleased to be associated with production of the newsletter and hopefully we will be able to provide the same level of service and expertise as the previous editor.
As both the editors are new to the game of newsletter production we ask that you be patient, for at least this issue, for the occasional glitch !.
Information from the Commonwealth
Staff Changes - Ms Barbara Williams retired from the Heritage Protection Section of the Department of Communications and the Arts on 24 November 1994. In her many years with the Historic Shipwrecks program, Ms Williams made a valuable contribution to the Section. Her knowledge and expertise will be sorely missed by the Section and the delegates. The Heritage Protection Section wish her all the best for the future.
Due to the secondment of Dr Alan Roberts from the Heritage Protection Section and the retirement of Ms Barbara Williams, the Commonwealth has appointed Ms Julie Stacker as Temporary Acting Historic Shipwrecks Officer.
Sailing... we are sailing...
On 5 December 1994 the Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Office moved to Level Three, CWA Building, Cr Moore Street and Barry Drive, Canberra City. The new postal address is Heritage Protection Section, Department of Communications and the Arts, GPO Box 2154, Canberra, ACT, 2601. PH: (06) 279 1615 Fax: (06) 279 1697.
Creative Nation and Maritime Heritage - The following is an extract from the cultural policy statement, launched by the Prime Minister at the National Gallery on 18 October 1994: The Commonwealth's Historic Shipwreck Program, which included the recent Shipwreck Amnesty, has been extremely successful in developing working partnerships between the Commonwealth and the States to preserve, document and interpret our maritime heritage.
The Western Australian Maritime Museum has international standing in the area of marine archaeology, particularly through its work on pre-colonial and colonial wrecks in the waters adjacent in Western Australia, as well as the assistance it has provided to conservation of the Pandora and the Sirius. It also plays a significant role in the management and excavation of shipwrecks in South-East Asia, encouraging other national training and conservation programs.
The government will assist the WA Maritime Museum to continue work on these projects of national significance, including collaborating with Queensland on the Pandora project, and will investigate the establishment of the museum as a national centre of excellence in marine archaeology.
Historic Shipwrecks National Research Plan - The Commonwealth Department of Communications and the Arts has commissioned a consultancy to develop a National Research Plan for the Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Program. The Plan will
assist in developing research and public education programs in Australian maritime archaeology and to communicate the results of maritime archaeology in Australia to the community at large.
The Commonwealth received the first draft in mid-November and it has been widely circulated for comments to museums, maritime archaeologists, universities and other organisations involved in the identification and preservation of shipwrecks. When the report is finalised it will give a critical summary of the current state of knowledge of Australian maritime archaeology and maritime history and their interrelationships and will provide a basis for the development of on-going research programs.
Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Act - Delegates Meeting 1995
A meeting of State and Territory delegates is due to be held in September 1995. The location of the meeting, which usually rotates between State/Territory capitals has not yet been decided.
Reporter: Julie Stacker
Acting Historic Shipwrecks Officer
Historic Shipwrecks National Research Plan - A team of consultants consisting of maritime archaeologists Sarah Kenderdine and Mark Staniforth, historical archaeologist Gaye Norton and historian Leigh Edmonds have been working to develop a Historic Shipwrecks National Research Plan. The work is being carried out on behalf of the Australian Cultural Development Office of the Commonwealth Department of Communications and the Arts. The brief requires that the final report recommend major themes for research that will reveal aspects of Australian history through the study of our maritime archaeological heritage.
The consultants have completed and are circulating a first draft of the report but
are still seeking input from interested parties. Comments as to what themes, issues or sites related to Australia's historic shipwrecks should be a priority for research through excavation and/or detailed study are invited. Address your comments to:
Mark Staniforth
Discipline of Visual Arts and Archaeology
Flinders University of South Australia
G.P.O. Box 2100
Adelaide, South Australia, 5001
Australian National Maritime Museum
Dunbar Collection - In late November 1994, the museum negotiated an out-of-auction settlement on a collection of objects from what could be described as Sydney's most famous shipwreck - Dunbar, a luxury clipper ship that sank off Sydney Heads in 1857.
For some time the museum has known of the collection held by local sports diverJohn Gillies, which he recovered from the wreck in the 1950s and 60s. In 1991, the Dunbar, and its associated relics was declared an Historic Shipwreck under The Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Act (1976). This meant that the wreck was to be protected from unauthorised interference and subsequent damage.
On 1 May, 1993 the Commonwealth Department of the Arts and Administrative Services declared an amnesty from prosecution to encourage people who had material from protected shipwrecks to come forward and declare that material. As a result of this amnesty John Gillies declared his collection to the New South Wales Department of Planning.
