cape leeuwin shipwrecks cape leeuwin shipwrecks

He dived on the wreck to recover the lead that was being carried by the ship. The officers and crew, numbering over 400, were escorted to Boston. Location of the wreck The wreckage lies about 900 meters offshore, under six metres of water. By continuing to browse the site, closing this banner, scrolling this webpage, or clicking a link, you agree to these cookies. It is a popular place to go bushwalking and surfing. But this 350-mile long waterway is only two miles wide at. Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories. Whilst in harbour in the Leyte area the Leeuwin had perhaps her narrowest escape. Address: Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, Leeuwin Rd, Augusta WA 6290, Australia, Margaret River Map Timings: 09:00 am - 04:30 pm Details Phone: +61-897805911 Ticket Price: 8 AUD Time Required: 01:30 Hrs Tags: Light House, View Point, Family And Kids, Tower Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, Margaret River Contribute/Review Ask a Question MA A plane actually passed low over the ship and crashed into motor torpedo boats nearby, causing great damage. Unfortunately, this unconventional design made the ship difficult to control in choppy waters. King John II of Portugal later renamed it Cabo da Boa Esperana, Cape of Good Hope. Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse is situated at the most south westerly tip of Australia, where the Indian and Southern Oceans meet off the coast of the Margaret River region. As a dive site, it is only accessible by boat, with Gansbaai Harbour being the preferred departure point. Combined with the forces of countless "nor'easters" and its precarious location, the Cape has been the site of more than 3,000 shipwrecks in 300 years of recorded history. The Leeuwin Current rarely flows around the eastern side of Rottnest, but it frequently bathes the western and southwestern sides, influencing the flora and fauna there. After sailing in later military campaigns, an intense storm drove the Somerset onto the shallow Peaked Hill Bars on November 2, 1778. The ancient ship lay undisturbed for over 2,400 years in the Black Sea. The wreck has gradually been transformed into a colourful manmade reef, populated by a wide variety of sea life including squid, shysharks and cuttlefish. It has extensive heath vegetation and thick scrub which supports a very high number of plant species and also bird species that utilise this habitat. cape leeuwin lighthouse as seen from the air, australia - cape leeuwin stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images. This area off North Carolina's coast is where the war came home to the continental United States. on the high seas. In 1891, four years before the Long Point Lighthouse Keeper, Thomas Lowe advocates for another lighthouse station on Woods End, Whittaker is imaged again alongside the wharf. cape leeuwin shipwrecks Call us today! Heritage Council Places Database Cape Leeuwin Waterwheel The following is an extract from the Heritage Council of WA's Assessment Documentation for the place:The water wheel sits just above the high tide line in a small cove approximately one kilometre to the north of the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse Quarters. Shipwrecks represent the ultimate failure; the flipside of the discovery and romance that we associate with. IDCJDW6021.202302 Prepared at 08:20 UTC on Tuesday 28 February 2023. One member of the crew describes how two of his shipmates. More Alchetron Topics References The trail is 123km long and features 4 low key campgrounds as well as a number of other "Off track" accommodation options. Within five years, on December 9, 1876, Whittaker coal laden, for Boston, struck and became a total loss. Steadying myself I look out to sea and try to superimpose a mental image of the Leeuwin rounding the cape. The wreck has been gradually sinking into the ocean since 1994; but the crane and a rusted portion of the ship still loom above the rocky coastline. The others: Cape Horn in Chile and the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa both bookend the South American and African continents respectively. The old lighthouse, still in use, is open daily for tours. 