The wreck of Clarence lies offshore from St Leonards in Port Phillip Bay. It is the best preserved example of an early Australian built schooner found in Australian waters.
Shipbuilding began in Australia soon after European settlement in 1788, however, it was severely restricted during the colony’s early years. This was partly to protect Britain’s monopoly on trade. It was also feared that convicts would steal the ships or develop the skills to build their own and sail to freedom.
In the 1820s, shipbuilding began to flourish. Many small vessels were built on the banks of rivers, as well as in ports of NSW and Tasmania. Early records show that between first European settlement and 1850, 134 ships were built in Sydney.
Most ships were built by rule of thumb, without the benefits of models and plans. As a result few records have survived and we know very little about the techniques used by early ship builders. Wrecks, such as Clarence are therefore very valuable in providing evidence of ship construction and design dating back to last century.
A trading and passenger ship
For nine years, Clarence carried timber, sheep and other cargo to Sydney, Melbourne, Launceston, Port Albert, Warrnambool and Twofold Bay. Early records also show that it visited the Treasury Islands in the Pacific and the Bay of Islands in New Zealand.
In 1847, Clarence almost wrecked when it was stranded near Warrnambool. Newspapers at the time suggested that the master and part-owner, Captain Ainslie had deliberately let the vessel strand in order to collect £900 in insurance. This charge was never proven. The vessel was salvaged and sold at auction. It was then refitted to carry passengers. In 1848, Clarence resumed service as a cargo vessel sailing between Port Fairy, Port Phillip and Launceston.
The final voyage of Clarence
On September 2, 1850, Clarence was carrying a cargo of 132 sheep from Melbourne to Hobart when it ran aground in Port Phillip Bay.
The vessel had anchored for the night in Coles Channel near St Leonards when a fresh south-west to south-south-west wind blew up. At 9pm, the anchor cable broke and Clarence was wrecked on a sand bank between Coles and West Channels, about two miles south of St Leonards.
After the wreck, there was a dispute over the salvage rights between the vessel’s owners and Geelong residents who had rescued the cargo of sheep. The outcome of the dispute was never recorded.
Ship construction
Clarence was a 67 ton, two masted wooden schooner measuring only 50ft (15.2m). It was built in 1841 on the Williams River in northern NSW. Excavation of Clarence, carried out by the Maritime Archaeology Unit has shown that the ship was shoddily constructed. It was made from Eucalyptus timber and had makeshift fittings and fastenings. There was no copper sheathing to prevent marine creatures settling on the hull, instead it seems that a paste of calcium carbonate (lime) was applied to the ship’s hull.
Until comparisons are made with other early Australian built ships, it will not be known whether Clarence was constructed roughly with little regard to details or finishing or whether it was typical of vessels of that era. Obviously, new settlers, including boat builders had to learn how to use the hardwood timbers of the Australian forests. Apart from materials salvaged from shipwrecks, traditional fastenings and ship riggings would have been in short supply – and some improvisation would have been necessary.
Diving on the wreck of Clarence
Clarence is one of the many historic shipwrecks included in Victoria’s Underwater Shipwreck Discovery Trail. Qualified divers can explore the wrecks of old wooden clippers, iron steamships and cargo and passenger vessels located along the coast and in Port Phillip Bay. Some of these wreck dives are suitable for beginners while other wrecks require the skills and experience of advanced divers.
As Clarence is currently undergoing further research, it is currently closed to all divers, though it should be open to permit diving in the near future.
Victoria's historic shipwrecks
In the 18th and 19th centuries, an enormous number of ships sailed in Victorian waters. For instance, at the height of the gold rush, 50 ships were reported sailing past Cape Otway Lighthouse in one day. In 1852, 150 ships were reported anchored in Hobson’s Bay at one time.
Despite Victoria being such a busy shipping region and although Bass Strait and the entrance to Port Phillip Bay presented many hazards to the unwary sailor, only 800 shipwrecks have occurred along the Victorian coast since 1797. Fewer than 200 of these wrecks have actually been found. All Australian shipwrecks over 75 years old are protected by state and Commonwealth historic shipwreck laws. Some younger wrecks may also be especially declared to be historic eg; World War II wrecks.
Clarence was protected as an Historic Shipwreck on the September 11, 1985, under the Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Act (1976). Any deliberate damage or interference to Clarence is an offence under the Act and offenders face tough penalties.
Dive information sheet