Georgette Memorial

Statement of Significance

The Georgette Memorial and Wreck Site is of significance: • As a community memorial commemorating the wreck of the ‘Georgette’ and the dramatic events surrounding the rescue of its crew, in particular the parts played by Grace Bussell and Sam Isaacs. • As a maritime wreck of historical significance for the local community.

Physical Description

The wreckage of the SS Georgette is an iron framed wooden steamer of 332 tons, single screw, lying buried in sand under breaking water. On a calm day, if you look south of the carpark, about 90m out to sea, you can see the wreck in 5m of water.The memorial is a brass plaque on a rammed earth plinth overlooking the wreck. The memorial is set in a landscaped lookout area bounded by treated pine logs, which support DEC interpretation panels.The monument reads:The vessel Georgette, 211 tons steam and sail, was grounded in Caldacup bay just south of the point on 1 December 1876.While on her way to Albany the ship sprang a leak, the pumps failed and the stoke hold flooded.When she was still twenty miles out to sea a boat was launched.ready to be towed astern; It was stove in and its occupants thrown into the sea. Two women and five children drowned, but the others were rescued by brothers Willie and James Dempster and crewmen Dewar and Nunan; They made for the shore in the ship’s gig and reached Indijup twelve hours later.In the meantime passengers on the georgette kept bailing while the ship under sail headed for the coast and finally grounded.While the ship`s boat was in trouble in the surf two riders came galloping to the scene - Grace Bussell and stockman Sam Isaacs. They rode into the sea and, with their timely help, all on board reached the shore in safety and were taken to Wallcliffe House, the home of Grace Bussell, where they were welcomed and given shelter. Augusta -Margaret River Tourist Bureau 1976 John Alferink.

History

The Georgette was built in 1872 and commenced operating on the coastal trading and passenger service between Fremantle, Albany and Champion Bay in 1874. It was beached and sank on 12 December 1876, carrying passengers, varied cargo and ballast.The Georgette had floundered further north and lifeboats had been lowered; one overturned and seven lives were lost, but James and William Dempster and seamen John Dewar and James Noonan managed to bring the other to shore at Injidup through treacherous seas. They were subsequently awarded a certificate from the Royal Humane Society. In the meantime, the Georgette had drifted south to Calgardup (now named Redgate) where the remaining passengers and crew were brought to shore through dangerous seas by 16-year-old Grace Bussell and a family servant, Aboriginal stockman, Sam Isaacs, who rode their horses into the surf and saved the lives of all on board. Named “Australia’s Grace darling” by the press, Grace instantly became famous and was awarded a silver medal for bravery in 1878. ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY- At a meeting of this Society… Miss Grace Vernon Bussell, a young lady 16 years of age was awarded the silver medal for saving, with the aid of her black servant, Samuel Isaacs, the lives of several persons who were in danger of drowning, in the following circumstances:- On the 1st of December of last year the screw steamer ‘Georgette’ sprung a leak at sea in a gale off Cape Leeuwin, during a voyage from Fremantle to Port Adelaide, and was stranded at a place called Kaldagup, about eight miles south of Wallcliffe house, the residence of Mr. A. P. Bussell. Hearing of the occurrence, Miss Bussell, attended by her servant, rode on horseback down a steep cliff to the scene of the disaster, and discovered the boat capsized in two fathoms and a half of water and the passengers clinging to her. Miss Bussell at once rode her horse into the sea, and after the greatest difficulty at length succeeded in reaching the boat, accompanied by Isaacs, and with some of the women and children holding on to her and her horse, she made for the shore, and succeeded in placing them in safety, Isaacs subsequently returning to the boat and saving a man who had been left behind. The danger of the task was enhanced by the high surf which the horses had to contend against. Isaacs has been voted the Society's bronze medallion.Although press coverage at the time brought much praise to Grace Bussell, it is now generally accepted that Sam Isaacs played a major part in the rescue.Following the wreck, the hull of the Georgette was sold for £40. The remains were later located by members of the UEC, and its engine was dismantled for the brass fittings. In March 1964 a propeller was removed from the wreck and dragged ashore, only to be swept back into the ocean and lost. The ships bell is now in the Augusta museum. The remaining portion of the wreck lies in c. 5 metres of water, c. 90 metres offshore, and is protected under Federal legislation.The first SS Georgette Memorial was erected on the 1st December, 1960. This was a metal sign, and it eventually corroded away. In 1976, John Alferink, in conjunction with the Shire of Augusta Margaret River Tourist Bureau and Augusta Historical Society, erected a new memorial. The plaque was unveiled in 1976 and the ceremony included a re-enactment of the Georgette rescue.Further details about the construction, use and wreck of the vessel are included in the Western Australian Museum Shipwreck Databases.

Integrity/Authenticity

Memorial - High: The original use has been maintained. Wreck - Medium: The use has been altered, but the original use is still clearly evident through interpretation of the fabric. Memorial - High: The original/significant fabric is largely intact. Wreck - Low: The former vessel has been considerably altered, with the loss of significant fabric.

Condition

Memorial: Good *Assessed from streetscape survey only

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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