Neptune (1901/06/13)
wrecked 16 miles on SW coast from Geraldton
Date lost: 13 June 1901 (McKenna, 1959; Totty, 1979; Dickson, 1996) or 20 June 1901 (McKenna, 1967)
Neptune was initially owned by George Shenton who used it to lighter cargo from the ships anchored in Fremantle’s outer harbour to wharves along the Swan River. It was sold to Charles Edward Broadhurst in 1885. He employed the vessel carrying supplies to the Abrolhos Islands, returning with cargoes of guano. Broadhurst mortgaged the cutter to John Bateman in September 1885 for £500 at 8%. The mortgage was discharged in June 1893 when ownership was transferred to Broadhurst’s son, Florance Constantine Broadhurst. The transfer resulted from the son buying the business from his father who then retired to England. The younger Broadhurst continued to use the vessel on the Geraldton to Abrolhos run and was the owner at the time it was wrecked.
THE LOSS
Driven on to rocks near the mouth of the Greenough River. One crewman was drowned and there were two survivors. The master at the time was Charles Farso (or Charles James). Dickson (1996) and McKenna (1959) state that the vessel was wrecked in the Geelvinck Channel near Geraldton while Loney (1994) places the wrecking more precisely as being near the mouth of the Greenough River.
Ship Built
Owner F.C. Broadhurst & McNeill & Co
Master Charles James (Farso) (C. Jones)
Country Built WA
Port Built Perth
Port Registered Fremantle
When Built 1870
Ship Lost
Gouped Region Mid-West
Crew 3
Deaths 1
When Lost 1901/06/13
Where Lost wrecked 16 miles on SW coast from Geraldton
Port From Abrolhos
Port To Geraldton
Ship Details
Engine N
Length 14.00
Beam 4.30
TONA 22.00
Draft 1.60
Museum Reference
Official Number 61096
Unique Number 231
Registration Number 4 of 1870
Sunk Code Foundered
File Number 117/80, 56/72
Chart Number 333, 1056
Protected Protected Federal
Found PA
Inspected N
Confidential NO