ZUYTDORP 1701-1727

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Description

Dutch East India Trader

Construction

Timber

Size

500 tons length 148.6ft breadth 37.1ft depth 15.8ft

Built

1701 by VOC in Zeeland probably Vlissingen, Netherlands

Owner

VOC Master: Marinus Wijsvliet

Sunk

1712/06

Location

On reef at base of cliffs, 62km north of Murchison River

Latitude/Longitude

(-27.186114167, 113.936453417)

Sinking

En route from Wielingen to Batavia with approx 200 passengers and crew, a rich cargo including 248,000 silver coins and general cargo. Hit reef and cliff-face, crew and passengers believed to have survived.

Underwater

This is the only wreck site where permission is required to dive in WA with protected zone 500m around wreck. (Hazardous conditions apply – only few days per year where diving is possible)

Gallery

Zuytdorp wrecksite looking west from the cliff top (Image – Phillip Playford)
Diver with silver coins before recovery by WA Museum
In 1927 a campsite (together with cooking pots and broken bottles) was discovered on cliff top near the wreck. No human remains were ever located leading to huge speculation as to possible fate of any survivors.

Location