''Geltwood'' was an iron-hulled
barque that was shipwrecked on or about 14 June 1876 during a storm on a remote stretch of the south east coast of
South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...
. Nearing the completion of her maiden voyage from
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a popul ...
bound for
Melbourne
Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
the ship struck a reef, capsized and broke up. The wreck occurred 1.6 km from shore near the northern end of
Lake Bonney and 16 km south-east of Southend.
Of the 31 passengers and crew there were no survivors. It wasn't until 5 July that the fate of the ship became known to authorities.
Looters
The events surrounding ''Geltwood'' are made infamous by reports of looting by some locals. The wreck was not reported to the police for two weeks, and in that time a number of people stole equipment and belongings that were washed ashore. A trial was held in
Millicent which resulted in the acquittal of two men on the grounds they didn't know looting a shipwreck was a crime.
Relics
One of the ''Geltwood'' anchors can be viewed in
Southend at a lookout on Cape Buffon drive. It is a memorial to those who have perished at sea, including local amateur and professional fishermen who have lost their lives at sea.
Another anchor and memorabilia can be viewed at the Millicent Living History Museum. Some ''Geltwood'' artifacts are also displayed in the
Beachport museum.
See also
*
List of shipwrecks of Australia
This a list of shipwrecks located in Australia.
New South Wales
Norfolk Island
Northern Territory
Queensland
South Australia
Tasmania
Victoria
Western Australia
See also
* Australian National Shipwreck Database
* HMAS ''H ...
References
*''A Shipwreck at Rivoli Bay; Geltwood 1876'' at http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/4b881c43-c246-4874-8cfb-9e2900d033a0/geltwood.pdf, Retrieved 23 May 2012.
*'Geltwood, a brief history of a Harrington barque wrecked on her maiden voyage'on "Through Mighty Seas: A Maritime History"'' at http://www.mightyseas.co.uk/marhist/workington_harrington/geltwood.htm, Retrieved 26 March 2008.
*'Geltwood Anchor Memorial' in Southend at http://www.southaustralia.com/info.aspx?id=9005361, Retrieved 21 May 2012.
*'The Shipwreck Room' at http://www.millicentmuseum.com/shipwreckRoom.htm , Retrieved 21 May 2012.
External links
''Geltwood'' on Ozdiverdowns' YouTube, May 2013
Shipwrecks of South Australia
Maritime incidents in June 1876
1876 ships
Victorian-era merchant ships of the United Kingdom
Sailing ships of the United Kingdom
Barques
{{Ship-stub