Ashburton (1919/12)
Mary Island, Vansittart Bay
Owner Gustav Anton Ulrich with his partner Alfred Redlund anchored the vessel between Long Island and Mary Island at the northern end of Vansittart Bay. They allowed a group of Kwini people aboard, and kept two women with them. Subsequently four members of the group returned and killed Ulrich and Redlund and threw the bodies overboard. A police expedition found the lugger dismantled and high and dry on the reef and arrested the chief of the tribe named Gunboor, who admitted they killed the men because they had hidden the women on the lugger . Gunboor was subequently charged and sentenced to be hung by the neck.
Ship Built
Owner Gustav Ulbrich
Master Gustav Ulbrich
Builder Robert Howson
Country Built Australia
Port Built Fremantle
Port Registered Fremantle
When Built 1883
Ship Lost
Gouped Region North-West
Sinking Stranded on drying reef at low tide, stripped by Kwini people
Crew 2
Deaths 2
When Lost 1919/12
Where Lost Mary Island, Vansittart Bay
Port From Broome
Port To Long Island, Vansittart Bay
Ship Details
Length 14.10
Beam 4.00
TONA 24.43
Draft 1.70
Museum Reference
Official Number 75315
Unique Number 3
Registration Number No 3 of 1883 at Fremantle
Protected Protected Federal
Found N
Confidential NO