1921 tanker sunk by U-701 on June 28, 1942. ex-USS Cythera sunk by U-402 on May 2, 1942. lighthousesCape Leeuwin Lighthouse Primary Student Pack, Years 5-6 Out of the classroom and into the wild with stories of settlers, shipwrecks, whaling and wood, along one of the most dangerous stretches of coastline in the Southern Hemisphere. They had been rounded up and bundled aboard the ship at the Portuguese outpost in East Africa (now Ilha de Mozambique). A handful of survivors managed to make their way to the shore, where they sought shelter in a nearby cave, living off whatever supplies happened to wash up on the beach. If you have a question related to this event, or would like to make a booking, please get in touch with the organisers directly via the contact details in the right-hand sidebar. Cape Paterson LEEUWIN: Ships Graveyard, Outside Port Phillip Heads Area, Bass Strait . Date of wreck 1994 Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin When the Leeuwin Current is flowing Shortly afterwards, to their surprise the circling aircraft dived and strafed them. Spaces that somehow manage to simultaneously separate and join. 1919 freighter sunk by U-158 on March 11, 1942. Cape Leeuwin is the most south western point of Australia and is named after the vessel upon which the Dutch first sighted the cape in 1622. The destroyer manoeuvred alongside and her Captain inquired the Leeuwins destination. (1970), which was actually set in Ireland. 1906 freighter sunk by U-160 on March 27, 1942. So the ocean takes and gives back and takes again. Eleven 18-pound and five 9-pound cannon and powder were entrusted to Colonel Paul Revere to be used in fortifying Castle Island in Boston Harbor. Interesting fact The nearby town of Waenhuiskrans was renamed Arniston in honour of those lost in the shipwreck. Contact Komwatch for more information. The wreck was found by Tom Snider in 1957 at 3425.33S 11508.24E. Of course, not all of the ships featured here belonged to intrepid explorers; some offer a glimpse into the evils of the slave trade, while others were merely humble tankers and transport ships. The National Park Service preserves some of the large timbers from the wreck. 1921 oil tanker sunk by U-124 on March 18, 1942. Thank you, Angeline, We recommend you contact local museums to see if you can find out more information about your ancestry. Date of wreck 1946 1948 On being informed, he voiced his own opinion of the idea, but our Skipper-Captain Buxton, said those were his orders, so the American vessel turned about and acted as escort. The wreck was found by Tom Snider [13] in 1957 at 3425.33S 11508.24E. The Cape Leeuwin lighthouse is on the most south westerly point of Australia. (Image credit: David Parker/Alamy) By Nick Dall 14th January 2020. The 697-foot Andrea Doria was a superstar ship of the 1950s. She is a Type 23 Frigate based in Plymouth, England. A team of U.S. and Albanian archeologists uncovered the wreck of a Roman cargo ship in August 2011 dating all the way . Cape Leeuwin /luwn/ is the most south-westerly mainland point of the Australian continent, in the state of Western Australia. A few small islands and rocks, the St Alouarn Islands, extend further to the south. of the southwest corner of Western Australia by ships such as the Leeuwin as well as contributing to the numerous shipwrecks from this era along the coastline. Whilst in harbour in the Leyte area the Leeuwinhad perhaps her narrowest escape. Captain Robert Salmond gave the order to evacuate, but instructed his men to hold fast so that the women and children could board the lifeboats first. Converted 1927 French fishing trawler sunk in a colllision with USS Semmes on May 6, 1942. Surprised nothing was said of the 9 horses, that were pushed off the Birkenhead, so they could swim ashore. U.S. Navy Tug Keshena sunk by a mine on July 19, 1942. Shipwrecks. The crew and cargo were rescued and the ship towed back to Simons Town for repairs, but attempts to restore her to working condition proved ineffective, and she was eventually scuttled. The ship was named for the slaving port on the coast of West Africa that it planned to operate out of, the "Kingdom of Whydah" (known today as Ouidah). The Union's first Civil War ironclad lost in a gale on December 31, 1862. They attached a rope to the crane and leaped from a 30-foot platform, swinging under the crane and launching themselves into the turquoise blue waters. The nearest settlement, north of the cape, is Augusta. The rich maritime heritage of coastal North Carolina runs deep with a vast array of shipwrecks. A shore base and a ship of the Royal Australian Navy have been named HMASLeeuwin after the cape. Where Cape Point Nature Reserve An underwater excavation in 1982 recovered a number of artefacts, which are on display at the Bredasdorp Shipwreck Museum. 22.8 C. German U-Boats U- 85 German U-boat sunk by USS Roper on April 14, 1942. 