Dredge wrecks in Loch McNess/Wagardu Lake, Yanchep National Park

Author/s R. Anderson, J. Clarke and C. Cockram

Year of publication 2007

Report Number: 229

Background
On the 6th and 27th August 2005 the wrecks of two small wooden dredges in Loch Mc Ness/ Lake Wagardu, Yanchep National Park were investigated by members of the Maritime Archaeology Association of Western Australia (MAAWA) & staff from the Department of Maritime Archaeology, Western Australian Museum. One wreck lies at the northern edge of the lake and the other at the south end. The northern site was affected by a bushfire that burnt down the superstructure of the wreck as well as a pedestrian wooden bridge that had previously been built over the wreck. Concerns about the wreck and possible impacts arising from any new bridge reconstruction were discussed with Yanchep National Park staff. Yanchep National Park staff supported the site survey by providing free entry and use of rowboats to access the sites. The purpose of the visit was to record the sites in order to provide further information to the Department of Conservation and Land Management on the sites’ extent, integrity and significance.