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As part of the annual program of events for National Archaeology Week, Rick Bullers (bottom left photo below) was invited to give a talk about Maritime Archaeology during “Meet the Archaeologists Night” at Flinders University’s Adelaide CBD Campus. Rick presented the research rational and preliminary findings of a long-running research project on the “Archaeology of Australian Colonial Shipbuilding”.
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Archaeology of Australian Colonial Shipbuilding
National Archaeology Week: Meet the Archaeologists Night
23 May 2014
Rick Bullers – Geelong Resource Manager/Senior Heritage Advisor
MMarArch; AIMA; MHAC (VIC); AACAI (Pend)
Adelaide Melbourne Geelong Brisbane
Australian Colonial Shipbuilding Project
Research Design and Objectives
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Australian Colonial Shipbuilding
Study limited to:
Vessels:◦ built in Australia before 1901;◦ constructed of wood; and◦ principally sail-driven.
Vessel/remains located in SA, NSW, Vic, Tas.
Vessel/remains location already known;
Sufficient structure remaining.
Currently 65 Vessels of Interest (VOI)
Research Limitations
Ketch Alert, Port Adelaide, c.1880 (SLSA PRG 1373/35/52 )
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Australian Colonial ShipbuildingAustralian Ships/Shipwrecks Database
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Australian Colonial Shipbuilding
Quality of Construction (were they poorly-built or cheaply built, or of a similar standard to British-built vessels?).
◦ Historiographical assumptions of poor construction
◦ Archaeological research indicates Australian Colonial-built vessels generally well constructed
Research Questions (1)
Treenail, ketch Alert, Port Adelaide
Cause No. Avg Age
Wrecked – Stress of Weather 12 43.2
Wrecked Cause Unknown 3 41.3
Broken up 1 48
Abandoned 1 44
Human Error/Fire 1 18
Still Existing (e.g. Annie Watt)
2 100+
Fate Unknown (e.g. transferred overseas)
4 ?
Total 24
Longevity of Shipwright John Wilson’s Vessels:
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Australian Colonial Shipbuilding
What were the environmental, economic and social factors that influenced shipbuilding in colonial Australia?
◦ Vegetation/Timber suitability (e.g. Independence survey, Kangaroo Island)
◦ Wreck’s actual timbers vs construction site vegetation
Vegetation Surveys
◦ Shipyards in NSW, Vic, Tas & SA.
◦ Comparative analysis with timber samples from VOI.
Research Questions (2)
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Australian Colonial ShipbuildingTimber Analysis
More than 500 recognised Eucalypt species/subspecies
Changes to species since Colonial period
Original construction or later repairs?
Ketch Mary Ellis, Sleaford Bay, Eyre Peninsula
Schooner Zephyr, Marion Bay, Tasmania
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Australian Colonial Shipbuilding
What technological adaptations are evident in Australian-built colonial shipping?
Research Questions (3)
Deckhook, Apron & breasthook, Alma Doepel
Sternson and stern gland, Annie Watt
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Australian Colonial ShipbuildingAdaptations to Australian Conditions – Flat
Bottoms/Centreboards
Cross section, at forward centreboard (above) and profile (below)(Courtesy Alma Doepel Supporters Club/Sail and Adventure Ltd)
Forward Centreboard Keel Slot, 2014Forward Centreboard, 2014
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Australian Colonial ShipbuildingComparison of Construction Techniques – Iron Knees
Site Plan: Ketch Mary Ellis, Sleaford Bay, Eyre Peninsula (Bullers 2008)
Knee rider, ketch Annie Watt Cato, Miller & Co’s iron knees (Gore’s Liverpool Directory, 1864)
Knee rider, ketch Mary Ellis, Sleaford Bay, Eyre Peninsula
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Australian Colonial ShipbuildingAdaptations to Australian Conditions – Flat
Bottoms/Centreboards
Recording the ketch Annie Watt, Port Adelaide, 2007
Ketch Annie Watt, loading, Black Point, Yorke Peninsula, c1927 (Courtesy SLSA)
Excerpt of Annie Watt plans (Courtesy Bob Sexton,1987)
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Australian Colonial ShipbuildingAdaptations to Australian Conditions – Flat
Bottoms/Centreboards
Centreboard casing, ketch Alert, Port Adelaide (Bullers, in press)
Test excavation, ketch Alert, Port Adelaide, 2007
Australian Colonial Shipbuilding Project
Survey and Excavation: Some Case Studies
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Australian Colonial ShipbuildingKetch Alert (1872-1959), Jervois Basin Ships Graveyard
Baseline offset survey in 2005 (left), test excavation (right) and final site plan (above) (Bullers, in press)
Alert in the Port River c.1880 (SLSA PRG 1373/35/52)
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Australian Colonial ShipbuildingSchooner Zephyr (1851-1852), Marion Bay, Tas
Baseline offset survey in 2005
(above left) and final site plan (above)
(Bullers, 2007)
Magnetometer survey in 2005 (left) and metal detector (above)
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Australian Colonial ShipbuildingKetch/SS Victoria (1888-1918+), Ida Bay, Tas
Remains still at Ida Bay jetty in 2005 (top &left) and at
high tide (above) (Bullers, 2005)
Victoria launched as a screw steamer (Source: Graeme-Evans & Wilson 1996: 42)
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Australian Colonial ShipbuildingKetch Three Sisters (1874-1899), Lipson Cove, Eyre Peninsula
Excerpt from field notes
Port Lincoln Times article, May 1986
South Australian Register article, 21 March 1899
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Australian Colonial ShipbuildingKetch Mary Ellis (1897-1907), Sleaford Bay, Eyre Peninsula
Recording during test excavation for author’s
Masters thesis, February 2005
Excavation during Flinders University Field School, February 2006
Mary Ellis wreck c.1945 (Courtesy Port Lincoln Times)
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Australian Colonial ShipbuildingIntact Vessel Recording
Ketch May Queen (b.1867), Constitution Dock, Hobart, 2004
Schooner Alma Doepel (b.1903), Melbourne Docklands, 2014
Ketch Annie Watt, (b.1873), SAMM, Port Adelaide, 2007
Ketch Terralinna (b.1922), Battery Point, Hobart, 2004
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Preliminary results dispute claims of poor construction
Extent of research is starting to increase in recent years
Study is ongoing – current sample is relatively small
Concluding Remarks
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◦ Name Rick Bullers
◦ Title Geelong Resource Manager / Senior Heritage Advisor
◦ Phone 0400 990 887
◦ Email [email protected]
www.ehpartners.com.au
Questions?