In August 1994, the Department of Planning granted Mr Gillies a permit to dispose of his collection at auction under the condition that the collection be registered, photographed, remain in Australia and the new owner inform the Department within thirty days of purchase.
Soon after, Sotheby's announced that the Dunbar material would be auctioned in the first week of December. The Australian National Maritime Museum was subsequently approached by numerous individuals, councils and government departments with requests that it purchase the collection.
The future of the Dunbar collection caused some consternation for the Museum. Firstly, it did not have enough funds to purchase the material and secondly there are a number of serious ethical concerns regarding the acquisition of material privately recovered from shipwrecks. A third concern was what would happen to the collection if sold privately. Could the museum be confident that the new owners would comply with all conditions of the permit and would the collection stay in Australia ?.
The collection acquired by the Museum contains over 5000 objects, including coins, jewellery, watches, cutlery, pottery shards, ironmongery, brass keg taps, lighting components, flasks and poignant personal items such as dental plates, clothing fragments and rings.
Disappointingly a proportion of the material is beyond conservation treatment. The task of correctly conserving and registering the remainder is awesome with an estimated cost of around $170,000. Nonetheless the immediate and appropriate care of the surviving collection is vital.
The final decision to proceed with the negotiations was made possible when the Andrew Thyne Reid Charitable Trust agreed to provide funds to secure the collection and contribute to its conservation and storage. John Gillies accepted an offer significantly less than the original estimates and the collection was withdrawn from auction.
It is unusual for a museum to purchase material from a shipwreck on the open market, but the ANMM considered the story of the Dunbar and the nature of the objects in this collection too extraordinary, and the risk of losing it was too great. So did many other Australians. As soon as practicable they will be able to see the material from the Dunbar. However the Museum will still need support for conservation, registration and display. We hope that the many people who urged us to become the guardians of this collection will also support its care.
Mary-Louise Williams
Assistant Director
Maritime Archaeology Policy
When the Australian National Maritime Museum opened at Darling Harbour on 29 November 1991, the Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Act (1976) had been in operation for over 15 years. Over 200 shipwrecks had been declared historic under State and Commonwealth legislation and maritime archaeology units had been established in most states.
Shortly before opening, ANMM's Council implemented a Maritime Archaeology Program for the Museum and appointed a curator of maritime archaeology. This development formalised a program which had existed at the Museum since 1988.
In January 1995, The Maritime Archaeology Policy and Operational Strategy for the Australian National Maritime Museum was reviewed and updated, bringing the Museum into line with international procedures, guidelines and Codes of Practise regarding the acquisition and display of material from archaeological sites.
Copies of the revised Policy and Operational Strategy will be available from the Curator of Maritime Archaeology at the ANMM.
Maritime Archaeology Educational Workshops - Leading on from the success of general maritime archaeology lectures given as part of the Visitor and Educational Services for the Mary Rose Exhibition, this year will see the commencement of archaeology workshops for Year 11 and 12 Ancient History students studying either marine archaeology or general archaeology.
archaeological techniques and methods including research design, cultural resource management and conservation. The response from a recent teachers preview of the workshop was favourable with a number of bookings being confirmed for 1995.Pandora Expedition - Two cannons, a telescope, intact ceramic jars and Polynesian fishing equipment are amongst the artefacts recovered from the recent Queensland Museum's Expedition to the site of HMS Pandora. (1791). Assisting the Queensland Museum on the wrecksite were maritime archaeologists and conservators from Queensland, Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia and New South Wales including Antonia Syme and Kieran Hosty from the National Maritime Museum.
The Queensland Museum organised a special SSBA course through the Dive Bell Training School in Townsville to ensure that all fieldwork participants met the necessary Worksafe Regulations (AS2299.2). An interesting aspect of this seasons work on the site was the use of in-water oxygen decompression in order to prolong the effective working time on the site from 18 to 40 minutes.
Scribe: Kieran Hosty
Curator of Maritime Archaeology
New South Wales
Hive - David Nutley and Tim Smith (the younger) are preparing an adventurous expedition in search of the convict transport Hive, lost in Wreck Bay NSW in 1835.
The fieldwork began on 17 December (159 years later to the month) and will be assisted by officers from ADI (Australian Defence Industries) and Manly Hydraulics Laboratory (Public Works Department). The search for this elusive vessel involved a land and underwater magnetometer survey. The Hive lies in the heavy surf zone that borders Bhewerre Beach in Wreck Bay. No doubt the 250 Irish male prisoners thought they were on a winner, when stranded 200 kilometres south of Sydney with 10,000 pounds of gold coin for the military payroll. Unfortunately for them, the handful of guards from the 28 Regiment controlled the situation, salvaged the gold and managed to get all the convicts to Sydney.
