Anchor on Holyhead wrecksite
The magnificent four masted barque, Holyhead became quite a local attraction after it wrecked on Point Lonsdale Reef in February 1890. As news of the disaster spread, huge crowds gathered at Point Lonsdale and Queenscliff to gaze at the ship with its sails flapping in the wind. As one newspaper reported:
“It’s an ill wind that blows nobody good, but yesterday’s wind blew good luck to the cabmen of Queenscliff. They are reaping great benefits as half of Queenscliff appears to be on the rocks a gazing at the wreck”.
Of course shipwrecks in that area were not uncommon. Between 1841 and 1890, over 30 ships are known to have been wrecked in the area. In 1883, another four-masted iron barque on its maiden voyage George Roper came to grief on Point Lonsdale Reef as it attempted to navigate the entrance to Port Phillip Bay.
Nearby are the wrecks of Glaneuse and Gange. Holyhead was the pride and joy of its Liverpool owner. The fact that the ship was on its maiden voyage and so close to its final destination made the wreck of Holyhead an even greater disaster.
The final voyage of Holyhead
Holyhead departed Liverpool on the November 23, 1889 with a crew of 32 and a cargo valued at £60,000. A large part of the cargo comprised iron railing for railway construction. Other cargo included slate, spirits, chemicals and crockery. Holyhead’s maiden voyage was swift and uneventful and Cape Otway was sighted on the February 11, 1890. The next day a squall blew up from the south-east and a mist enveloped the sea. Holyhead was travelling at seven knots an hour with all sails hoisted. As the ship approached the Heads, Captain Williams retired downstairs and left the first mate in charge. Holyhead signalled for a pilot for three hours but was unable to attract the pilot schooner. The first mate continued to sail nearer to the entrance although he was aware that the vessel’s compass readings were distorted by the iron hull; a common problem in early iron ships.
Because visibility was limited and the compass was not accurate, it appeared that Holyhead was still a considerable distance from the shore. The first mate had never sailed in Victorian waters and was unaware that the Point Lonsdale reef extended into the sea for 100 metres.
Meanwhile on shore, the Officer-in-Charge of the Signals Office had hoisted the danger signal but it was not seen by the crew of Holyhead.
Suddenly the ship’s watch warned of the “breakers ahead’. The first mate tried to tack the vessel and take it out to deeper water. But the wind was blowing violently and Holyhead was thrown onto Point Lonsdale Reef. Despite dragging its anchors, Holyhead stuck with a heavy thud. The wind was now gale force and torrential rain swept across the ship. Seven feet of water filled the main hold.
The pilot schooner Rip came alongside, and Pilots Press and Stalker came aboard. Holyhead was bumping violently against the rocks and the pilots realised there was no hope of pulling the vessel off the reef.
At the same time, a lifeboat crew had left Queenscliff and had to row against a strong tide to reach Point Lonsdale and the stricken ship. The lifeboat had to make two trips in gale force winds to rescue the crew of 32 and land them safely on the beach at Point Lonsdale.
As the seas abated, it appeared that the ship might remain on the reef. Calmer weather made it easier for cargo to be unloaded. After two unsuccessful attempts to tow Holyhead free, the ship was sold for salvaging. In August, as salvage work was proceeding, a fierce storm blew up sending fittings, planks, hatches and other debris flying onto the beach at Point Lonsdale and Queenscliff. The ship eventually broke-up and sank.
Ship construction
Holyhead was the “crack vessel” of the prestigious shipping company, W Thomas and Co. of Liverpool. It was built under special survey at the renowned shipyard of R J Evans and Co. and Lloyds ranked Holyhead in the highest class, 100A1.
It was a sturdy vessel constructed from iron. It had two decks, a bulkhead (a cemented partition in the hull to make it watertight), and a poop deck – a raised aft deck typical of large sailing ships.
Holyhead measured 294ft (89.6m) in length, 42ft (12.8m) in breadth and 24.5ft (6.25m) in depth. It had a gross tonnage of 2336 tons.
Diving on the wreck of Holyhead
Holyhead 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.
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.
Holyhead was protected as an Historic Shipwreck on January 17, 1989, under the Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Act (1976). Any deliberate damage or interference to Holyhead is an offence under the Act and offenders face tough penalties.
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