Geltwood facts for kids
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Geltwood was a large sailing ship made of iron. It was a type of ship called a barque, which means it had three masts. In 1876, on its very first long trip, the Geltwood was shipwrecked. This happened during a big storm off the coast of South Australia. The ship was almost at its destination, Melbourne, when it hit a hidden reef. Sadly, the ship broke apart, and all 31 people on board were lost. It took a while for anyone to find out what had happened to the Geltwood.
Contents
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom |
|
| Name | Geltwood |
| Owner | John Sprott of Harrington U.K |
| Port of registry | Workington, Cumberland U.K |
| Route | Liverpool - Melbourne |
| Builder | R.Williamson & Sons shipyard at Harrington |
| Launched | 18 January 1876 |
| Maiden voyage | 23 March 1876 |
| Out of service | 1876 |
| Fate | Wrecked off the south east of South Australia 14 June 1876 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Iron Barque |
| Tonnage | 1056 tons(Net) |
| Length | 215.5 ft (65.7 m) |
| Beam | 33.78 ft (10.30 m) |
| Draft | 6.4 m (21 ft) |
| Depth | 220.99 ft (67.36 m) |
| Sail plan | 3 masts |
| Crew | 28 |
The Geltwood Shipwreck
The Geltwood was built in England and launched in January 1876. Its first big journey began on March 23, 1876. The ship was sailing from Liverpool in the United Kingdom all the way to Melbourne, Australia.
On June 14, 1876, the Geltwood was caught in a fierce storm. It was very close to the end of its long voyage. The ship struck a reef about 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) from the shore. This spot was near Lake Bonney and about 16 kilometers (10 miles) south-east of Southend in South Australia. The ship quickly capsized and broke apart. Tragically, none of the 31 people on board, including passengers and crew, survived the wreck.
Discovering the Wreck
It took a long time for news of the Geltwood's fate to reach authorities. For more than two weeks, no one knew what had happened to the ship. During this time, parts of the ship and items from it began to wash ashore. Some local people found these items. It was important for these findings to be reported to the police right away. This helps officials understand what happened and recover what they can.
Remembering the Geltwood
Today, you can see parts of the Geltwood in different places. These relics help us remember the ship and the people who were lost at sea.
Anchors and Memorials
One of the large anchors from the Geltwood can be seen in Southend. It is located at a lookout point on Cape Buffon drive. This anchor serves as a special memorial. It honors all those who have died at sea, including local fishermen.
Another anchor from the Geltwood is on display at the Millicent Living History Museum. This museum also has other items and memories related to the ship. You can also find some Geltwood artifacts at the museum in Beachport. These displays help tell the story of the Geltwood and its final journey.
See also
- List of shipwrecks of Australia
