Sydney Cove (ship)

Sydney Cove was a sailing ship wrecked in 1797 on Preservation Island off Tasmania while on her way from Calcutta to Port Jackson. She was among the first ships wrecked on the east coast of Australia.

Voyage

The ship was built in Calcutta as part of the rice fleet, under the name "Begum Shaw". She was bought by the agency house (private trading firm) of Campbell and Clark to carry a cargo to Sydney Cove, and was renamed the "Sydney Cove" for her destination. The cargo consisted of various provisions, spirits and goods. The venture was speculative, meaning it wasn't firm orders from the colony, but rather sent to be sold on arrival.

The ship's master Gavin (or Guy) Hamilton was kept on by the new owners and the ship departed on 10 November 1796. Heavy seas encountered in December started a leak in the ship and further bad weather in January increased it so that the pumps had to be manned continuously. In February off the east coast of Tasmania yet more heavy weather saw the leak gaining on the bailing efforts.

On 9 February 1797 the water was up to the lower deck hatches and in imminent danger of sinking Hamilton decided to ground her on an island north of Tasmania, now called Preservation Island in the Furneaux Group. He chose a sheltered location, so everyone was able to get ashore safely and most of the cargo was saved too. Much of the ships cargo of Rum was stored safely away from the thirsty crew, on near-by Rum Island

Trek north

A party of seventeen men set off on 28 February 1797 in the ship's longboat to reach help at Port Jackson, 400 sea miles away. This was led by first mate Hugh Thompson, and included William Clark the supercargo, three European seaman and twelve lascars. Ill fortune struck again and they were wrecked on the mainland at the northern end of Ninety Mile Beach. Their only hope was to walk along the shore all the way to Sydney, a distance of over 600 kilometres.

They had few provisions and no ammunition, and fatigue and hunger lessened their number as they marched. Along the way they encountered various aboriginal people, some friendly and some not. The last of the party to die on the march was killed by a man Dilba and his people near Hat Hill. Those people had a reputation around Port Jackson for being ferocious (Matthew Flinders and George Bass had feared for their safety when they encountered Dilba the previous year).

In May 1797 the three survivors of the march, William Clark, sailor John Bennet and one lascar had made it to the cove at Wattamolla and on 15 May 1797 with their strength nearly at an end they were able to signal a boat out fishing, which took them on to Sydney.

On the march Clark had noted coal in the cliffs at what is now called Coalcliff between Sydney and Wollongong. This was the first coal found in Australia.

Salvage

The schooner "Francis" and sloop "Eliza" were dispatched to Preservation Island to collect the people remaining there and salvage the ship's cargo. While waiting for rescue the survivors had lived on the local Short-tailed Shearwaters, or Australian Muttonbirds, and built rough shelter for themselves. But the ship was damaged in May by heavy westerly gales making it impossible to save her.

On the return journey the "Francis" and "Eliza" became separated and the "Eliza" was wrecked, with the loss of her crew and eight of the "Sydney Cove" survivors. The "Francis" made a further salvage voyage in December and again in January 1798. Matthew Flinders was aboard the third voyage, assigned to make geographical observations. He noted petrels and seals, and located and named the Kent Group of islands.

At the same time George Bass was on his whaleboat voyage following the coast of the mainland, and he had thought to make for the "Sydney Cove" to replenish his provisions but leaks in the boat prevented him setting that course. What he did encounter though was a group of escaped convicts marooned on an island. They too had been making for the ship, with the hope (a false hope) of refloating her and making good their escape.

Bass Strait

When the master of the "Sydney Cove" reached Sydney, he reported that the strong south westerly swell and the tides and currents suggested that the island was in a channel linking the Pacific and southern Indian Ocean. The Governor of New South Wales, John Hunter wrote to Joseph Banks in August 1797 that it seemed certain the strait existed.cite book | last = Blainey | first = Geoffrey | authorlink = Geoffrey Blainey | year = 1966
title = | publisher = Sun Books | location = Melbourne | pages = pages 73-4 ]

The salvage team also collected and preserved a wombat which they forwarded to England for scientific observation and observed colonies of seals. Soon after seal hunters were active in the area.

Today

The wreck was relocated in 1977, lying partly covered by sand in about 3 to 6 metres of water. Excavations have been made to recover artifacts and some timbers. The Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery in Launceston has a display of items from the ship. The survivors' camp was excavated in 2002.

References

* [http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/historic/shipw/sc.html Sydney Cove] at the Shipwrecks of Tasmania pages of the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service
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