The Hive is the only convict transport vessel known to have been wrecked on the Australian mainland (the Neva and George III having been wrecked off the Tasmanian coast). Preliminary work suggests that the remains of a portion of the lower hull have survived beneath the protective sands of Wreck Bay.
Geo Magazine -The January 1995 edition of GEO Magazine included an article by Tim Smith (the younger) about the Sydney Cove disaster and the monumental land trek from The Ninety Mile Beach in Victoria to Sydney. This epic walk for help culminated in the death of 14 of the 17 who commenced the journey. It also brought about the rescue of the stranded crew on Preservation Island, the discovery of the coal deposits at Coal Cliff, New South Wales, and proof of the existence of Bass Strait. Many thanks to Mike Nash for help with the article.
Shipwreck Database - Rebecca Bower's (currently working at the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney) extensive work on the NSW component of the shipwreck database has now ended. Thanks to Rebecca for all the hard work, but can you photocopy the newspaper articles larger next time (David's gone blind). Mike Lorimer (who left the Australian National Maritime Museum in early November) has been employed on the next stage of the research work, bringing the period 1919 to 1949 up to date - good luck Mike.
Publications - The Minister for Planning, Robert Webster, successfully launched a book for us in October entitled Fast Company: The Lively Times and Untimely End of the Clipper Ship Walter Hood. The book, written by Allen Mawer, was assisted by a grant from the NSW Historic Shipwrecks Program. A significant wreck in this State, theWalter Hood had the honour of being smashed onto a reef in Wreck Bay, trapping thirteen crew on board for four days, and forcing them to kill the captain's small dog for food. Copies can be ordered through the Department's bookshop for $19.95 or through the ANMM's shop.
Wreck Survey - Our Community Wreck Survey Project is going well with twenty diving groups or shops undertaking the survey and recording of the favourite wreck sites. A recent mail out confirmed the interest in the project which is due for completion by June 1995. The Department will then assemble the results for publication by Christmas 1995.
Tim Smith (the younger) finally met the other Tim Smith (the elder) at the Brisbane AIMA Conference in October.
Can you tell them apart ?.
Atlas - An update of the very popular Atlas of New South Wales Wrecks Sites is also being prepared for reprinting in early 1995. With a drastically reformatted content and layout, the new version will hopefully trigger further interest in recording and properly managing the State's shipwreck resource. Everybody should now have received copies of several other recently released publications including Underwater Heritage in New South Wales: Principles and Guidelines, Underwater Heritage in New South Wales brochure, Local Government Guidelines and the 1994 shipwreck poster. Additional copies can also be ordered through the Department's information Branch.
Murray River Survey - Sarah Kenderdine's report, Historic Shipping on the Murray River, has gone to the printers and will be published in early 1995. This completes her consultancy funded by the New South Wales Department of Planning with assistance in kind from the Victorian Department of Planning and Development, in conjunction with the Murray Darling Basin Commission.
Informant: Tim Smith,
Department of Planning
Newcastle and North Coast
Newcastle NSW, a city renowned for its maritime links with the past has seen the commencement of several on-going projects which will raise the profile of maritime archaeology in the Hunter. The natural shoals and the treacherous conditions in gale force winds (the notorious south easterlies) present at the mouth of the Hunter River and Stockton Bight have been responsible for at least 60 strandings or wrecks of which only half have been located.
Oyster Bar Survey - The first project, the subject of previous AIMA Bulletins, is the Oyster Bank shipwreck walk which features the many wrecks that either foundered there or were intentionally scuttled by Port Authorities to construct a breakwater. The Oyster Bank is the northernmost breakwater at the mouth of the Hunter. The now very popular shipwreck walk was the initiative of the Maritime Archaeological Association of NSW Inc, the Newcastle Shiplovers Society and the Newcastle Region Maritime Museum, and was made possible with government funding. Terry Callan's new book, Bar Safe will emerge from the research carried out on the Oyster Bank. His previous book Bar Dangerous, has been an important historical resource for maritime research in the area.
