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> Wrecked! Tragedy and the Southern Seas

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Wrecked! Tragedy and the Southern Seas

This exhibition tells the disastrous stories of some of the State’s 850-shipwrecks.

The early South Australian colony was totally dependent upon the sea for trade, industry, culture, migration, travel and survival. Ships that were wrecked could lose an entire community’s supplies, or goods being exported that would have generated much-needed finance. These were also the days when travel by ship could be dangerous.

One of the most catastrophic maritime disasters in our history is the sinking of the Star of Greece. After leaving Port Adelaide with a heavy load of 16,002 bags of wheat, the Star of Greece ran into a violent storm off Port Willunga in the early hours of Friday July 13 1888. 19 people died in the cold sea by the time life-saving equipment arrived 14 hours after the ship had sunk. It was later revealed that the Government of the time, had drastically reduced funding to keep safety crews and equipment supplied and up to date. In response to public outrage, Parliament appointed a Select Committee to enquire into the tardiness and the lack of rescue facilities due to these cutbacks.

On display from the Museum’s own collection will be the figurehead from the Star of Greece, one of South Australia’s most significant maritime treasures, a box that held the ship’s compass, beautiful detailed carvings from the ship and original songs and poems that were written at the time to commemorate the shipwreck. This is the first time the museum’s shipwreck collection, along with that of Heritage SA will be brought together.

One of the darkest moments in our colonial past is the wreck of the beautiful steamship, Admella, and the deaths of 89 passengers. Only 24 were saved. The ship struck a reef off Carpenter Rocks on its way from Adelaide to Melbourne in the early hours of August 6 1859. Most people on board were wealthy and well- known South Australians along with a rich cargo of copper, wool, eggs and four racehorses.

Pounding seas prevented anyone from reaching the shore for two days after the wreck. Many people took days to die as they glimpsed the land from the sea and watched as one rescue attempt after another failed. The wreck of the Admella brought South Australia to its knees and dominated every aspect of life. Parliament adjourned and businesses closed as the colony worked together to raise money for the Admella Reward and Relief Fund. Objects in the exhibition include some awards given to rescuers for bravery, china and fittings from the ship and the painting, Wreck of the Admella, by Charles Hill in 1859, on loan from the Art Gallery of South Australia

In 1905 the fast and famous clipper, Loch Vennachar was lost without a trace off Kangaroo Island. Wreckage and a decomposed body was found on the west coast of the island, while other cargo was picked up at sea by the ketch Annie Watt. As a result of so many ships being wrecked on its coast, the people of Kangaroo Island erected permanent shelters for survivors.

These stories and many more are all on display as part of the exhibition. Wrecked! Tragedy and the Southern Seas is on now at the South Australian Maritime Museum.