Wreck Inspection Report Glenbank (1911), Dampier Marine Park

Author/s Ross Anderson and Deb Shefi

Year of publication 2024

Report Number: 346

The location of a large 3 masted iron or steel sailing shipwreck north of Legendre Island, Dampier Archipelago in 33 metres depth believed to be Glenbank was first reported to the WA Museum in 2019 by Johnny Debnam, on behalf of primary finder Kevin Deacon and secondary finders Tom Radley, Johnny Debnam, Justin Leech, and Luke Leech. The WA Museum contacted Precision Hydrographic Services (PCS) who conducted a hydrographic survey of the site. Fieldwork and diving site inspections were carried out by WA Museum staff between 13-24 August 2021 in collaboration with Terra Australis Productions and VAM Media, as part of the Disney+ documentary series Shipwreck Hunters Australia.  The WA Museum confirmed the site to be that of Glenbank, a Russian-flagged barque partially loaded with loose and bagged copper ore, that capsized and sank in a cyclone north of Legendre Island on 6 February 1911 with only one survivor. The Glenbank site lies within the Dampier Commonwealth Marine Park.