ATHENA 1869–1912
Wooden barque Royal Tar at Port Adelaide, 1900, State Library of South Australia, PRG-1373-42-14
Description
Barque; one deck, round stern, billet head, no galleries
Construction
Wood
Size
Length: 131.0 ft (39.93 m) Beam: 26.5 ft (8.08 m) Depth: 16.7 ft (5.09 m) Tonnage: 426 gross, 410.34 net, 386.94 under deck
Built
Middle Dock Company, South Shields, England
Owner
Various owners; last owner was McIlwraith, McEacharn and Company
Sunk
1912
Location
Between Herald and Ledge points, east of Gull Rock, Albany
Latitude/Longitude
(-35.026165, 118.016159)
Sinking
The Athena was first registered in Australia, in Adelaide, in 1872. It was converted to a hulk in 1895 and bought by McIlwraith, McEacharn and Company in 1896. Two years later it was taken to Albany for use as a coal hulk. In 1912 the Athena was stripped of useful items, towed to its final resting place and set on fire.
Underwater
The remains believed to be the Athena lie in 2 m of water in the surf zone 30 m out from the base of the cliff. There are substantial timber remains, including the stem, breast hook and windlass barrel, and a number of metal knees. There is also a mound of chain and two hawse pipes. The planking is about 28 cm × 9 cm, the frames 31 cm × 27 cm. The wood appears to be in good condition. The fastenings are of metal and wood (treenails).
Gallery