Fairy wreck
Fairy (1844-1850) Construction of the Fairy commenced in 1844. Contractors Solomon Cook, Mr Metcalf and Mr Covert built it on the bank of the Kalgan River for Captain Symers. Unfortunately the vessel’s construction dragged on until the end of the 1840s, delayed by Symers’ financial difficulties, and a dispute over the rigging of the vessel between Symers and one of his new business partners, James Dunn. During the dispute work stopped and the vessel sat unused in Princess Royal Harbour. In 1850 the Fairy was blown from its moorings onto a shallow sandbank (another report says that its mooring rope was cut) where the wreck remains to this day. An archaeological survey by the WA Museum in 1991 located hull timbers, ballast and a pulley sheave indicating it was likely to have been rigged at the time of its wrecking. The Fairy has been described as both a schooner and a brig, of between 100-150 tons. Alhough it never left Albany, the wreck of the Fairy is significant as one of Western Australia’s earliest examples of local shipbuilding, and warrants further study.
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Country Built WA
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Port Built Albany, Kalgan River
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When Built 1849 ( starting 1844)
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Engine N
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TONA 70.00
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When Lost 1849/06/12
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Where Lost Princess Royal Harbour, Albany
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Sinking ship was never completed but allowed to rot
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Sunk Code Abandoned
Museum Reference
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wreck Fairy
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Protected State
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Found Y
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Inspected Y
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File Number 9/92, 195/72
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Chart Number AUS 109
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Confidential NO
Artefact information
| wreck | Fairy |
|---|---|
| When Lost | 1849/06/12 |
| Protected | State |
| Found | Y |
| Inspected | Y |
| Date Inspected | 1991/07 MMcC |
| Where Lost | Princess Royal Harbour, Albany |
| Latitude Max | -35.04 |
| Longitude Max | 117.86 |
| Position Information | GPS |
| Engine | N |
| TONA | 70.00 |
| Country Built | WA |
| Port Built | Albany, Kalgan River |
| When Built | 1849 ( starting 1844) |
| Sinking | ship was never completed but allowed to rot |
| Sunk Code | Abandoned |
| Cargo | No cargo |
| Owner | Symers and Dunn |
| Builder | Captain Thomas Symers |
| File Number | 9/92, 195/72 |
| Chart Number | AUS 109 |
| Comments | Fairy (1844-1850) Construction of the Fairy commenced in 1844. Contractors Solomon Cook, Mr Metcalf and Mr Covert built it on the bank of the Kalgan River for Captain Symers. Unfortunately the vessel’s construction dragged on until the end of the 1840s, delayed by Symers’ financial difficulties, and a dispute over the rigging of the vessel between Symers and one of his new business partners, James Dunn. During the dispute work stopped and the vessel sat unused in Princess Royal Harbour. In 1850 the Fairy was blown from its moorings onto a shallow sandbank (another report says that its mooring rope was cut) where the wreck remains to this day. An archaeological survey by the WA Museum in 1991 located hull timbers, ballast and a pulley sheave indicating it was likely to have been rigged at the time of its wrecking. The Fairy has been described as both a schooner and a brig, of between 100-150 tons. Alhough it never left Albany, the wreck of the Fairy is significant as one of Western Australia’s earliest examples of local shipbuilding, and warrants further study. |
| Sources | McCarthy, M., Wolfe, A. and de L. Marshall, G., 1992 Fairy (1884-1850), Unpublished Wreck Inspection Report, Department of Maritime Archaeology, Western Australian Maritime Museum, No.98. |
| Confidential | NO |
| URL | http://www.museum.wa.gov.au/maritime-archaeology-db/wrecks/fairy |