The wreck is heeled over on its port side. There were no anchors at the bow, suggesting it sank while anchored in a SW wind. Little remains of the stem and the outline of the bow area is indistinguishable or buried, a couple of very large copper alloy bolts about 1 metre in length as if from the deadwood are near the bow.

The cargo consists of bricks, lime and rounded riverine rock ballast. Also in evidence are iron hanging knees, numerous copper alloy bolts, an iron mast band, concretions, remains of an iron rigging chainplate on the starboard side, iron pipe, pulleys from the rigging and a large as yet unidentified concretion approx 2-metre square made up of indeterminate material, though possibly iron or lime. It may be a water tank, or remains of a lime cargo, or some other object.

There is evidence of extensive teredo worm activity on the exposed timbers, and the site appears to be subject to occasional burial and scouring. There is no wood left above the sheathing line and no sign of any heavy timber frames or knees. The keelson or sister keelson appears to have been eaten away leaving large protruding copper alloy bolts indicating the angle of heel. The timbers exposed were heavy planks in the midships area and may be ceiling planking or outer planking. These also had evidence of teredo activity. Only one remnant of timber was observed, on the port side towards the bow. If the wreck is in fact buried to its sheathing line there would be substantial remains buried.

A concretion in the bow area may be a capstan.

The vessel was owned by William J. Mansfield of Hobart and worked as a whaler out of Hobart for many years until the beginning of the Victorian gold rush. Lloyds Register indicates voyages to Quebec in 1830-31 and then the 'Southern Fisheries' in 1832-3, so it may have been whaling on the Atlantic coast of Canada as well.

It's unlikely the GPS mark from the Australian National Shipwreck Database is accurate. If anyone has an accurate mark, please let us know.

Dive Type: Wreck Dive

Imported from The Scuba Doctor