SS Cormorant

REFERENCE

Reference numberCLPC-P1587

DETAILS

TitleSS CormorantDescriptionThe S.S. Cormorant was built in 1900 in Scotland by Fleming and Ferguson Paisley. It was 100'x21'x9' in size weighed 162 tons and had an official Registration Number of 94184 - When the S.S. Cormorant first arrived from Scotland in December 1901 it was used for finding fishing areas off Cape Moreton. Later on it was to become a general work boat and stand-by Pilot Boat which operated from Bulwer Island. Because of the S.S. Cormorants shallow draught and want of speed in heavy weather and lack of accommodation made it unsuitable for relief as a Pilot Boat. While on a voyage to Dunwich fully loaded with chaff and hay and other general cargo the S.S. Cormorant was involved in a collision with another vessel the Young Mat at Railway Wharf Pinkenba which resulted in the sinking of the Young Mat on 4 July 1907. In 1908 the S.S. Cormorant was sent to Maryborough to replace the S.S. Seagull but the S.S. Albatross was used as its replacement instead. It remained in service until 1927 when John Oxley decommissioned it. The S.S. Cormorant was then recommissioned temporarily as a Survey Vessel for the Harbours and Rivers Department and worked in the Hinchinbrook Channel from Helate Point to Lucinda Point in 1928. Mr D Fison was the Commander at the time and after the completion of the project was then decommissioned again but still held in reserve. In 1930 the S.S. Cormorant was sold and converted to a hulk in 1932. It was sometime in 1958 the S.S. Cormorant was purchased by South Point Units owner Mr George Sharpe who was fighting a continued problem of land erosion on the Bongaree foreshore. Mr Sharpe bought timber when the wharfs were demolished in the Brisbane River and used it to construct a timber groin for which Council agreed to. After 3 years of continually fighting the erosion problem, the final blow came when the foreshore was battered by the sea and eventually scattered the timber groin up and down Pumicestone Passage. Mr Sharpe who was frustrated with the lack of support to protect his land bought the hulk S.S. Cormorant and had it towed across Moreton Bay by two trawlers to its new resting place. Because the winch was not strong enough to pull it up the beach to the tree line the S.S. Cormorant stayed where it was beached. The decaying hull was finally removed on 31 October 1990 after many accidents with children climbing on it.PhotographerPowell, RonaldCollectorPowell, RonaldRecord typePhotographFormat typePhysicalOriginal format colourColour

GEOTAG

Geo coords^[1]Geo address27, South Esplanade, Bongaree, 4507, Australia Last edited by: Barbara Freeman

PART OF

CollectionCaboolture Library Photographic Collection

CONNECTIONS

PlaceBribie Island (Qld.)Bongaree (Qld.)PersonPowell, RonaldSubject (keywords)shipspilot boatshulkssurveyingshipwrecksbeachesbaysbeach

ACCESS

Access restrictionsPhysical copy restrictedRestrictions on useRestrictions varyCopyright appliesConditions of useYou may print, copy or download images for private research. This image may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes with acknowledgement. [e.g. Image courtesy of City of Moreton Bay, reference number CLPC-P0001] To obtain copies for commercial purposes or of a higher resolution, contact local.history@moretonbay.qld.gov.au. Charges apply

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SS Cormorant