SS Australasia facts for kids
The Australasia prior to her sinking
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United States |
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| Name | Australasia |
| Operator |
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| Port of registry |  United States |
| Builder | James Davidson |
| Yard number | 9 |
| Launched | September 17, 1884 |
| In service | 1884 |
| Out of service | October 18, 1896 |
| Identification | U.S. Registry #106302 |
| Fate | Burned to a total loss on Lake Michigan |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Bulk Freighter |
| Tonnage |
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| Length | 285 feet (87 m) |
| Beam | 39 feet (12 m) |
| Height | 21.2 feet (6.5 m) |
| Installed power | 2 × Scotch marine boilers |
| Propulsion | fore and aft compound engine |
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AUSTRALASIA (wooden bulk carrier) Shipwreck
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 Location in Wisconsin
Location in the United States
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| Location | Door County, Wisconsin |
| Nearest city | Sevastopol, Wisconsin |
| Built | 1884 in West Bay City, Michigan |
| Architect | James Davidson |
| Architectural style | Freighter |
| MPS | Great Lakes Shipwreck Sites of Wisconsin MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 13000466 |
| Added to NRHP | July 3, 2013 |
The Australasia was a large wooden ship that carried goods on the Great Lakes in North America. She was built in 1884 in the United States. On October 18, 1896, the Australasia was carrying coal when she caught fire. She sank in Lake Michigan near Sevastopol, Wisconsin, in Door County, Wisconsin. The remains of the Australasia were added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 3, 2013.
Contents
History of the Australasia
The Australasia was built in 1884 by Captain James Davidson. His shipyard was in West Bay City, Michigan. Captain Davidson also owned the Davidson Steamship Company, which operated the ship.
Building a Giant Wooden Ship
The Australasia was 285 feet (87 m) long. She was also 39 feet (12 m) wide and 21.2 feet (6.5 m) deep in her cargo area. When she was launched on September 17, 1884, she was the biggest wooden ship in the world. Because she was so huge, she needed extra strength. Builders added iron cross braces, an iron keelson (a strong beam along the bottom), iron plates, and iron arches. These parts helped make her very strong.
The ship had a special engine called a "fore and aft compound engine." Two coal-burning Scotch marine boilers powered this engine. The Australasia could carry a lot of weight. Her total weight was 1829.32 tons, and her cargo capacity was 1539.20 tons.
What the Australasia Carried
The Australasia carried many different types of bulk cargo. This included things like iron ore, coal, grain, and sometimes salt. She was very good at moving these goods. This helped her owners earn a lot of money. At that time, many smaller wooden ships were being replaced by bigger, stronger ships made of iron or steel. Like other ships owned by Captain Davidson, the Australasia often towed a wooden schooner barge behind her.
The Australasia's Last Trip
On October 17, 1896, the Australasia was sailing from a port on Lake Erie. She was headed to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, carrying 2,200 tons of soft coal.
Fire on Board
Around 6:00 p.m., near Baileys Harbor, the crew found a fire. It was burning under the "texas" (a part of the main deck). They tried to put out the fire, but they couldn't. The crew had to leave the ship before it reached Jacksonport, Wisconsin.
Rescue Attempt and Sinking
At 10:30 p.m., the tugboat John Leathem found the burning Australasia. The Leathem started to tow the burning ship towards shore. But the rope connecting them, called a hawser, kept burning through.
By 9:00 a.m. on October 18, 1896, the Leathems crew gave up trying to save the ship. Instead, they pulled the Australasia onto the beach. This was in 15 feet (4.6 m) of water south of Cave Point. To stop the fire from spreading, they decided to sink her on purpose. The Leathem rammed a hole in the Australasias side. The ship continued to burn until the night of October 18, 1896.
The Australasia Today
The Australasia was completely destroyed by the fire. Much of her coal cargo and some machinery were saved. However, her wooden hull was too damaged to fix. It was left behind.
The Wreck Site
Today, the lower part of her hull is mostly buried in sand. It lies in 15 to 20 feet of water off Whitefish Dunes State Park. Because most of the hull is still covered by sand, new parts might be uncovered in the future. This could help us learn more about how she was built.
You won't see any coal from her cargo at the wreck site. But you can find traces of coal on a nearby beach. Not many divers visit the Australasia's wreck. This means the site has not been disturbed much and is well-preserved.
Nearby Shipwrecks
Close to the Australasia wreck, you can find other shipwrecks. These include:
- The steel ship Lakeland
- The large wooden ship Frank O'Connor
- The wooden steamer Louisiana, which sank during the Great Lakes Storm of 1913
- The schooner Christina Nilsson
- The steamboat Joys