Discussion of the large number of potential and known wrecks in Stockton Bight, immediately north of Oyster Bank, has been included in a management plan for the Newcastle Bight and hinterland under the umbrella of the Newcastle Bight Sand Drift Committee. The Committee comprises representatives from government and the private sector who have a vested interest in the future of the dune transgression and any scientific and cultural features in the area. The final document will enable informed planning and management decisions for the area. Sue Effenberger, one of Enviro Science's archaeologists (the other being Iain Stewart, ex Victoria Archaeological Survey) is preparing a cultural resource inventory for the study, encompassing Aboriginal, maritime and historic sites.
Cerberus - Sue Effenberger (with assistance from young daughter Savannah) is compiling an archive directory for HMVS Cerberus, the iron breastwork monitor which came to the Colony of Victoria as its first line of defence in 1871. The remains of Cerberus are located at Half Moon Bay within the council boundary of Sandringham, Port Phillip bay. The contract for the archive directory was offered by Heritage Victoria and includes an essay on the historical context by noted naval historian and author Bob Nichols. The directory will draw upon a variety of sources including known institutional collections, collections in private hands, assorted memorabilia owned by the general public and relics from the diving community. The archive directory will form the basis for a Conservation Plan , which will offer a plan of management for the rapidly corroding wreck. The extent of corrosion has been monitored by Dr Ian MacLeod of the Western Australian Maritime Museum in a separate report.
Source:Sue Effenberger,
Enviro Science.
What can you see at the bottom of the sea ?
According to Lucky magazine published by Ashton Scholastic Tim Smith is at the bottom of the sea
"Everyday is an adventure for Tim Smith who is an archaeologist ... An archaeologist is a person who studies how people lived in the past, by looking at the things they left behind. Tim is a maritime archaeologist. He dives to the bottom of the ocean to explore sunken ships, which are called shipwrecks.
The bottom of the ocean is cold and dark, so it can be pretty spooky. Sometimes Tim is the first person to discover a shipwreck and creep through its passageways ... Tim always leaves a shipwreck just as he finds it, so that others can explore it and learn about our past".
Nice one Tim !
South Australia
What's happened - In August the Minister, T. Wotton, launched the Investigator Strait Maritime Heritage Trail. The land-based trail is composed of nine signs at seven locations. They cover the wrecking event and physical situation of the more prominent sites in the area, SS Clan Ranald,
SS Willyama, Hougomont, SS Marion and SS Pareora. The funding for the signs was courtesy of Australian Geographic. Following up on this Trail in the new year will be the production of interpretive pamphlets for both land and underwater users. The production and placement of underwater plinths on some of the more accessible sites will also commence.
Upcoming Events - A survey is scheduled in March of the iron hulled wreck sites of Investigator Strait, Ethyl(1904), SS Clan Ranald (1909), SS William (1907), SS Pareira (1919), SS Ferret (1920) and the (1934). Measurements will be taken to ascertain the short and long term stability of these sites, a number of which are popular diving locations. It is intended, though not confirmed, that Ian Macleod and John Riley will participate in the survey.
The West Coast Regional Shipwreck Survey, is to commence in 1995. The field work period will start in late March and extend to mid to late May. Some of this time will be spent in the Trial Bay area where an intensive search will be undertaken for the Elizabeth Rebecca (1828-1845) and the Arachne (1809-1848), the former having been built at Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania. This will coincide with a land excavation of a newly reported 'whaling station' in the Bay. The site is of some interest as a significant amount of copper sheathing is present on the surface and may be associated with either of the two wrecks. This land and sea extravaganza will be a co-operative effort between the State Heritage Branch (us), Flinders University Archaeology Department and the local community.
Publications - The final draft of the two regional surveys, Shipwrecks of Investigator Strait and the lower Yorke Peninsula and Shipwrecks of Backstairs Passage and the southern Fleurieu Peninsula, are nearing completion. We are presently looking at having the surveys put out as AIMA Special Publications. Some delays may occur as three wreck sighting reports of unlocated sites have just been handed to us. Given their location and the lousy weather at this time of year we cannot inspect them immediately.
Solway - The monitoring of the Solway continues. Since the site was sandbagged in June there have been three visits to the site. In the last visit, October 29, it was observed that the sandbags were almost completely covered with sand. There was no scouring around the edges of the bagged area. However in the southern part of the site which was originally covered with sand, (hence no need for bagging), there was an extensive exposure of timbers as a result of scouring. As much of the newly exposed timbers have been heavily attacked by Teredo worm in the past this extensive scouring may only be due to a seasonal occurrence rather than having been caused by the changes of the site topography through sandbagging. The site will be monitored more closely.
Clan Ranald - The proposed dive with the Adelaide University Dive Club as part of a long term mapping project of the site was called off due to horrible weather.
