Shipwrecks and sea rescue: Shipwrecks, 1874-1880

• Introduction
• 1802-1850
• 1851-1858
• 1859-1862
• 1863-1873
• 1874-1880
• 1881-1889
• 1890-1899
• 1900-1907
• 1908-1918
• 1919-1930
• 1931-1945
• 1946-
• River Murray

Chronological list of shipwrecks continued

1874

9 August wooden barque Fairfield, in ballast from Port Adelaide to Wallaroo was wrecked at Cape Cassini, Kangaroo Island. All the crew reached safety, and the tug Eleanor salvaged most of the gear and stores. 24 August schooner Adelaide with a cargo of potatoes was wrecked at Coolato 50 km from Lacepede Bay. One crew member died, but the remainder reached safety.

Schooner Triumph disappeared in August after sailing from Port MacDonnell. 21 August barque Wave Queen en route to Rivoli Bay from Port Adelaide was struck by a storm and driven east to Cape Bridgewater. She worked back to Cape Northumberland but was again driven east and finally anchored in Rivoli Bay 2 September. During loading of the cargo, another storm struck and on 6 September Wave Queen was driven ashore. Yard, masts, sails and some cargo were saved.

1875

11 May colliers Kadina and Wallaroo were damaged in a gale while at Wallaroo. Wallaroo parted her moorings and was driven across the bow of the Kadina, both then ran ashore. Kadina was refloated and ended her years as a hulk at Port Adelaide. 17 June schooner Albert broke her moorings in Antechamber Bay, Kangaroo Island, drifted ashore and became a total wreck. 26 July cutter Nimrod foundered near the Port Adelaide lighthouse. The owner/master William Nelson was aboard at the time and his body was never found. 10 December ketch Rose capsized at Normanville. No lives were lost.

1876

20 February Malvina Maud, a wooden schooner, was destroyed by fire after a tank of gunpowder exploded. The captain was not seen again, but the remainder of the crew survived. 31 March brigantine Galatea was driven ashore at Port MacDonnell during a gale. The vessel was a total loss, but all the crew reached safety. Some cargo was salvaged. 14 June iron barque Geltwood en route from Liverpool to Melbourne was struck by a storm off the south east coast.  Disabled, the barque was driven ashore. The wreck was looted by some of the locals; very few bodies were recovered. The wreck site is protected under the Historic Shipwrecks Act. 18 July barque Agnes, carrying coal from Newcastle to Adelaide struck Carpenter Rocks near Cape Banks. Four crew were able to reach shore and summoned help from Cape Northumberland lighthouse. Remainder of the crew were saved. 16 August schooner Countess was wrecked at Port MacDonnell but no lives were lost. 28 September barque St. Marc parted her moorings at Port MacDonnell during a storm. She was driven ashore and the crew were rescued by the local lifeboat. 21 December sailing barge Sarah sprang a leak while crossing from Point Lowly to Port Pirie. The crew managed to run her aground.

1877

17 January schooner Rambler dragged her anchor and went ashore while en route to Wool Bay. 15 May brigantine Emily Smith, sailing from Albany to Port Adelaide with 39 passengers and crew, and a mixed cargo was forced ashore by rough weather at West Bay, Kangaroo Island and broke up rapidly. Of the five who gained shore, three reached Cape Borda lighthouse to summon help. The other two were never seen alive again, and there were no other survivors from the ship. 12 June schooner Freebridge was wrecked in Waterloo Bay, Eyre Peninsula.  Passengers and crew reached safety. 20 June brig Edith Haviland was wrecked on Carpenter's Rocks. The captain's wife, their three children and one crew member died. 7 August schooner Fanny Wright, carrying telegraph poles to Eucla, was salvaging cargo from the Freebridge in Waterloo Bay when she was holed by an anchor. Run ashore, she was found to be too badly damaged to repair. 2 September steam launch Tipara foundered 24 km WSW of Wardang Island (Spencer Gulf) while under tow. 3 October barge Lady of the Lake was dragged ashore at Victor Harbor and destroyed. 11 November cutter Wildflower capsized off Port Adelaide - both crew were drowned.

1878

3 January schooner Young St. George was wrecked on Althorpe Islands. 25 October brigantine Salve lost at Port Augusta. Schooner Louise broke her moorings at Port Rickaby and was lost. 19 June ketch Mercury was run down by SS Euro in Port Pirie channel. 6 December cutter James and Margaret was destroyed by fire at Telowie Beach.

1879

16 February barque Ismyr, loaded with wheat, sailed for England. After 241 days the ship was posted missing at Lloyds. Ismyr had grounded twice in Gulf waters and may have at this time sustained damage which led to her loss. 20 March barque Four Brotherssprang a leak and foundered at PortWakefield. Successfully refloated, she was found to be too seriously damaged for further service. 20 April hulk Kadina (see 1875) was destroyed by fire at Port Adelaide. 10 June cutter Maria disappeared near Port Adelaide. Some wreckage was found at Semaphore.

1880

8 January barque Southern Cross was wrecked near Cape Douglas, south east coast - land was mistaken for cloud and she struck a reef. No lives were lost. 21 January iron barque Lady Kinnaird went ashore at Cape Burr in Spencer Gulf, after taking on 35,508 bushels of wheat at Port Pirie. Crew all reached safety, but the whole of the cargo was lost. 7 May cutter Tam O Shanter was lost in the Port River. In August the ketch Prima Donna was lost between Port MacDonnell and Port Adelaide. No trace was ever found. 22 May brig Byron was dismasted in a squall off Kangaroo Island en route to Adelaide from Fremantle. She was towed to Port Adelaide and converted to a hulk. 3 September P & O steamship Sorata was stranded at Cape Jervis while en route to Melbourne, carrying passengers and cargo. All passengers were landed safely, and some cargo. Sorata was eventually refloated and towed to Melbourne for repairs. 21 October cutter Young Edith was blown ashore at Wallaroo during a storm.