2021 Margaret River Region ABN: 62 934 317 700, Saturday, 4th March 2023 - 3:00pm to 9:00pm, Edge of the World: The Great Cape Leeuwin, A community day to commemorate the 400-year anniversary. Merchant Marine in World War II. Portuguese explorer Bartholomeu Dias named it Cabo das Tormentas, the Cape of Storms, having experienced its ferocity first-hand. During a 1945 voyage to South America and back, the ship was almost destroyed several times, even catching fire at one point. Continuing on, only 4 kms of rain-lashed bitumen separates me from the Leeuwin lighthouse that stands sentinel at the tip of the cape. Click on the links below and learn more about each ship. A farmers son discovered them a few days later, and they were able to make their way back to Cape Town. It was one of the deadliest shipwrecks in South Africa's maritime history, with just 193 out of 643 people surviving. The top portion of the Antipolis was scuttled, but the remains are still visible above the surface. Land Management Series Map Sheet 1929-3 Leeuwin Edition 11:50000. Download a free curriculum guide, World War I: Discovering and Exploring the Great War off the North Carolina Coast for students in grades 6-12. John in Dublin. Location of the wreck Around 100 metres from the shore at Clifton, in a particularly turbulent spot that divers compared to swimming in a washing machine. 392) at a cost of 240 000 for G. Thompson & Co. Ltd's Aberdeen White Star Line. Below are some of the various shipwrecks NOAA and its partners have surveyed. The story Seventeen years after Bartolomeu Dias became the first European explorer to round the Cape, fleet commander Lopo Soares de Albergaria became the first to lose a ship in the Cape. 1 Leeuwin Road 10km South of Augusta, 52km South of Margaret River on Leeuwin Road, Augusta, Western Australia 6290 Australia +61 404 618 452 Website Menu Closed now : See all hours See all (17) 71 RATINGS Food Service Value Details PRICE RANGE $7 - $14 CUISINES Cafe, Contemporary, Australian Special Diets Vegetarian Friendly, Gluten Free Options A Japanese tugboat named the. Flinders was aware that the area had been known to the Dutch as "Leeuwin's Land". By the time the Somerset had wrecked, Cape Codders had suffered greatly from the British blockade during the American Revolution. Visit our World War I webpage to learn the history, discover the shipwrecks, and visit often as new data and images are added. Lightship sunk by U-140 on August 6, 1918, during World War I. The remains of the ship were uncovered by a storm in 2008. The Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association honours the traditional owners of this land, the Wadandi (Saltwater) people, and their elders past, present and emerging. more sailors in this way; assuming each horse only swam once to the shore. To speak to a park ranger, call 508-255-3421 for visitor information. Survivors later testified that they had never seen embarkations let alone evacuations carried out with such composure. Luckily for Soares, he was not aboard the particular ship that sank, but it was one of 13 under his command, and one of two that he sent ahead to scout as his fleet sailed past Cape St Blaize on a return voyage from India. Since 1778, the Somersets remains have only surfaced twice: once in the winter of 1885-86, and again in 1973. U.S. Navy Yard Patrol boat ex-USS YP-389 sunk by U-701 on June 19, 1942. Decked out in luxurious furnishings and sporting an unprecedented three outdoor swimming pools (one for each passenger class), it was a premier luxury liner of its day. Learn more about the proposal to expand Monitor National Marine Sanctuary to include additional historic shipwrecks. Matthew Flinders named Cape Leeuwin after the first known ship to have visited the area is the Leeuwin ("Lioness"), a Dutch vessel that charted some of the nearby coastline in 1622. On the night of 30 May 1815. was on its way home from Ceylon (in Sri Lanka), when it was caught in a violent storm off the Southern Cape coast. Just a few minutes away from the Twelve Apostles is Loch Ard Gorge, which was the site of a shipwreck that only had two survivors. With the growing conflict, the federal government concerned itself with defending its coastlines. The Somerset is also protected under international law, and is the sovereign property of the United Kingdom. She was a powerful third-rate line of battle British warship that helped shape the course of American history. Another is in the use of the phrases Cape to Cape or the Capes in tourist promotional materials. He dived on the wreck to recover the lead that was being carried by the ship. The story One of many ships churned out by the American industrial powerhouse during World War II; the SS Thomas T Tucker was on her maiden voyage, and bound for North Africa, when she met with mishap off the Olifantsbos coast. Shipwrecks represent the ultimate failure; the flipside of the discovery and romance that we associate with adventure on the high seas. This sizeable steamship was built to ferry cargo