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Warrnambool Standard Mahogany
ship
At various times the
attention of the public has been drawn to two wrecks which are lying buried in
the sand on the shore near Warrnambool. They are both interesting relics,
and if the stories told of them are true, they are closely associated with the
discovery and settlement of this part of the continent (states the Argus).
One of the vessels is supposed to be an old Spanish or Portuguese galleon which
visited the southern seas very many years ago, presumably shortly after the
discovery of Australia, and was wrecked on the coast between Warrnambool and
Port Fairy. It is stated in letters which are now in the possession of the
Government that the existence of this interesting relic of a by gone age first
became known in the early days of the colony, when two men who were walking
along the coast from Hopkins river to Port Fairy were astonished to find the
wreck of an ancient vessel, well in towards the shore and almost covered over
with sand.
The aboriginals, when questioned as
to the date of the wreck, stated that it had always been there, but they had a
tradition as to some “yellow men” having at one time come among them, but
from whence they knew not. The wreck was seen in 1843, and also four years
later by Captain Mills, then living a few miles from the spot, and it is still
believed to be there, but has become entirely covered over by the sand drifts
until not a part of it is visible. The other wreck lies in Lady Bay, and
is declared by some to be the Enterprise, a small vessel in which the
late Mr. J. P. Fawkner, the founder of Melbourne, came from Tasmania to Port
Phillip. As regards the wreck of the supposed Spanish galleon, the
Inspector –General of public works (Mr. Davidson) has suggested to the
Government that a small sum should be expended in putting sounding rods into the
small hummocks which exist on the coast near Warrnambool to search for the
vessel.
The wreck of the Enterprise
is covered by 3ft of sand, and lies midway between the ebb and flow of the
tides, and Mr. Davidson suggests that nothing should be done until November, as
the tides are usually low then, and the condition of the wreck could be better
ascertained than now.
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