Warrnambool Standard
November 24   1909

The Mahogany Ship

Since the recent articles published in the "Standard" concerning the supposed wreck of a seventeenth century Spanish or Dutch ship on the local coast to the west of Warrnambool, the curator of the Warrnambool Museum, Mr J. McDowall, has received numerous letters, averaging two per week, concerning this interesting matter.  Many of the correspondents are seeking information, and others offer numerous suggestions for finding the wreck.  Mr Geo. McCrae, of Hawthorn, has been continuing his researches with thoroughness and enthusiasm, and it is to be hoped his praiseworthy efforts will be crowned with success.  He recently wrote to the secretary of the Royal Dutch Geographical Society, who, in reply, kindly forwarded him a large and most interesting volume by Professor Heere, containing a history of the early Dutch navigators and their voyages.  It appears that in the seventeenth century many Dutch ships on their voyage from Holland to Batavia sailed due east until they sighted West Australia; then an unknown land, and that several were wrecked along the south coast of Australia.  Mr McCrae attaches some importance to the voyage of one of these old ships called the Ridderschap von Holant which was wrecked a considerable distance eastwards, probably near where Warrnambool now stands.

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