Hopper Barge No 3 - The Underwater Explorers Club's attempts to get onto the site off Cape Jervis have been foiled four time in as many months. We will persist. If any one out there in Maritime Archaeology Land can provide the Department of Planning in South Australia with a copy of North Mole Barge Survey undertaken by the class of 1990 Cos will be eternally grateful.
Santiago - The conservation project on the 1856 iron barque now sitting in the North Arm of the Port Adelaide river and relatively intact, is progressing with the attachment of ten, 20kg sacrificial anodes to the hull. The project is being carried out under the direction of Peter Kentish, Lecturer of Metallurgy at the University of South Australia and funded through a grant from the Australian Heritage Commission. Corrosion potential's measurements taken of the hull prior to the attachment of the anodes, and since, indicate that the anodes are working in slowing down the corrosion. One of the problems encountered with the anodes has been the interference of fishing people who have removed one anode from the site.
As the majority of the vessel is out of the water where sacrificial anodes will not work, an investigation is being conducted on painting systems and tests have recently been carried out.
City of Adelaide - This 30 ton hydraulically propelled steel lifeboat - probably the only existing example of this type - is the subject of another conservation investigation. Located in Port Lincoln it is sitting high and dry and in desperate need of conservation work. Recently Peter Kentish and Bob Sexton inspected the site to ascertain what procedures should take place to care for the vessel, and to compile a plan (including the lines) of the remaining hull. A small grant has been obtained which will be used to carry out pre-treatment and painting of the remaining steel structure by volunteers from the Axel Stenross Maritime Museum.
Mannum Dry Dock - This dock was used by William Randell - the pioneer of River Murray paddle steamers to repair numerous paddle steamers and barges from 1876 onwards. It was originally built as a floating dock but due to difficulties in using it as such was purchased by Randell and installed at Mannum. Much of the dock is intact and has been recorded. In December 1994 the State Heritage Branch and the Archaeology Association from Flinders University excavated and recorded the perimeters of the dock that have been covered by soil and vegetation. This information will be used in the development of a management plan for the site.
River Boat Trail - An interpretive facility on the remaining historic sites related to shipping on the River Murray has been recently established. It includes 11 interpretive signs placed at prominent locations in 11 towns spaced along the Murray from Renmark to Goolwa informing users of the river about what historic sites are located nearby. A 40 page colour booklet has been published to complement the signs and provides additional educational and management information.
Historic Shipwrecks - Eight shipwrecks have been recently declared under the South Australia Historic Shipwrecks Act (1981). Seven of the sites are located in the River Murray, being the PS Mary Ann (the inaugural paddle steamer on the Murray in 1853), PS Melbourne, PS Jolly Miller, PS Corowa, PS William Randell, barges Crowie and Cobar; the eighth is the ketch Maid of Australia, located off Wardang Island in Spencer Gulf.
From Cos Coroneos , Bill Jeffrey
South Australian Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Other news from South Australia
Mark Staniforth spent a very cold six weeks in Canada and the USA conducting comparative research on Chinese export porcelain and archival research on the William Salthouse wreck. He visited Vancouver, Ottawa, Montreal, Boston and Washington and spent about three weeks working with staff at Parks Canada. Mark also presented a paper (along with about 350 other people) at the Society for Historical Archaeology (SHA) Conference in Washington, DC. All this is thanks to a post graduate study grant from the Association for Canada Studies in Australia and New Zealand (ACSANZ) and a post graduate conference travel grant from Flinders University of South Australia.
Mark Staniforth
Foreign Correspondent
Flinders University of South Australia
Tasmania
Heritage Legislation - The long awaited first step towards State heritage legislation has been taken with the introduction into parliament of a draft bill. The legislation contains a section specifically dealing with historic shipwrecks and proposes an automatic 75 year blanket declaration as well as provisions for other declarations. If the legislation actually comes through there is a commitment to fund its operation through the heritage section of the Department of Environment and Land Management (DELM). Here's hoping !
Protection - At the beginning of October the State had its first court case concerning the illegal removal of shipwreck artefacts. Police seized three metal statues that a diver had recovered from the wreck of the General Picton (1888). The defendant was actually charged with an obscure state law concerning the possession of illegally obtained goods rather than under the Federal Act. As there is no precedent within the State the court has reserved its decision .
Whaling Survey - The Department has obtained funding through the National Estate program to carry out a survey of sites connected with the extensive bay whaling industry that operated in the state till the late 1840s. The historical component of the study was completed earlier this year. The field survey has now commenced and will be carried out by Parry Kostoglou over a six month period. Hopefully we will have the results published by the end of next year.
