Gudrun, 1901

History

The three-masted, 966-tonne, sailing barque, Gudrun, was built in 1880 by Charland of Quebec, Canada and was later sold to Mathias Hansen of Xiansand in Norway.

On 4 October 1901, under the command of Captain T. Griff, Gudrun left Bunbury, Western Australia with a cargo of approximately 3,000 tonnes of Jarrah timber, bound for Falmouth, United Kingdom. When the vessel was about 100 miles out to sea, it was discovered to be leaking.

An investigation was made on board, and it was discovered that an inch and a half auger-hole had been bored through the bottom by Azel Rawd, the ship’s 22-year-old carpenter. The hole was soon plugged, but the Captain decided to put head towards Fremantle, in order to have the offender punished.

Azel Rawd was charged in the Fremantle Police Court on August 15. The magistrate doubted whether he had any jurisdiction as the offence had been committed in a foreign vessel on the high seas. However, he believed that he had the right to remand the accused for eight days.

Eleven days later, although the hole was repaired, Captain Griff arrived at Carnarvon in an open boat on October 26, reporting that on account of strong winds he was unable to reach Fremantle, so he was forced into Shark Bay, where he beached Gudrun on the flats off Cape Perron.

Shipwreck

The police cutter Jessie was sent to give aid. Gudrun was refloated on 13 November 1901. Although Gudrun was afloat it was still bumping on the bottom at low tide and in a bad condition. Gale force winds swept through Shark Bay on 14 November and smashed the vessel’s rudder. Attempts to refloat Gudrun were abandoned on 20 December 1901.

WA Museum expeditions

July 1992 inspection to review site stability and management considerations.

Protection

Gudrun, being over 75 years old, is automatically protected under the Commonwealth Underwater Cultural Heritage Act 2018.