Lovespring Anchor

Statement of Significance

Lovespring Anchor and Hamelin Bay Wreck Sites: • The wrecks in Hamelin Bay illustrate the dangerous nature of this harbour and have the potential to provide important maritime archaeological evidence about the timber industry era. • The anchor was placed at the foreshore as a community memorial relating to the storm that sunk three ships in the harbour in July 1900, with the loss of five lives.

Physical Description

The memorial is an anchor from the ‘Lovespring’ that has been placed in a semi-circular landscaped area adjacent to the coastal walkway and carpark at Hamelin Bay. There is currently (2012) no interpretation of the anchor or the associated wrecks.

History

On 22 July 1900 a fierce gale hit Hamelin Bay. The West Australian newspaper reported that the barques Norwester and Katinka were wrecked, and that the barque Lovespring (or Lövspring) was moored on the north side of the jetty, and hung on well till nearly midnight, when she, too, snapped her lines and was blown on to the Mushroom Rock, which she struck heavily, and then slid off into deep water and sank, the top of her bulwarks and masts alone being visible. The crew took to the rigging, and were all rescued this morning! The papers also printed a copy of the official telegram:OFFICIAL TELEGRAM. The following telegram has been received by the Postmaster-General from the postmaster at Karridale:-"Regret having to report a violent hurricane in this district during Sunday last. The barques Norwester, Lovespring, and Kintinka parted their cables, and were blown ashore in Hamelin Harbour. Five men were lost off the latter vessel, including the chief mate. The effects of the storm on shore are very serious, one of the wires on the main line and that to Cape Leeuwin being in a deplorable condition. Messrs. Davies' lines are also equally damaged, there being 351 trees and large limbs across their line over a distance of eight miles. The coach driver reports that the line right through to the Vasse is down. No messenger is in from Cape Leeuwin yet but a messenger is in from Flinders Bay, who states that the wire is literally off the poles all the way. I am doing my utmost to secure men to put the lines in repair." Four of the Katinka’s crew are buried in Hamelin Bay Gravesite (See Place # HB-01). The fifth crew member to die was buried at Fremantle. The Lovespring’s anchor was salvaged and erected as a monument on the shore of the Bay.Other wrecks recorded at Hamelin Bay include: Agincourt. On 19 April 1882, this British barque broke from its mooring whilst fully laden with timber. One member of the crew of eight was drowned when the longboat capsized in the surf. The remains of a wreck still laden with timber and believed to be Agincourt lie on sand in 4–5 metres of water about 200 metres offshore. Chaudiere On 4 July 1883 this British barque was wrecked whilst laden with timber at Hamelin Bay. A wreck fitting the description of Chaudiere lies on a sand bottom near Agincourt.

Integrity/Authenticity

N/A N/A

Condition

Memorial - good

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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