Historic shipwrecks programme - 2007-08 project summaries

The following projects were funded in 2007-08 by the Historic Shipwrecks Programme.

New South Wales

Projects to be carried out by the NSW Department of Planning.

Administration of the Historic Shipwrecks Act

Assists in the administration of the statutory responsibilities under the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976 including response to wreck and artefact reports, enforcement, public enquiries, site inspections, community engagement and liaison.

Locating, recording and registering NSW physical shipwreck resource

The project will involve liaison with State and Commonwealth government departments engaged in coastal survey projects in order to facilitate information exchange. It will also work in association with the Australian National Maritime Museum to conduct side scan sonar surveys of known shipwreck sites in the Sydney Region as a step to wider survey in subsequent years and establish strong position fixes for shipwreck sites in vicinity of approaches to Newcastle Harbour and/or Port Kembla. The project will also continue archaeological documentation of Japanese midget submarine M24 including side scan survey, video recording and still photograph.

Economic sustainability: Lady Darling mooring and shipwreck poster

Arrange the re-installation of the Lady Darling mooring in order to reactivate recreational diver access, prepare a condition report on the shipwreck and liaise with dive charter operators in Narooma, Ulladulla and Bermagui. The project will also develop a poster promoting of historic shipwrecks off the NSW coast and the Commonwealth/State partnership in managing these sites.

Queensland

Projects to be carried out by the Queensland Museum.

Administration of the Historic Shipwrecks Act

Queensland shipwreck database development

This project is follow on from the Historic Shipwrecks Program project initiated in 2006-07 and is aimed at further collating and developing information resources that will assist the effective and efficient management of Queensland's Historic Shipwreck resource. The aims of this project include consolidation of a program of desktop survey and development of archival research to identify likely sites for further investigation, including inspection and/or monitoring. The project also sets out to compile existing hydrographic survey data on known or suspected sites.

Inventory, condition reporting and register of historic shipwreck relics

The aim of this project is to develop a historic shipwrecks' relics inventory/register and to provide condition reports on 'collections' of historic shipwreck relics held in local museums and/or organisations. This project includes a focus on known 'collections' of historic shipwreck relics including the Yongala collection, the 'Ben Cropp Shipwreck Museum Collection' (currently located in Cairns) and the colloquilly known 'Whiskey wrecks' collections (a collection held at various locations in the Gold Coast area by historical societies and small museums).

South Australia

Projects to be carried out by the Department for the Environment and Heritage

Administration of the Historic Shipwrecks Act

Audit of shipwreck artefacts in SA museums and database upgrade - Stage 1

This project involves updating the states current historic shipwrecks relics' database to assist in the cataloguing and tracking of relics. The project also involves an audit of museums in the South East of the state, the metropolitan areas and on Kangaroo Island to identify shipwreck relics held in these institutions and to assess their physical conditions and provenance.

Locating and protecting the wrecks of 3 Chinese immigration ships lost off the coast of Robe in 1857: Stage 2

Three wooden ships named Phaeton, Sultana and Koning Willem II, were lost off the coast of Robe in 1857. They carried Chinese gold diggers who were headed for the Victorian goldfields. By landing in South Australia and walking to the goldfields, they avoided paying the 'head tax' introduced in Victoria as a disincentive to Chinese immigration. Incomplete Customs records show that in 1857 approximately 45 vessels landed 20,000 Chinese at Robe. Stage 2 of the project will involve an intensive marine remote sensing survey of sections of Guichen Bay to physically locate the shipwreck sites.

Conservation and interpretation of Clan Ranold site and associated artefacts

The carrying out of this project coincides with the centenary of the shipwreck of the turret steamship Clan Ranold. The project aims to provide an interpretive plaque and plinth at the wreck site and interpretive information for the associated cemetery containing the graves of victims of the wreck. On site monitoring and corrosion measurements of the shipwreck will also be made and conservation of the ships anchor will be finalised.

Tasmania

Projects to be carried out by the Department of Environment Parks Heritage and the Arts.

