Pt Walter Stone Barge
– Wrecked in storm 1882
At present this is the oldest wreck yet discovered in the Swan River.
A flat belonging to Mr. A. Dearden, engaged in boating stone, has sank opposite Point Resolution in about thirty feet of water, in consequence of the boisterous weather. The flat was heavily laden, and was being towed by the steamer Advance. (The Daily News, 25 August 1882).
- Construction
- Timber
- Size
- 22m long
- Owner
- Mr. A Dearden
- Location
- The site is located approximately 500m north-east from the Point Walter Reserve boat ramp
- Underwater
- 14m depth
Gallery
History
Mr Dearden, held contracts over many years for supplying stone to government, to be used in building construction and roadbuilding activities. For example, in 1882 at the time of Dearden’s wreck, a Mr A. (Alfred) Dearden was contracted by the Public Works Department to supply “850 cubic yards of limestone (cap lime) for roadbuilding purposes, at Perth Railway Station, at 7d. 3s. per yard” (Inquirer and Commercial News, 22/3/1882 p.3).
The Fremantle riverbank quarries operated from at least 1852 until the 1960s. From 1897, limestone quarried from Rocky Bay was used to construct the massive North and South Moles forming the entrance to Fremantle Inner Harbour. Extensive stone quarrying of Rocky Bay for over 100 years changed the Swan River landscape, resulting in the removal of six of the seven hills originally lining the riverbank, and severely impacting the seventh hill, leaving a terraced limestone cliff in their place (Cooper 2012)