Sydney Cove-- While conservation of some of the Sydney Cove artefacts will be continuing until the end of 1995 the first steps towards analysis of the collection have been undertaken. Studies on the export porcelain and the butchered bone material are being written up and other groups of artefacts are being handed out to various researchers and organisations. Funding for a travelling exhibition of material and information from the site is currently being sought through the Federal Government's Visions of Australia program. The proposed exhibit will be curated by the Queen Victoria Museum, Launceston, and will open in February 1997, the 200th anniversary of the wreck.
AIMA Conference - Preliminary discussions have taken place concerning the 1995 AIMA conference. For the first time the conference will be held in conjunction with the Australian Society for Historical Archaeology (ASHA) and we are proposing joint sessions on topics of mutual interest eg. comparative artefact studies, maritime industries, databases and registers etc. Full details of timing, venues, topics etc will be ready for the next newsletter.
Author: Mike Nash
Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service
Victoria
Mary Rose - Life and Death on Henry VIII's Lost Warship
The Warrnambool Art Gallery is currently hosting the above exhibition between 10 December 1994 and 26 February 1995.
"It's summer, 1545. The morning is calm Henry VIII, King of England, has come to Portsmouth to watch his ships engage the French fleet that lies menacingly off the coast. Fully crewed and ready for battle, Henry's pride - the great fighting ship - sets out against the enemy. Then ... disaster! without warning, the ship heels and sinks, taking 700 soldiers and sailors to a watery grave".
For more than 400 years the vessel rested on the seabed off Portsmouth, buried in silt which preserved its contents. Their recovery, an archaeological triumph of this century, unlocked a fascinating and dramatic insight into an historically significant era.
Contained in the hull were weapons of war, powerful new cannon, hundreds of deadly longbows and thousands of arrows intended for the French; medical implements to treat the wounded; domestic items including articles of clothing, table utensils ... even musical instruments and recreational board games.
It is particularly appropriate that the Mary Rose exhibition should spend three months at Warrnambool, in the heart of Victoria's shipwreck coast. This is a region of significant European maritime history - although of somewhat more modern vintage. The exhibition's Warrnambool summer season offers the opportunity to combine a once in a lifetimes experience of a vital time in early England with a visit to Victoria's dramatic Shipwreck Coast.
Special package tours for the Mary Rose Warrnambool seasons have been created by Shipwreck Coast Tourism.
For further information please contact the Warrnambool Art Gallery on (055) 647 832
Max Preece
Warrnambool Art Gallery
Mary Rose - Life and Death on Henry VIII's Lost Warship is an exhibition from the Mary Rose Trust, Portsmouth, England, brought to Australia by the Australian National Maritime Museum.
Following on from Warrnambool it will tour to the Queensland Museum (April - July 1995) and to the Western Australian Museum, Perth (August - October 1995).
Western Australia
Hi Ho Hi ho it's off to Oman we go - Oh Man! An expedition to Oman What better place to be for Christmas than the land of Fraciansence, myrrh and gold; the gifts taken by the WISE en route to J.C.'s birthday party some years ago.
An Earthwatch Expedition to Oman departed on 30 November, running through until 21 December 1994. Tom Vosner, together with Sarah Kenderdine continued the historical investigation and ethnographical documentation of traditional watercraft. They also examined graffiti depicting ships, and conducted an underwater survey with the Royal Oman Navy. Five Australian and three British volunteers will also be involved. We hope all went well.
So far, getting our magic carpet to Muscat has proven exacerbating. During November the Sultan of Oman randomly declares public holidays of any length of up to two weeks. Which he did. Which 'hung up' visa processing. Which caused various ticketing and re-routing options to be booked, changed, cancelled and then re-booked. Which prompted the various travel agents from here to the east to contemplate the strength of phone cords for hanging clients...
At time of writing, on the eve of departure, visas were through, but the transport union plans a strike which could keep us permanently 'in transit'. Sky Pac has yet to fly in with the tickets... and the sands in the hours glass continue to fall...Oh Man...Oman..
Wishing you all sweet dates and aromatic coffees.
Correspondents:
Sarah Kenderdine and Tom Vosner
Western Australian Maritime Museum
International News: From the Internet
Ireland bans Lusitania Dives - January 24, 1995, Dublin, Ireland (AP) The government on Tuesday banned unauthorised dives around the wreck of the SS Lusitania, the luxury liner torpedoed by a German submarine off the Irish coast 80 years ago. Irish arts and cultural minister Michael Higgins ordered that an 'underwater heritage order' be placed on the site. The move followed reports that a British diving team last summer found tube containers made of lead, which some think could hold paintings by French impressionist Claude Monet and 17 century Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens.
