Ellen (1883)
The trawler Ellen wrecked on Morgan Beach
(State Library of South Australia image B40011) |
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| History | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Ellen |
| Owner: | Breslin and Watson |
| Builder: | Smith Forrester & Co., Queensland |
| Completed: | 1883 |
| Fate: | Sold |
| Notes: | Iron hull |
| Name: | Ellen |
| Owner: | Messrs. W. R. Cave & Co. |
| Port of registry: | Port Adelaide |
| Acquired: | Prior to 1908 |
| Fate: | Wrecked, Morgan’s Beach, SA 1908 |
| Status: | historic shipwreck |
| Notes: | |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Twin screw steamer |
| Tonnage: | 91 tons (Gross), 62 tons (Net) |
| Length: | 100 feet (30.5 m) |
| Beam: | 18 feet, 6 inches (5.64 m) |
| Depth: | 6 feet, 6 inches (2.0 m) |
| Installed power: | steam, twin 30 horsepower, 11 inch cylinders. |
| Propulsion: | engine, sail |
| Sail plan: | schooner rig |
| Speed: | 8 knots |
Ellen (also known as SS Ellen) was a steamship that was launched in 1883 and whose career involved coastal shipping firstly in the Colony of Queensland and then in the Australian state of South Australia. It was wrecked in Gulf St Vincent in South Australia at Morgan’s Beach near the town of Cape Jervis on Saturday, 12 December 1908 during its return from fishing in waters around Kangaroo Island to a destination on the mainland.
Ellen was built in Brisbane, Queensland in 1883 for Messrs. Breslin and Watson for the purpose of trade from Gladstone to Keppel Bay and other ports within Queensland.
The ship purchased several years prior to 1908 for the purpose of ‘coastal work’ in South Australian waters by Messrs. W. R. Cave and Co. and Co., grain merchants, shipping and Customs agents based at Port Adelaide.
The vessel was chartered in November 1908 for 3 months by a delegation of Scottish fishermen consisting of Messrs. W. J. Newlands, W. Eaglesham, W. Grieve and M Grieve, and who were interested in establishing a fishing business in South Australia.
On Thursday, 10 December 1908, Ellen under the command of Captain A. McMillan departed from Glenelg for Kangaroo Island with Mr Newlands, and a crew of 6.
On Saturday, 12 December 1908, Ellen returned from Hog Bay on Kangaroo Island en route to a destination on the mainland with a load of fish valued at £50. Ellen encountered very rough conditions when passing Cape Jervis. The rough conditions included a sudden swing in wind direction from the South West to the North West. As a result, the ship drifted astern towards the shore until its stern run aground on the rocky seabed. The bow was then swung around onto the rocks by the waves thereby completing the wrecking. The heavy sea then continued to pound the wrecked vessel, washing fittings and timber overboard and onto the shore. The crew escaped to shore via the use of a dinghy while Mr Newlands swam to the shore.
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Wikipedia