VERGULDE DRAECK (GILT DRAGON) 1653-1656
Description
Dutch East India Trader
Construction
Timber
Size
260 ton length 41.8m beam 9.8m draft 4.1m
Built
1653 by VOC Amsterdam, Netherlands
Owner
VOC Master: Peter Albertsz
Sunk
1656/04/28
Location
Off Ledge Point
Latitude/Longitude
(-31.221391667, 115.35905)
Sinking
En route from Texel, Netherlands to Batavia carrying trade goods and eight chests of silver to the value of 78,6000 guilders. 75 of the 193 crew made it to shore. A small boat was sent with the Understeersman and six others to Batavia (now Jakarta) arriving 40 days later.
Underwater
The wreck, the first of the Dutch East-India ships found on the WA coast, discovered by 5 spear-fishermen in April 1963. When this and the Batavia, (found same year) were heavily looted, shipwreck legislation was enacted, vesting the sites in the WA Museum.
Gallery
