Northumberland wreck
The 1168 ton wooden ship Northumberland was carrying a cargo of coal from Newcastle, England for the P&O Company’s coal depot in Albany, with 22 crew on board. After being strained in a severe storm, the ship started taking on water and the crew manned the pumps. Nearing land five days later and with eleven feet (3.3 metres) of water in the hold, the exhausted crew believed they were in imminent danger of sinking. At 10pm on 20th June 1868 they struck a reef off Bald Head and broke the rudder. As the ship drifted past Bald Head two minutes later the crew saw the light of the Breaksea Island lighthouse, and took to the ship’s boats, tying off to their stricken ship while waiting for daylight. The Northumberland stayed afloat until daybreak, and the crew went to Breaksea Island to alert the lighthouse keeper to raise the distress signal, but while they were on the island the Northumberland sank in a line between Breaksea Island and Cape Vancouver. The site of the Northumberland has not been located and would lie in between 50-60 metres depth. The reef off Bald Head that the ship struck was subsequently named Northumberland Rock.
-
Country Built UK
-
Port Built Liverpool
-
When Built 1864
-
Length 55.10
-
Beam 11.30
-
Draft 7.30
-
Engine N
-
TONA 1168.00
-
When Lost 1868/06/20
-
Where Lost Bald Head
-
Sinking Abandonded and floundered
-
Sunk Code Wrecked and sunk
-
Port From Newcastle
-
Port To Albany
Museum Reference
-
wreck Northumberland
-
Protected Federal
-
Found N
-
Inspected N
-
Official Number 50568
-
File Number 1034/2619
-
Confidential NO
Artefact information
| wreck | Northumberland |
|---|---|
| When Lost | 1868/06/20 |
| Protected | Federal |
| Found | N |
| Inspected | N |
| Where Lost | Bald Head |
| Position Information | *check Co-ordinates 1' off |
| Engine | N |
| TONA | 1168.00 |
| Country Built | UK |
| Port Built | Liverpool |
| When Built | 1864 |
| Port Registered | Liverpool |
| Official Number | 50568 |
| Length | 55.10 |
| Beam | 11.30 |
| Draft | 7.30 |
| Crew | 22 |
| Sinking | Abandonded and floundered |
| Sunk Code | Wrecked and sunk |
| Port From | Newcastle |
| Port To | Albany |
| Cargo | Coal |
| Master | John Humphrey |
| Owner | Davis and Sons |
| File Number | 1034/2619 |
| Comments | The 1168 ton wooden ship Northumberland was carrying a cargo of coal from Newcastle, England for the P&O Company’s coal depot in Albany, with 22 crew on board. After being strained in a severe storm, the ship started taking on water and the crew manned the pumps. Nearing land five days later and with eleven feet (3.3 metres) of water in the hold, the exhausted crew believed they were in imminent danger of sinking. At 10pm on 20th June 1868 they struck a reef off Bald Head and broke the rudder. As the ship drifted past Bald Head two minutes later the crew saw the light of the Breaksea Island lighthouse, and took to the ship’s boats, tying off to their stricken ship while waiting for daylight. The Northumberland stayed afloat until daybreak, and the crew went to Breaksea Island to alert the lighthouse keeper to raise the distress signal, but while they were on the island the Northumberland sank in a line between Breaksea Island and Cape Vancouver. The site of the Northumberland has not been located and would lie in between 50-60 metres depth. The reef off Bald Head that the ship struck was subsequently named Northumberland Rock. |
| Sources | John Humphrey given at the Inquiry into the sinking of the Northumberland, 26 June 1868, CSR 621, fol. 55 The Albany Advertiser, 22 February 1971 Lloyds Shipping Register, 1868 Registre Veritas, 1868 |
| Confidential | NO |
| URL | http://www.museum.wa.gov.au/maritime-archaeology-db/wrecks/northumberland |