The order was intended to protect the liner from 'further unregulated tampering' and ensure that the interests of the Irish state in both the paintings - if they are confirmed to exist - is upheld.
Irish officials think the Monet and Rubens works were willed to Dublin's National Gallery by Sir Hugh Lane, a director of the Gallery, who was on the Lusitania when it was sunk by a submarine on May 7, 1915 during a voyage from New York. Almost 1200 people, most of them American civilians, died. There have also been suggestions over the years that other valuables, including gold bullion, might be near the wreckage, which lies about 300 feet below the surface near Kinsale, County Cork.
Conflicting claims of ownership surround the wreck. Ms Muriel Wright, the Massachusetts widow of a US Navy Diver, says he bought rights to the wrecks in 1967 from a British insurance company for about $2,400. She says the Lusitania should remain untouched as a monument. Millionaire businessman F. Gregg Bemis Jr. of Santa Fe, New Mexico, said last year that he wanted to salvage about 100 tons of copper from the ships structure but otherwise would leave the contents for others to explore
Michael Hall, Dublin Institute of Technology; Ireland.
INA - Egypt - is a branch of the Institute of Nautical Archaeology dedicated to exploring the nautical heritage of Egypt and the Arab world. The Institute conducted a shipwreck survey in the Red Sea in 1994 and in 1995 will commence survey work in the Mediterranean and the excavation of a late 17th century shipwreck carrying Chinese porcelain, porous earthenware jugs and European-style glass bottles.
INA - Egypt's newsletter El Bahri is available twice yearly to members. An introductory copy may be obtained by writing to
INA - Egypt C/- ARCE, 2 Midan Qasr el Doubarra, Garden City, Cairo, Egypt.
Cheryl Haldane, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey.
Titanic Exhibition - Some interesting comments on the Titanic Exhibition which has just closed at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich. A poll conducted by the Museum on some 57,000 punters indicated that 48% were interested in the story, 10% the conservation, 17% the recovery, 17% the exploration and 8% in the controversy. The same poll also indicated that 70% of the visitors thought that it was OK for museums to display objects obtained through commercial salvage.
Ben Fuller
Ex-curator of Mystic Seaport.
Research Notes
Plantation Register - In published work on early Australian shipping both Ronald Parsons and Charles Bateson make numerous references to Plantation Register at the Mitchell Library in Sydney.
For some years David Nutley tried in vain to locate this elusive source. Ronald gave me the complete description of the item which he, after some persistence, had found in the Library's collection. Even with this information, and the valuable assistance of several industrious staff at the library between 1990 and 1994, the item resisted all attempts to be brought to light.
While conducting research into the use of copper sheathing in early 19th century Australia, I happened to be working on the computer catalogue at the NSW State Archives. On an impulse I decided to see if the Plantation Register was listed there. It did not appear under that name but Ronald Parsons description noted that it was contained within a volume that also contained Licences for Marriage. A search under that heading was successful but did not mention any shipping records. However I noted that Licences for Marriage was under the general heading of Commissions and Licences. A search under that heading had me all but creating a disturbance within the hallowed walls of the State Archives of New South Wales.
There it was. At some point in the not too distant past it had been transferred from the Mitchell Library to the State Archives. The full listing for any who may wish to avail themselves of this source follows. Note that the Licences for Marriage section has been published, but not the registrations of vessels:
Colonial Secretary/Chief Secretary/Services
COMMISSIONS AND LICENCES
A0 4/1710
January 1826 - September 1844 (called Register No 1)
Abstracts of all licences for marriage granted to free persons, 17 March 1813 - 26 to December 1827 (pp 15 - 122); microfiche copy AO836 in the *GRK, published information leaflet No 39; Abstracts of all registrations of vessels granted, 5 November 1817 - 3 April 1827 (pp135 - 50). (author's emphasis)
The heading at page 135 of the volume indicated that the information is extracted from the Book of British Plantation Registry and Licences for Marriage. The location of the original book is not known. The end note of the section, dated 23 May 1827, states that:
"A list of the Registers of vessels as above, was transmitted to the Customs and their future preparation transferred to the Department by letter of this date to the Collector and Comptroller, No 31."
Author: David Nutley
From the papers
The Bulletin (January 10, 1995) reports the launching of an expedition to recover gold from the General Grant wrecked off Auckland Island south of New Zealand in 1866. According to The Bulletin, the salvage is being led by Mr Ashley Keith who states "the gold and adventure will attract ex-navy or army types able to withstand the physical rigours". The team is employing that well known American treasure hunter Mel Fisher as promoter and consultant. Keith intends to fund the search through an unlisted company float.
