Albany’s shipwreck coast

Beneath the depths of Albany’s bays, dozens of shipwrecks dating back to the 19th century capture the imagination with tales of exploration, catastrophe and survival.

Their final, watery resting places are warnings to seafarers of Albany’s treacherous coastline and preserve the port city’s rich maritime heritage.

WA Museum maritime archaeology assistant curator Ross Anderson said some ships that sank off Albany’s shores were historically significant.

“That’s the great thing about Albany — it has a real concentration of shipwrecks relating to different maritime industries over time,” he said.

King George Sound was a preferred port over Fremantle along shipping routes in the 1800s, Mr Anderson said.

Its sheltered waters also offered a safe haven during stormy weather and an opportunity to replenish supplies during long voyages.

According to the WA Museum’s Shipwreck Galleries, major shipwrecks were the Arpenteur at Hassell Beach in 1849, the Lady Lyttleton at Emu Point channel in 1867, the Fanny Nicholson at Frenchman Bay in 1872, the Ada at Oyster Harbour in 1888 and the Kingfisher at Princess Royal Harbour in 1905.

Other notable wrecks were the Runnymeade at Frenchman Bay in 1881, the Wave at Cheyne Beach in 1848, the Sarah Burnyeat at Princess Royal Harbour in 1894, the Mandalay near Walpole in 1911 and the Escort at Nornalup Inlet in 1903.

Mr Anderson said the circumstances surrounding the sinking of the Fairy in Princess Royal Harbour in 1850 remained mysterious.

Built on the banks of the Kalgan River for Captain Thomas Symers in 1844, it is one of the earliest examples of local shipbuilding, but it sank before its maiden voyage.

“The partners had a fight about whether it should be rigged in a particular way, left it and it sank,” Mr Anderson said.

“It’s quite a rare and unique wreck for Albany because it has never been used.”

Reports differ if it was blown from its moorings during a storm or the mooring rope was cut.

The ship’s sternpost was visible for many years.

At Goode Beach, the wrecks of two whale chasers can occasionally be glimpsed buried in the sand alongside each other after storms.

The Fanny Nicholson was grounded at Frenchman Bay in 1872 during a gale, while the Runnymeade was driven ashore at Frenchman Bay during a storm in 1881.

Another whale chaser, Cheynes II, is clearly visible in Princess Royal Harbour, after sinking during a gale in 1992, while Cheynes III is one of WA’s top dive sites.

The ship was scuttled in 1982 and rests in two pieces near Michaelmas Island.

Albany’s other premier dive wreck is the HMAS Perth, which was scuttled near Seal Island in 2001 after a distinguished service record as a Royal Australian Navy destroyer.

Mandalay Beach, near Walpole, was named after a Norwegian ship which sank during a storm in 1911.

Mr Anderson said the crew were very lucky to make it ashore at a small stretch of beach.

“People can see it buried on the beach from time to time,” he said.

Mr Anderson said more shipwrecks could lie undiscovered along WA’s coast, and items often washed up on the shore.

“It’s always good for people to keep an eye out — particularly after storms,” he said.

“You never know, you might find a new wreck.”