SWAN PORTLAND DREDGE 1927-1956
Abandoned on banks of Swan River after 1956
Description
no. 1 Timber Dredge
Construction
Timber. Powered by coal burning steam engine Used to load barges with shell from river bottom to make cement during 1927-1956
Size
length 19m beam 7.2m depth 1.0m
Built
Unknown
Owner
Swan Portland Cement Co
Sunk
Contact was made with Mr. Charlie Klegg who worked for the Swan Portland Cement Co. He said that this vessel was known as No. 1 dredge. It was built of timber and the drag line was powered by a coal burning steam engine. The method of holding these dredges in position was by using two 11/2 ton anchors off the bow with a 600′ line, two 11/2 ton anchors off either side and the fifth anchor weighing 2 ton, straight off the stern. After working an area, the crew would loosen off the side and stern anchors, while tightening the ones on the bow, thus, moving forward. These anchors came off the Lygnern when she sank off Fremantle Harbour in April 1936.
Location
50m upstream of the Goodwood Parade Boat Ramp
Latitude/Longitude
(-31. 953755, 115. 899645)
Sinking
Abandoned and stripped of boiler and machinery after 1956
Underwater
Sitting on a sandy bottom edge of Swan river bank near boat ramp
Gallery