The Commonwealth of Australia Gazette (11 January 1995) states that under The Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981 permission is given to the Royal Australian Navy to dump the decommissioned destroyer escort HMAS Derwent 12 nautical miles off Rottnest Island, Western Australia
The English newspaper The Weekly Telegraph reports the forthcoming auction in Amsterdam by Christyis's of 24,000 pieces of porcelain in 1200 lots recovered from the wreck of the American vessel Diana wrecked on a voyage from Canton to Calcutta in 1817.
One wonders if the budding bidders and collectors of ceramics from shipwrecks have taken a close look at any of the Gildermalsen material recently
Also from an English paper, the Daily Mail (23 January 1995) reports that an Argentine treasure hunter Mr Ruben Collado is planning an expedition to recover the lead coffin of the British seaman (or pirate if you're Spanish) Sir Francis Drake from the Caribbean.
The Bulletin (January 24 - 31 1995) had an article written by Mark Staniforth entitled Scrutiny of the bounty concerning his research on the ceramics from the wreck of Sydney Cove. Mark explained the current work being conducted on the site by the Department of Environment and Land Management, the analysis of the largest collection of post settlement 18th century material and the importance and significance of the site.
The Financial Review (13 February 1995) reports the prevention of the export of a painting of colonial Sydney entitled View of the Town of Sydney priced at $A 1.5 million under The Movable Cultural Heritage Act . Export of the painting, originally attributed to Thomas Watling, has been blocked under rules that govern objects of importance to Australia's early settlement.
Forthcoming Conferences
The International Submarine Reunion and Convention, hosted by The National Submarine History Taskforce will be held at The Western Australian Maritime Museum in Fremantle, Western Australia between March 20 - 24 1995.
For further information please contact The Secretary, International Submarine Convention, Mr Mike Pearson, U/8 Terrace Road, Perth, Western Australia, 6000.
Redefining the Norm. Australian National Maritime Museum will be hosting a one day conference on Gender, Ethnicity and Sexuality in Museums on 31 March 1995.
For further details please contact Ms Helen Trepa, ANMM, GPO Box 5131, Sydney, NSW, 2001.
Ph: (02) 552 7777
Seminar for Conservation Practioners and Community Groups. The Museum of Sydney on the site of first Government House present a conference on archaeology and interpretation in the international museum context between April 7 - 9 1995.
For further details contact, Ms Jane Lydon, P.O. Box R778, Royal Exchange, Sydney, 2000.
PH: (02) 251 4611
The RAN in WWII: The Royal Australian Navy, Maritime Studies Program, The Australian Naval Institute (ANI) in conjunction with The Australian National Maritime Museum will be jointly hosting the Royal Australian Navy's second History Conference at The Australian National Maritime Museum between Thursday 25 - Friday 26 May 1995.
For Further Information please contact Mr David Stevens at The Maritime Studies Program, Department of Defence (Navy) on PH: (06) 2666873 FAX: (06) 2666754.
24th Annual Conference of The Society for Industrial Archaeology
The 1995 Annual Conference will be held in Baltimore, Maryland between May 11 - 14 The Society would like to extend a Call for papers. We welcome proposals related to food processing, ore refinement, textiles, printing,
chemical and petroleum, ore refinement and transportation.
Please submit a one page abstract to Stacie Webb, 1404 Hanover Street, Baltimore, MD 21230.
PH BUS: 410 333 3439
FAX 410-333-1105
New Books and Recent Publications
Mawer, G.A. Fast Company: The Lively Times and Untimely End of The Clipper Ship Walter Hood.. Plainwoods Press, Hughes, ACT. 1994
AIMA Publications
Back issues of the Bulletin, Newsletters and Special Publications are available for sale. Publications price lists and order forms may be obtained on request. Discount prices may apply for multiple orders.
WHAT IS AIMA
The Australian Institute for Maritime Archaeology (AIMA) is an organization formed to promote the advancement of maritime archaeology in Australia andto assist in the co-ordination of national and international programmes. Join AIMA and find out more about what is happening in the world of maritime archaeology.
Ordinary Member A$35
Student Member A$25
Institutional Member A$45
Associate Member A$17.50
For further information on membership please contact,
The Treasurer
Australian Institute for Maritime Archaeology
C/- Western Australian Maritime Museum
Cliff Street, Fremantle
Western Australia, 6160