Dive standard : not known
Dive
conditionsUp until 1988, diving on the William Salthouse was open only to permit divers. When the stabilisation work was being undertaken, the site was closed to all divers. It is likely that the William Salthouse will be reopened to permit diving when the site is stable. The William Salthouse is within a 250-meter radius protected zone. Access is by permit only. Anchoring is prohibited. Further details can be obtained from the maritime archaeology Unit.
Launch site : Queenscliff/Portsea
Chart no : Aus 158
Latitude : 38" 16’28"
Longitude : 144" 42’13"
A marker buoy is planned for the site. The
William Salthouse is a 250metre radius protected zone, access is by permit
only. Anchorage is prohibited. The William Salthouse lies in 10-17 metres
of water and appears to be intact except at the bow and stern. Broken and
intact barrels, which once carried, flour, nails and salted pork and beef
are the main feature of this site. Most of them lie as they were originally
stowed. Although the barrels are visible across the site, the largest
number can be seen at the bow and stern. Other features of the wreck
include a lifeboat davit at the western end of the site and a length of
chain lies near the bow. Details of the hull structure such as inner and
outer planking and frames can be seen at the bow. In 1990, 46 mats of
artificial sea grass matting were placed around the William Salthouse to
help stabilise the fragile wreck.
The William Salthouse is one of the oldest and most important shipwrecks to be discovered in Victoria. As a British cargo ship built for the Salthouse Company in Liverpool, the William Salthouse sailed on trading voyages to the West Indies, Mauritius, India, Singapore and Batavia.
In 1841 it was sold and sent to Canada where it picked up cargo for the young Australian settlement at port Phillip bay. As the William Salthouse was the first cargo vessel to sail between Canada and Australia and as, at the time, British law banned direct trading between colonies, this was indeed a pioneering voyage. It was also an example of the mercantile spirit of the time, which led to the British laws being changed in 1849.
Unfortunately, the William Salthouse never delivered its cargo to its final destination, but sank on its way through the Port Phillip Heads. From reports in the port Phillip Patriot of 1841, this was a great disappointment. Many settlers felt it would jeopardise future trade between Canada and Australia.
The
William Salthouse was typical of the small British trading ships built in
early 19th century to carry cargo between Britain and its colonies. The
251-ton wooden barque was built in Liverpool. The ships ribs were made of
white oak. It's hull was constructed from an African timber resistant to
marine borers and sheathed in yellow metal. The William Salthouse had three
masts and a single deck beneath where a crew slept and cargo was stowed.
The ship measured 90ft(27.5m) long, 27ft(8.2m)in width and had a depth in
the hold of 16ft(4.9m).
The William Salthouse was caring a cargo valued at £12,000. It included 394 barrels of flour, 241 barrels of salted beef, 355 barrels of salted pork, six hogsheads of cider, 149 barrels of salted fish, ten casks of vinegar, a large quantity of pine boards, 20 wicker baskets of champagne, five cases of sauterne, 1000 bars of iron as well as nails, whisky, bottles of stout, snuff, crackers, cheese, corn, brooms, mustard and oars.
The voyage from Canada to Port Phillip Bay took five long months. On Saturday 27th November 1841 the William Salthouse entered Port Phillip Bay. A strong south-westerly wind was blowing and as the ship steered through the heads it hit a submerged rock off Port Nepean. The rudder was damaged and within an hour there was eighteen inches of water in the hold.
A Port Phillip pilot boarded the vessel and managed to sail it into the bay. But the ship became unmanageable as the water level rose in the hold. An anchor was thrown overboard, but the anchor chain snapped. The ship then ran ashore on Pope’s Eye sandbar. The Captain and crew managed to salvage the ship's sails, nails, papers and some of the personal belongings and row to shore in lifeboats.
The following morning the William Salthouse settled on the seabed with six feet of water over its deck, The ship’s agent inspected the wreck but stormy weather made it impossible to salvage the ship’s cargo. The wreck was quickly sold for £275. Several early salvage attempts were unsuccessful, however some cargo was recovered in late December 1841.
From the time the ship sank in 1841 to when divers discovered it in August 1982, the wreck of the William Salthouse lay partially buried in a sand dune. When found, it was well protected and in remarkable condition. During March and April 1983, the maritime archaeology unit carried out a survey and excavation of the William Salthouse.
Although the upper portions of the hull had disintegrated, about three metres of the structure remained above the keel. It was packed with remains of the cargo and covered in sand. Two narrow trenches were carefully excavated across the ship. As the sand was removed it revealed intact barrels as they were stowed over 140 years ago. Baskets of champagne and crates of wine were also found. Many of the corks were still in place although the contents were undrinkable. Some of the barrels and other artefacts were raised from the wreck. Brands and marks on the barrel lids indicated what they contained, the date and place of packing, the name of the merchant and confirmed the site as the William Salthouse. This collection represents the only mid-19th century provision barrels in Australia. The ships bilge pumps were raised and found to be well preserved with the wooden and leather valves still in working order. A clay pipe and part of a leather shoe were some of the smaller items uncovered.
After the evacuation, the unit continued to monitor the wreck, and found that the site was being badly eroded by strong tidal currants. As the sand dune encompassing the wreck was being washed away, the hull was likely to break up and the remaining barrels and artefacts were at risk from being swept away. Realising the situation was urgent, the marine archaeology unit built six sand bag walls against the hull to support the wreck. The sand, bagged in hessian was a good temporary measure, but further work was needed. In early 1990, artificial sea grass mats were installed around the wreck to trap sand and stabilise the site. Although the system has been successful, the site requires continual monitoring because of seasonal changes in sand levels.