across the ocean, yet its structure was ill-suited to its purpose. Commercial fishing and whaling were virtually shut down. Home; Carpet Cleaning; Upholstery Cleaning; Commercial & Residential Janitorial; This complex naval battlefield stretched from New England into the Gulf of Mexico, but the area off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, emerged as a strategic hotspot for this activity and the resulting concentration of shipwrecks is unparalleled in the nation. The dry summers, coupled with strong winds, creates an environment where there is always a high risk of bush fires. Rudyard Kipling paid tribute to the bravery of the. If you want to dive a little deeper, click here to read the full document, The Enemy in Home WatersHow World War I Came Home to North Carolina. The first says, Cape Cod Oil Works opposite Provincetown Mass. To feel the ancient Gneiss bedrock underfoot as you lean into the untamed westerly breeze. Ironically, she has spent most of her career fighting alongside the U.S. Navy in the Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf. Flinders was aware that the area had been known to the Dutch as "Leeuwin's Land". JMC610a Clan Stuart:Iziko Museums of South Africa. They attached a rope to the crane and leaped from a 30-foot platform, swinging under the crane and launching themselves into the turquoise blue waters. For more information, contact the TMNP Marine Unit (021 783 0234). It was seen from the masthead at five; and the highest part, the same which had been set in the evening, bore N. 12 W. This is the largest of the before-mentioned Isles of St Alouarn; but at half past seven we saw hills extending from behind, and, to all appearance, joining it to the mainland. The Johanna was lost near the Cape east coast at around 4 o'clock in the morning on 8 June 1682. The countless captains who saw their ships sink beneath the waves probably would have sided with Dias on that one, but the willingness of men like them to brave the storms made it possible for the good hope of King John II to flourish, and grow into the reality we now witness. Value: Unknown. It is named after French explorer Jacques Flix Emmanuel Hamelin, who sailed through the area in about 1801. The HMS Birkenhead was sailing to Algoa Bay in 1852 with hundreds of civilians and British troops on board when it was wrecked after striking a submerged rock. Im an aspiring MBA student working hard to The Whydah was commissioned in 1715 in London as a slave cargo ship for the Triangular Trade. Cape Leeuwin is often grouped with the next headland north, Cape Naturaliste, to identify the geography and ecology of the region. An underwater excavation in 1982 recovered a number of artefacts, which are on display at the Bredasdorp Shipwreck Museum. The people aboard were able to get ashore safely, and the ship was repaired. Little is know about the shipwreck, other than it being the earliest recorded maritime disaster in the Cape. Survivors All members of the crew survived. The wreck was discovered by divers in the 1980s, though it was at first mistaken for a Dutch merchant ship. The four-masted schooner was built in the United States in the early 20th century, converted into a floating coal hulk during World War II, and a coal transport thereafter. The climate of Cape Leeuwin is warm-summer Mediterranean (Csb in the Kppen climate classification), with an average annual rainfall of around 954 millimetres (37.6in). Tom saved Eva from drowning and was hailed as a hero by the locals. First option, the Straights of Magellan on the southern tip of South America, separating the island of Tierra del Fuego from the mainland. One of Western Australia's most loved and scenic holiday spots . - See 1,638 traveler reviews, 1,415 candid photos, and great deals for Augusta, Australia, at Tripadvisor. In the years that followed, the Long Point community reached its peak with 200 people, a post office, a general store, bakery salt works, six windmills, and a wharf.The Long Point population plummeted in the 1850s as cheaper salt deposits were located in Syracuse, New York, and the fish stocks diminished. Flinders landed in the bay to the east of Cape Leeuwin, todays Flinders Bay. Explore more of the Cape with the help of ourweekly newsletter. 1900 oil tanker lost on December 1, 1927, during a heavy gale and used for target practice in 1929 by U.S. Army. When the Nieuw Haarlem wrecked in 1647, it catalysed the creation of Cape Town . Commissioned in 1943 she served in New Guinea and the Philippines. She embarked on 27 February 1682 and was the first of her kind to shipwreck on the South African coast. His name was Jose Martinho De Freitas. North Carolina's waters have entombed thousands of vessels and countless mariners who lost a desperate struggle against the forces of war, piracy and nature. Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse: Striking scenery with stories of keeper's lives and shipwrecks - See 1,631 traveller reviews, 1,415 candid photos, and great deals for Augusta, Australia, at Tripadvisor. It is believed to have occurred somewhere between Mossel Bay and Dana Bay, as shown on this map provided by VisitMosselBay.co.za. With no significant land mass separating the great capes from Antarctica, the unabated wind and swell beneath represent an inhospitable wilderness that is both terrifying and captivating in equal measures. In late December 1876, Jonathan Cook bought the wrecked Whittaker and got the brig off. The owners figured they could save some money by building a vessel that had the majority of its hull hidden below the waterline (ships passing through the Suez Canal were taxed according to the breadth of their beam). UNLESS SOMETHING UNFORESEEN HAPPENS it would appear that the grand old ship SS Cape Leeuwin has completed her last itinerary for this Service. According to the official account of the ship's captain, George Ourry, only 21 men were lost during the wreck. The wreckage lies about 900 meters offshore, under six metres of water. Luckily for Soares, he was not aboard the particular ship that sank, but it was one of 13 under his command, and one of two that he sent ahead to scout as his fleet sailed past Cape St Blaize on a return voyage from India. I am sure it performed on the day. Visit website. In fact, Whittakers wrecking was so memorable that Lowe used maritime casualty as evidence when advocating for a new lighthouse station on Woods End to the United States Lighthouse Establishment. Date of wreck 1977 While hugging the coastline in an attempt to avoid German U-boats, the ship was caught in heavy fog, and ended up running aground at Olifantsbos Point after the captain mistakenly assumed they were nearing Robben Island. Did the great unknown land in front of them inspire a similar blend of fear, awe and respect that rises up within me as I gaze across the turbulent seascape stretched towards the horizon. It was built in 1903 using limestone carted by bullock wagon from a quarry about 1.5km away. Important note This wreck is located in Cape Point Nature Reserve, which is currently closed due to Covid-19. Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse On the most Southern Westerly tip of Australia, where the Indian and Southern Oceans meet, stands Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse as a solitary sentinel. 6. It left England in 1716 on its maiden voyage, landing at port to collect nearly 500 human slaves and other supplies. To honor the anniversary and the men who fought and died during World War I off our shore, Monitor National Marine Sanctuary actively conducts research on World War I and the ships that sank off our coast. Survivors All members of the crew survived. Interesting fact We take for granted that women and children first has always been the case during evacuations, but the sinking of the Birkenhead is actually the earliest recorded instance of that protocol. The lonely form of Cape Cod stretches its fist-clenched forearm 25 miles into the ocean. Twenty two ships were wrecked around Cape Leeuwin before the lighthouse was officially opened in 1896 and only one shipwreck has occurred since. The lighthouse is located on Cape Leeuwin Road in Augusta. It was seen from the masthead at five; and the highest part, the same which had been set in the evening, bore N. 12 W. This is the largest of the before-mentioned Isles of St Alouarn; but at half past seven we saw hills extending from behind, and, to all appearance, joining it to the mainland. Unfortunately it wasnt Cape Point, it was Devils Peak. Captain George Simpson gave the order to make for shore, incorrectly assuming that they were just off Table Bay, when in fact they had not yet passed Cape Agulhas. The bay just east of Cape Leeuwin is Flinders Bay, named after Matthew Flinders, the circumnavigating explorer of the early 19th century. Contents Copyright 2023. The owners figured they could save some money by building a vessel that had the majority of its hull hidden below the waterline (ships passing through the Suez Canal were taxed according to the breadth of their beam). ran aground on the rocks at Duiker Point. You should read the important information in these notes.. Other formats In this case, a Russian boat named the, was not up to the job. Another is in the use of the phrases Cape to Cape or the Capes in tourist promotional materials. The story The BOS 400 was a French Lay Barge, and the biggest floating crane in South Africa at the time of