Extreme coastal weather has eroded some Victorian beaches exposing material from historic shipwrecks. Storms, strong winds and high tides have uncovered these artefacts from the past.
Spar discovered at Point Nepean back beach
The Nepean Historical Society reported a spar sticking out from the sand dune at Portsea back beach. Heritage Victoria maritime archaeologists inspected the spar on the 31st of October and published a 3D model on Heritage Victoria’s Sketchfab.
‘Spar’ is a general term for a large timber pole used to support sails including masts, yards and booms. This spar has iron fittings that show the full length of this spar is about 8m long and still half buried. The beach is already building up again and the spar is likely to become re-buried.
The spar may be from Sierra Nevada or another rigged vessel that has wrecked off Point Nepean. Sierra Nevada was an iron-hulled three-masted sailing ship built in 1877 and used for the Rangoon rice trade. It left England in 1900 with a general cargo, but reached Port Phillip Heads in rough weather and running aground at Point Nepean. 28 crew lost their lives including the captain. The vessel broke up quickly with wreckage strewn across the beach.
Formosa's doomed maiden voyage
A large section of an iron vessel also became exposed in the beach near London Bridge. Parks Victoria reported the find which is likely the upper area of the stern, or back end, of Formosa. The section is approximately 2 by 5 metres in size. Heritage Victoria recorded this piece almost exactly 10 years ago when storm activity exposed it back then.
Formosa was an iron schooner built in 1868 and fitted with twin screw engines. It also had three masts and sailed from Glasgow heading to Melbourne on its maiden voyage in 1869. Once it reached Port Phillip Heads it encountered issues, hit a rock and beached east of Point Nepean. Everyone made it to shore. The owner of the land bought the hull and cargo and likely salvaged as much as he could.
Another report of possible material from an historic shipwreck came from a local of Ocean Grove. Unfortunately, sand buried the find before Heritage Victoria could record it. A keen eye will be kept on that location in case it becomes exposed again.
These reports are in addition to the exposure of a large section of Amazon at Inverloch.
Preservation efforts underway
The Heritage Act 2017 and Commonwealth Underwater Cultural Heritage Act 2018 provide protection for all historic vessels and material from those vessels. Strong penalties apply for damaging or taking material. Please report any suspicious activity to Heritage Victoria.
Page last updated: 03/12/24