 TheAustralasia prior to her sinking | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | Australasia |
| Operator |
|
| Port of registry |  United States |
| Builder | James Davidson |
| Yard number | 9 |
| Launched | September 17, 1884 |
| In service | 1884 |
| Out of service | October 18, 1896 |
| Identification | U.S. Registry #106302 |
| Fate | Burned to a total loss onLake Michigan |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Bulk Freighter |
| Tonnage | |
| Length | 285 ft (87 m) |
| Beam | 39 ft (12 m) |
| Height | 21.2 ft (6.5 m) |
| Installed power | 2 ×Scotch marine boilers |
| Propulsion | fore-and-aft compound engine |
AUSTRALASIA (wooden bulk carrier) Shipwreck | |
   | |
| Location | Door County, Wisconsin |
| Nearest city | Sevastopol, Wisconsin |
| Coordinates | 44°55.20′N87°11.13′W / 44.92000°N 87.18550°W /44.92000; -87.18550 |
| Built | 1884 inWest Bay City, Michigan |
| Architect | James Davidson |
| Architectural style | Freighter |
| MPS | Great Lakes Shipwreck Sites of Wisconsin MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 13000466[1] |
| Added to NRHP | July 3, 2013 |
Australasia was a wooden-hulledAmericanGreat Lakes freighter that served on theGreat Lakes ofNorth America between her construction in 1884 to her burning and sinking in 1896. On October 18, 1896, while loaded withcoal, theAustralasia sank inLake Michigan near the town ofSevastopol, Door County, Wisconsin, United States, after burning offCana Island. On July 3, 2013, the wreck of theAustralasia was added to theNational Register of Historic Places.[2][3]
TheAustralasia (Official number 106302) was built in 1884 inWest Bay City, Michigan, by the shipyard owned by Captain James Davidson. She was built for the Davidson Steamship Company, which was also owned by Captain Davidson. At a length of 285 feet (87 m), theAustralasia was one of thelargest wooden ships ever built; her beam was 39 feet (12 m) wide and her cargo hold was 21.2 feet (6.5 m) deep. She was powered by afore-and-aft compound engine which was fueled by two coal-burningScotch marine boilers.
She had agross tonnage of 1829.32 tons and anet tonnage of 1539.20 tons.[4]
On September 17, 1884, theAustralasia was launched as hull number #9.[5][4] At the time of her launch, theAustralasia was the largest wooden-hulled ship in the world.[6] Because of her enormous size, theAustralasia needed iron cross bracing, an ironkeelson, iron plates, and several iron arches to increase her strength.[7][A]
She was used to haulbulk cargoes such asiron ore,coal,grain and sometimessalt. She could carry these cargoes so efficiently that she earned a fortune for her owners at a time when small, less versatile wooden vessels were quickly being replaced by larger, and stronger iron or steel vessels.[6] Just like all ships owned by Captain Davidson, theAustralasia used to tow a wooden schooner barge.[6]
On October 17, 1896, theAustralasia was bound from a port onLake Erie forMilwaukee, Wisconsin, carrying 2,200 tons ofsoft coal.[9] At around 6:00 p.m. nearBaileys Harbor, the crew of theAustralasia discovered "a fire beneath thetexas on the main deck". They attempted to fight the blaze but failed. The crew abandoned theAustralasia before she reachedJacksonport, Wisconsin. At 10:30 p.m., theAustralasia was about four hours off Jacksonport when thetugboatJohn Leathem came upon the struggling steamer. TheLeathem began towing theAustralasia to shore, but thehawser connecting them kept burning through. At 9:00 a.m. on October 18, 1896, the crew of theLeathem gave up trying to salvage her and instead dragged her onto the beach in 15 feet (4.6 m) of water south of Cave Point.[10] Her crew decided to scuttle her, by ramming a hole in theAustralasia's side with theLeathem's stem.[10] She burned until the night of October 18, 1896.[10]
TheAustralasia was declared a total loss. Much of her cargo of soft coal and machinery was salvaged; however, her hull was beyond repair and was abandoned.[11] Today her lower hull lies mostly buried in sand under 15 to 20 feet of water offWhitefish Dunes State Park.[2] Because most of her hull remains buried in sand, there is the possibility that different hull sections may be uncovered which may reveal more significant information about her construction.[2] Not a trace of her cargo is visible on the site of her wreck, but traces of coal are visible on a beach nearby.[11] The wreck of theAustralasia is rarely visited by divers which means that very little sitedisturbance to the site has occurred.[11] Close by are the wrecks of several other ships, including the early steel freighterLakeland, the large wooden bulk carrierFrank O'Connor, the wooden steamerLouisiana, which was lost during theGreat Lakes Storm of 1913, the schoonerChristina Nilsson and the steamboatJoys.
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Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1896 | |
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