SS Australasia

Add links
Coordinates: 44°55.20′N 87°11.13′W / 44.92000°N 87.18550°W / 44.92000; -87.18550
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Not to be confused with SS Australasian.

The Australasia prior to her sinking
History
United States
NameAustralasia
Operator
  • Davidson Steamship Company 1884–1886
  • James Corrigan and John Huntington (1⁄2 each) 1886–1893
  • Corrigan Transit Company 1893–1896
Port of registry United States
BuilderJames Davidson
Yard number9
LaunchedSeptember 17, 1884
In service1884
Out of serviceOctober 18, 1896
IdentificationU.S. Registry #106302
FateBurned to a total loss on Lake Michigan
General characteristics
TypeBulk Freighter
Tonnage
Length285 ft (87 m)
Beam39 ft (12 m)
Height21.2 ft (6.5 m)
Installed power2 × Scotch marine boilers
Propulsionfore-and-aft compound engine
AUSTRALASIA (wooden bulk carrier) Shipwreck
MPS
Great Lakes Shipwreck Sites of Wisconsin MPS
NRHP reference No.13000466 [1]
Added to NRHPJuly 3, 2013

Australasia was a wooden-hulled

National Register of Historic Places.[2][3]

History

The Australasia (Official number 106302) was built in 1884 in West 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), the Australasia was one of the largest 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 a fore-and-aft compound engine which was fueled by two coal-burning Scotch marine boilers.

Stern view of the Australasia at an ore dock

She had a gross tonnage of 1829.32 tons and a net tonnage of 1539.20 tons.[4]

On September 17, 1884, the Australasia was launched as hull number #9.[5][4] At the time of her launch, the Australasia was the largest wooden-hulled ship in the world.[6] Because of her enormous size, the Australasia needed iron cross bracing, an iron keelson, iron plates, and several iron arches to increase her strength.[7][A]

She was used to haul bulk cargoes such as iron ore, coal, grain and sometimes salt. 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, the Australasia used to tow a wooden schooner barge.[6]

Final voyage

On October 17, 1896, the Australasia was bound from a port on

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, carrying 2,200 tons of soft coal.[9] At around 6:00 p.m. near Baileys Harbor, the crew of the Australasia discovered "a fire beneath the texas on the main deck". They attempted to fight the blaze but failed. The crew abandoned the Australasia before she reached Jacksonport, Wisconsin. At 10:30 p.m., the Australasia was about four hours off Jacksonport when the tugboat John Leathem came upon the struggling steamer. The Leathem began towing the Australasia to shore, but the hawser connecting them kept burning through. At 9:00 a.m. on October 18, 1896, the crew of the Leathem 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 the Australasia's side with the Leathem's stem.[10] She burned until the night of October 18, 1896.[10]

The Australasia today

The Australasia 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.

Joys
.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Australasia (ship, 1884).

Notes

  1. Frank O'Connor and the Pretoria[8]

Citations

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c "Australasia Shipwreck (Wooden Bulk Carrier)". Features. National Park Service. Archived from the original on March 24, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2013. (Archived May 24, 2021)
  3. ^ Thomsen, Tamara; Meverden, Keith. "Australasia Shipwreck (Wooden Bulk Carrier)" (PDF) (National Register of Historic Places registration form). National Park Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 11, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2013. (Archived April 11, 2021)
  4. ^ a b "Australasia". Great Lakes Vessel Histories of Sterling Berry. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  5. ^ "SS Australasia (+1896)". Wrecksite. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  6. ^ a b c "Service History". Wisconsin Shipwrecks. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  7. ^ "National Register of Historic Places Program". National Park Service. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  8. ^ "Davidson Shipbuilding". Wisconsin Shipwrecks. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  9. ^ "Australasia". Bowling Green State University. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  10. ^ a b c "Final Voyage". Wisconsin Shipwrecks. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  11. ^ a b c "Today". Wisconsin Shipwrecks. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=SS_Australasia&oldid=1215230988"