RUNNYMEDE 1849–1881

Barque Runnymede, digitised item from the WL Crowther Library, State Library of Tasmania_643861

Description:

Barque; two decks, a square stern and a scroll stem

Owner:

Alex McGregor and James Bayley

Construction:

Wood (Eucalyptus globulus)

Sunk:

19 December 1881

Size:

Length: 103.6 ft (31.6 m) Beam: 23.2 ft (7.1 m) Draft: 15.5 ft (4.7 m) Tonnage: 284

Underwater:

The Runnymede lies in the intertidal zone on Goode Beach, close to but southward of the wreck of the Fanny Nicholson. The wreck lies parallel to the beach and is almost always covered in sand. Occasionally the sand shifts enough for the upper part of the wreck to be seen in 1–2 m of water. A substantial part of the below-waterline section of the hull is believed to be in good condition.

Built:

John Watson at Battery Point, Hobart

Location:

Frenchman Bay, Albany

Sinking:

On Wednesday 14 December 1881 the Runnymede anchored in six fathoms (11 m) at Frenchman Bay to take on fresh water. A strong breeze became a gale on 18th. On Monday 19 December the starboard chain parted and the barque went ashore. The crew got ashore safely. The following day they were able to salvage stores and the whale oil. The Runnymede was declared a total wreck. From 20 December to 7 January the wreck was stripped of everything of value, including the masts and spars. In early 1882 William Jenkins Gillam of Albany bought the Runnymede with the intention of using it as a coal hulk. The barque was refloated but it was reported that it had been burned only 19 days later – the damage was probably more severe than initially thought, and the wreck was burned for the metal fastenings.

Longitude:

117.937902

Latitude:

-35.084517