Wreck site - Mandalay

Author

Shire of Manjimup

Place Number

11393

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There no heritage location found in the Google fusion table.

Location

Mandalay Beach Rd Walpole

Location Details

Local Government

Manjimup

Region

South West

Construction Date

Constructed from 1911

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type	Status	Date	Documents	More information
(no listings)

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type	Status	Date	Documents
(no listings)

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type	Status	Date	Grading/Management		More information
Type	Status	Date	Category	Description	More information
Municipal Inventory	Adopted	10 Jul 1997	Category C	Category C Retain and conserve if possible: endeavour to conserve the significance of the place through the provisions of the Shire of Manjimup Town Planning Scheme; a more detailed Heritage Assessment may be required prior to approval being given for any major redevelopment or demolition; photographically record the place prior to any major redevelopment or demolition.

Statement of Significance

Historic and Representativeness

Physical Description

• Steps lead from car park to viewing platform which overlooks the
sea;
• Timber decking and railing;
• Rough timber plinth;
• Plaster cast of woman’s head, mounted on plinth;
• Story of wreck on plastic panels mounted on plinth, and;
• Wreck only becomes visible under certain conditions.

History

The Mandalay was a 914 ton, three masted Norwegian barque skippered
by Captain Emile Tonnessen, which was wrecked off the coast between
Chatham Island and Long Point on 15 May 1911. The ship was on its
way from Dalagoa Bay in South Africa to Albany, to pick up orders,
when it was caught in a wild storm and wrecked. The skipper and crew
managed to beach the vessel. All lives were saved and most of the
provisions on board. The crew spent five days sheltered on the beach in
crude shelters made with canvas and spars. A couple of men set out to
look for help but returned exhausted after two days. Captain Tonnessens
diary recalls how they shot a ‘buffalo’ which provided an excellent stew.
(Later they were told it was one of the local farmer’s cattle)
At the time there were only two pioneering families living in the area, the
nearest being 13km away. A search party found help in the form of a
member of the Thompson family who took them back to Tinglewood
Lodge. A memorial cairn has been erected on the shore overlooking the
wreck site. The figurehead is a cast of the original which is being held by
a local farmer. The ghostly wreck only appears every few years as the
beach erodes, only to be reclaimed by shifting sands.
Nearby is a plaque, noting the story of Captain Vancouver’s expedition.

Condition

Poor

References

Ref ID No	Ref Name	Ref Source	Ref Date
	Heritage & Conservation Professionals; "Shire of Manjimup Municipal Heritage Inventory".	Shire of Manjimup	1995 Adopted 1997.
	Plaque at site of wreck.

Place Type

Historic Site

Uses

Epoch	General	Specific
Original Use	Transport\Communications	Water: Other
Present Use	Transport\Communications	Water: Other

Historic Themes

General	Specific
TRANSPORT & COMMUNICATIONS	River & sea transport

Creation Date

23 Mar 1998

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

01 Jan 2017

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.