Administration of the Historic Shipwrecks Act

Shipwreck site inspections

The location of some eighty shipwrecks sites in Tasmanian waters is currently known. This project aims to re-inspect and record these known sites, including some which have not been formally visited. Updated information will be entered onto the National Shipwrecks Database.

Historic shipwrecks display

Following discussions with the Tasmanian Maritime Museum, display space will be made available to install a permanent exhibition on Tasmanian shipwrecks and maritime archaeology. This will complement displays in the north of the State and enhance the presentation of the subject to a wider audience.

Victoria

Projects to be carried out by Heritage Victoria.

Administration of the Historic Shipwrecks Act

West coast regional research and survey

There are approximately 39 shipwrecks known to have occurred between Portland in Victoria and the South Australian border. The shipwrecks for this area have received limited levels of research. This project will augment the existing information for these wrecks from more accurate primary source material and improve interpretation of the shipwrecks by providing a thematic history in context with the region.

Port Fairy historic shipwreck assessment and documentation

During 2005 extreme storm events led to heavy scouring of beaches around Port Fairy. As a result many of the historic shipwrecks along this area of the coast were exposed for several months. While sand levels on the wrecks have largely restabilised, the effects of this prolonged exposure on the vessels remains has not yet been documented. The project will document changes to these sites and update site plans of some wrecks.

Artefact/Amnesty database registration project

This project is to maintain and update Amnesty artefact information (objects declared to the Commonwealth as coming from shipwreck sites) held on Heritage Victoria's Conservation and Artefact database. This ongoing work is required to fulfil the statutory obligation to maintain accurate and current data on Amnesty artefacts as formal legal component of the National Shipwrecks Register.

Western Australia

Projects to be carried out by the Western Australian Museum.

Administration of the Historic Shipwrecks Act

Shipwreck inspections & monitoring

There are a number of outstanding shipwreck inspections together with ongoing monitoring of other historic shipwrecks such as James Matthews, Omeo, James and Diana. Further work is anticipated in Deepwater Graveyard off Fremantle, the Cockburn Sound Anti-submarine net, the Rockignham cannon and a new site reported off the southern metropolitan area.

Major fieldwork project

One major fieldwork project will be undertaken during this financial year. The final decision on which shipwreck site is worked on is yet to be made, but could include either the Correio da Azia or Stephano.

Northern Territory

Projects to be carried out by the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.

Assistant to aid with the Administration of the Historic Shipwrecks Act

Employment of an officer to assist in the administration of the statutory responsibilities under the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976 including response to wreck and artefact reports, enforcement, public enquiries, site inspections, community engagement and liaison.

Norfolk Island

Projects to be carried out by the Norfolk Island Museum.

Conservation of the HMS Sirius Collection

The proposed conservation of the Sirius Collection provides for the protection and preservation of highly significant objects relating to Australia's national maritime heritage. Moreover, the conservation of Sirius objects will ensure their public accessibility now and into the future.

Administration of the Historic Shipwrecks Act

Assists in the administration of the statutory responsibilities under the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976 including response to wreck and artefact reports, enforcement, public enquiries, site inspections, community engagement and liaison.

Other projects

Projects to be carried out by the Australasian Institute for Maritime Archaeology (AIMA).

(AIMA is the peak professional body for maritime archaeologists in Australia, and is active in national coordination and the promotion of the protection and preservation of Australia's maritime heritage, training and public education.)

AIMA annual publications

This project involves the production of the AIMA professional journal and 4 newsletters. These publications contribute significantly to the dissemination of information about historic shipwreck research, management and promotion. They are frequently used nationally and internationally for policy, procedure and research for shipwrecks.

AIMA annual conference, Adelaide 2008

The proposed conference will be held in Adelaide, South Australia, in September 2008 in association with the Australasian Society for Historical Archaeology. The conference will identify key themes, developments and priority areas relating to historic shipwreck site management, artefact conservation and research, and will promote a nationally coordinated approach to the management of the Historic Shipwrecks Programme.

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