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Names

Barque Eglinton 1852

IDs

WAM 33

Offline Only

Descriptions

This collection contains artefacts from the the 462-ton barque Eglinton which was wrecked in 1852. The site was discovered in 1971 and a large collection of artefacts was recovered representing a broad range of general merchandise, principally British manufactures, goods obtained from British colonies and a few consumables from elsewhere.

The 462-ton barque Eglinton was wrecked off the coast of Wanneroo, about 50 km north of Perth, on 3 September 1852. The Swan River Colony was just beginning to emerge from the struggle accompanying the first settlement in 1829, and the Eglinton, with its consignment of specie for the convict establishment and valuable general cargo for merchants in the colony, was keenly anticipated. Accounts of the wrecking are preserved in a variety of letters from passengers to their relatives; in the personal journals of officials sent to assist with the rescue of passengers and crew, and the ship's cargo; in official documents; and, in local newspapers. Public opinion demanded a strict investigation into the circumstances of the loss. Colonists were anxious about the losses incurred by local merchants, further damage to the already bad reputation of the port of Fremantle, and the effect this would have on companies insuring cargoes and vessels bound for Swan River. Contemporary salvage recovered the gold specie and much of the cargo, albeit variously damaged by immersion. The site was discovered in 1971, and was one of the first shipwrecks surveyed and excavated by the Western Australian Museum. A large collection of artefacts was recovered representing a broad range of general merchandise, principally British manufactures, goods obtained from British colonies and a few consumables from elsewhere.

Subjects

Artefacts; Marine archaeology; Maritime history; Money; Ships; Shipwrecks; Water transport

Barques; Coins; Shipwreck artefacts; Shipwrecks; Vessels (watercraft)

Coins; Correspondence; Journals; Money; Ships; Watercraft

Historic; Maritime archaeology; Shipwreck; Wreck

Coverage Spatial

Wanneroo; Perth, Western Australia; Swan River Colony

Coverage Temporal

1852

1852

Related Collections

Dates

2012-05-30 23:42

2011-03-31 00:17