Sepia (1898/12/29)

2.9 Km offshore between Carnac and Garden Island

Sepia, a three-masted barque, was built by Denton, Grey and Company of Hartlepool and was owned by Bethell, Gwyn and Company, London. The vessel, well known as a trader on the Fremantle run, left London on 14 September 1898. Aboard were twelve crew and a mixed cargo of 1 200 tons valued at between £1 200 and £1 400.

Travelling at ten knots on the evening of 29 December, the Sepia ran before a strong southerly wind under the main and topgallant sails. Shipping was seen ahead of the vessel and this was presumed to be activity at the port of Fremantle. Captain Hugh Thomas was not new to navigation along this coast. Although no danger was anticipated, as the order was given to haul up, the barque struck a submerged rock without warning at the edge of Five Fathom Bank. The vessel sank in less than ten minutes. The speed at which the Sepia sank made the task of rescuing the crew difficult. Heavy seas were breaking over the vessel and the cargo had begun to burst through the hatches. The loss of the vessel was said to have caused ‘a considerable amount of inconvenience to the firms mentioned, they are depending in great measure upon her for their regular supplies’.

This site is considered the most complete iron-hulled vessel in the area containing a well-preserved cargo. The Sepia is representative of the vessels visiting Fremantle, and the types of cargo imported, in the late 19th century. The Sepia, built in 1864, is a relatively small vessel compared with contemporary sailers shipping to other interstate and overseas ports. Yet, as a regular visitor to Fremantle, it is typical of a late 19th century cargo ship, and analysis of its cargo is expected to provide new insight into the nature of colonial trade to Western Australia.

Both MAAWA and the Department have conducted work on the wreck. A survey of a section of the cargo stowage area of the Sepia has been undertaken to identify and determine the context of a fuller range of late 19th century commodities. It is anticipated that the position of objects found in situ may be related to those already in the Department’s collection. In order to interpret the attributes of the wreck site in a manner consistent with modern archaeological practice, the processes that led to the deposition of material also need to be understood. In response to this, site formation analyses have been undertaken to monitor the physical effects of seasonal change and human impact on the wreck site. There is also a workrelated programme of wreck inspections of similar sites in the metropolitan area. Comparison of the cultural assemblages from other contemporary sailing barques with that of the Sepia will be made to provide a broader view of importations into the Colony. Site inspections are being made of these wrecks to compare artefact types and their distribution on site. Literature on this subject includes site plans, photographs and historical data.