Sara (1856/07/17)
Half-way between the Gold Digger Passage and the Hero Passage
William Owston built the Sara at Point Preston in 1855. Despite being built in Perth and having an official number the Sara does not appear in either McKenna’s or Dickson’s lists of vessels registered at Fremantle. It was carvel planked and had a square stern, scroll head and no galleries. The timber for the construction would most likely have come from near Point Heathcote, some 8 km further up river. William Owston arrived in Western Australia on the Mary in 1851 and set up business at Preston Point. After a maiden voyage from Fremantle to Adelaide and return the Sara, under the command of Henry Christians, went to Port Gregory to load whale oil and copper ore.
THE LOSS
After loading cargo the Sara was being towed out of Port Gregory by three whale-boats when a heavy swell set it on a shoal patch between Gold Digger and Hero Passages. The vessel lay on its beam-ends and all efforts to salvage it failed.
Ship Built
Master Henry Christians
Builder William Owston
Country Built WA
Port Built Preston Point, swan River
Port Registered Fremantle
When Built 1855
Ship Lost
Grouped Region Mid-West
When Lost 1856/07/17
Where Lost Half-way between the Gold Digger Passage and the Hero Passage
Port From Fremantle
Port To Port Gregory
Cargo Oil and copper ore
Ship Details
Engine N
Length 16.90
Beam 5.60
TONA 54.00
Draft 2.70
Museum Reference
Official Number 31549
Unique Number 457
Sunk Code Foundered
File Number 117/80
Protected Protected Federal
Found N
Inspected N
Confidential NO