The wooden schooner Salamander, 115 tons, built 1868, AD Edwards Collection, State Library of South Australia, PRG-1373-1-16
Description:
Schooner
Owner:
Elder and Company, Adelaide
Construction:
Wood
Sunk:
4 September 1850
Size:
Length: 21.95 m Beam: 5.73 m Draft: 3.96 m Tonnage: 138 gross, 149 net
Underwater:
There is dangerous surf at the site. An anchor was found in 2001; it may have come from the Harlequin. More wreckage has been found 70 m away which may be from the Harlequin. Given the surf conditions, wreck material may be scattered over a considerable area. The Western Australian Museum has recovered a number of artefacts, including a large shackle, rudder gudgeon and a hook.
Built:
Liverpool, England
Location:
The wreck lies on a rock ledge approximately 8 km west of West Cape Howe, 400 m east of Bornholm Beach. The position is below a steep, rugged gully known as Copper Gully. This was where salvaged material was hauled up for loading on carts at the top of the cliff.
Sinking:
The Harlequin left Adelaide for Singapore on 3 August 1850 with a mixed cargo, including 30 tons of copper cakes. After discharging flour and sugar at Albany, the Harlequin sailed on 1 September. It was south-west of Cape Leeuwin when a gale struck. At 3 am on 4 September the Harlequin was driven onto the coast to the west of West Cape Howe. The schooner started to break up and three of the crew were drowned. The survivors walked through dense bush to Albany, 36 km away. The wreck was sold for salvage.
Longitude:
117.55
Latitude:
-35.0833333333
Gallery
The wooden schooner Salamander, 115 tons, built 1868, AD Edwards Collection, State Library of South Australia, PRG-1373-1-16
