SINKING AND RAISING
OF THE ORIENT LINE SHIP AUSTRAL
IN SYDNEY
HARBOUR IN 1882 -
her subsequent refitting to sail on
until 1903.Written from first-hand research and illustrated from published material and his personal photographic archive by George W. Randall, co-founder and former Vice Chairman Kinloch Castle Friends' Association, .
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A QUICK SUMMARY OF THE
Maximum difference High Tide to Low Tide is about five feet allowing very little opportunity to take advantage of low water.
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S. S. AUSTRAL
While coaling in the early hours of 11 November 1882
Austral heeled over and sank off Kirribilli Point, Neutral Bay, Sydney.
(Photograph 23 from George Bullough's Photograph Album VII. Australia.)
A corner of the Dining Saloon. (Illustrated London News)
Furnishings would be secured to the floor, dining chair seats would swivel on their legs.
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RIGHT: Twin berth cabin.
(Illustrated London News)
Detail from George Bullough's Photograph from Album VII.
(Illustrated London News)
Coaling continued.
Austral sank with a 13° list to starboard on a rising seabed of mud. View looking forward.
Note the water-tight bulkhead as integral part of the cofferdam.
Note the water-tight bulkhead as integral part of the cofferdam.
(From: The Engineer, Volume 35, Page 368 - 20 April 1883)
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The jury retired again and four hours later returned naming
the captain, chief officer, chief engineer and carpenter as “committing a gross error of judgement.”
The wording, substituting “judgement” for “negligence”
ensured all those named were not guilty of manslaughter.
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Diver Carl Erickson, engaged under the Melbourne
Harbour Trust, headed a team of sixteen divers, two brought over from England.
There were no fatalities during the raising of Austral although diver George Murray was very lucky to be resuscitated after a screw in the pump to his airline became disconnected. |
Another boatload of sightseers circle the stricken liner.
The white funneled vessel moored in the background is most likely the steamer
The white funneled vessel moored in the background is most likely the steamer
Alathea to which passengers could be transferred for a longer look
at the recovery work and be picked up later.
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The ship sank in 52 feet of water. The cofferdam was constructed to
withstand the lateral pressure of 9-lbs. per square inch (almost 1,300-lbs. per square foot) the water outside as the water in the vessel was pumped out.
pressure on the hull as the water was pumped out of the ship.
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Slowly Austral rises from the seabed as water is pumped out.
The extent of the cofferdam as it rises well above main deck level is clearly visible.
(Illustrated Australian News - 21 March 1883)
The extent of the cofferdam as it rises well above main deck level is clearly visible.
(Illustrated Australian News - 21 March 1883)
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