Ships Ahoy in the City

Onshore signs now act as physical markers for shipwrecks in Alkimos, Jindalee, Two Rocks and Yanchep, providing history, stories and images of each wreck.

Former WWII Liberty Ship, the Alkimos, struck a reef in 1963 on a voyage from Indonesia to Bunbury. The remains of the Alkimos are located approximately 410m offshore, providing a recreational and educational diving space, as well as plenty of inspiration for ghostly tales.

The Eglinton, a 464 tonne Quebec-built barque, left London carrying 21 crew and 30 settlers and hit an outer reef and sank off the coast of Wanneroo in 1852. This was a disaster not only for the unfortunate crew but also Perth’s early settlers who had been desperately awaiting the Eglinton’s cargo.

The Vergulde Draeck was sailing to Jakarta in 1656 when it struck a coral reef south of Ledge Point, killing most of its 193 passengers. The wreck was not discovered for another 300 years, when five spear fishermen came across the remains in 1963.

The Alex T. Brown was bound for Manila in 1917 when it was blown ashore in Yanchep, one of only two 4-masted schooners to become shipwrecked in Australia. The wreck, located on the beach 350m south of The Spot, is easily accessible when the tide is out, rendering it vulnerable to potential vandals.

In response, the City of Wanneroo, in conjunction with the WA Shipwreck Museum, recently obtained a Conservation Protection Order to safeguard the Alex T. Brown from further interference. Damaging the wreck carries a maximum fine of $1 million and possible imprisonment.

Mayor Tracey Roberts said the City’s new shipwreck signage concept came about because of frequent enquiries from the community.

“In recent years, the City has received many queries from people curious about the various shipwrecks along the City’s shore, particularly the Alkimos which is visible from the popular Waterfront Park at Shorehaven,” Mayor Roberts said.

“It is important we provide the local community and visitors to the area, with easily accessible information about these wonderful pieces of the City’s history.

“The signage aligns with the City of Wanneroo’s tourism strategy to attract visitors to our beaches, and this new shipwreck trail is an ideal way to promote the City’s spectacular coastline.”

Further information about each shipwreck can be found in the City’s new free mobile app, Discover Wanneroo.

The app provides an interactive and entertaining way to discover more about the City of Wanneroo through videos, quizzes, selfie frames and games including a shipwreck treasure hunt for children.

When in the vicinity of each of the newly installed shipwreck signs, the app unlocks a secret code, and when all four codes are revealed, a special replica treasure pewter coin can be claimed when people visit the Wanneroo Regional Museum.

The City of Wanneroo would like to thank Drs Deb Shefi, Mack McCarthy and Ross Anderson from the WA Shipwreck Museum and Joel Gilman from the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage for their support in obtaining the Conservation Protection Order to safeguard the Alex T. Brown.