Laura (1916)
Recherche Arch, possibly Boxer Island
Laura was built by Charles Watson for James Dyer of Perth, and registered at Fremantle (No. 3/1869). It had one deck and a square stern. In 1872 Dyer sold the vessel to George Simpson, manager of the Western Australian Timber Company at Vasse. In both 1882 and 1884 the Laura was stranded at Lockeville, but on each occasion it was salvaged and placed back in to service. It was later purchased by Frederick Douglas and refitted. In 1910 the boat was used by one of his sons, Carl, who sailed from Albany to Cape Leeuwin to salvage large quantities of butter which had floated free from the wreck of the steamer Pericles.
THE LOSS
In 1915 or 1916 (both dates are given in Marshall, 2001), while taking sheep to Figure of Eight Island off Esperance, the Laura was struck by a storm and wrecked.
SITE LOCATION
In 1972 staff from the Department of Maritime Archaeology, Western Australian Museum, found off Boxer Island a wreck which may be that of the Laura.
Ship Built
Owner Fred Douglas
Master Jim Douglas
Port Built Perth
Port Registered Fremantle
When Built 1868
Ship Lost
Grouped Region South-Coast
Sinking Wrecked while carrying sheep
When Lost 1916
Where Lost Recherche Arch, possibly Boxer Island
Port To Figure of Eight Island
Cargo Sheep
Ship Details
Engine N
Length 13.40
Beam 4.00
TONA 24.25
Draft 2.10
Museum Reference
Official Number 61084
Unique Number 1451
Sunk Code Refloated
File Number 69/72
Chart Number 1059
Protected Protected Federal
Found N
Inspected N
Confidential NO