its wreck. In 1818, John Atwood built the first house on Long Point, and others soon followed, finding the place perfect for hauling their catches of bass, shad, and mackerel. All hands perishing!" Our team of local experts are here to help plan and book your stay in the Margaret River Region. June 2018 marked the start of the 100th anniversary of World War I off the North Carolina coast. How can I find out where in Portugal he came from? German U-boat sunk by Lt. Kane, U.S. Army Bomb. Location of the wreck About 100 metres off the shoreline at Mackerel Beach, where it was grounded after being refused entry to the dry dock at Simons Town. In a nod to this significant maritime discovery, the English navigator Matthew Flinders formally named the cape Leeuwin in 1801. A few days previously I had inspected the emergency lifeboat radio and noted it was one of the best I had come across. A farmers son discovered them a few days later, and they were able to make their way back to Cape Town. By. 1918 freighter sunk by U-124 on March 18, 1942. For further information, please visit mrbta.com. It was totally manually operated until 1982 by a clockwork mechanism and kero burner, one of the last in the world. Unfortunately it wasnt Cape Point, it was Devils Peak. With the five top shipwrecks visible from the shore, you can sink your toes in the sand and still see living history right in front of you. This makes them the earliest known European settlers in South Africa, predating Jan van Riebeeck by about 100 years. These recordings can be accessed through Apple iTunes or for Android users, Stitcher. One member of the crew describes how two of his shipmates rescued him from being swept overboard during a violent storm. Even if the passengers and crew of these early ships couldn't be saved, the cargo often was. The only part of the wreck that is visible above the surface is the engine block; the rest lies submerged beneath about eight metres of water. Floaters were what locals called the homes people from Long Point shipped across the harbor on scows and fit into town. Guided tours are conducted daily at the Lighthouse. There are viewing platforms spaced out along boardwalks where it is possible to see dolphins, sea lions, and whales. Location of the wreck The rocks where the ship met its end can be seen from the Danger Point lighthouse at Gansbaai (the lighthouse itself was built 43 years after the wreck, and has a plaque commemorating the vessel). This supposed isle is, therefore, what I denominate "Cape Leeuwin", as being the south-western and most projecting part of Leeuwin's Land.[3]. Tyler Dukes. History has also been made with a once in a century renovation of Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse. What you are about to read is by no means the complete story of HMAS Cape Leeuwin, but the following account of a few incidents which are quite authentic has been compiled from Smoko recollections heard from members of her crew from time to time. U- 701 [1], In Australia, the cape is considered where the Indian Ocean meets the Southern Ocean, but most other nations and bodies consider that the Southern Ocean exists only south of 60S. , with 100 wounded soldiers, some wealthy passengers and their families aboard, struck a reef. Planwhen to visit. had the arduous task of hauling the two tankers all way from Greece, and the misfortune of running into a strong northwesterly gale as it approached Robben Island. The ship ran aground with such force that it skidded a few meters up the beach. Towns along the route provided militia to escort and support the prisoners. While hugging the coastline in an attempt to avoid German U-boats, the ship was caught in heavy fog, and ended up running aground at Olifantsbos Point after the captain mistakenly assumed they were nearing Robben Island. The ship was a steel framed construction and wooden planked. All rights reserved. Built by timber tycoon Maurice Coleman Davies and John Wishart, with a clockwork apparatus and a kerosene lantern designed by Chance Brothers, the 39m tall light operated in original condition until 1982, when it was converted to hydraulics and electricity. Well, at least the crew didnt have to swim to shore. Three shipwrecks have emerged on Hatteras Island beaches, something that is rare on the Outer Banks, locals say. Location of the wreck Oudekraal, near the Twelve Apostles Hotel. The officers and crew, numbering over 400, were escorted to Boston. The tow-rope snapped during a storm off the Cape Peninsula, and the BOS 400 ran aground on the rocks at Duiker Point. was tasked with transporting troops and supplies to assist in the Allied war effort. was scuttled, but the remains are still visible above the surface. Life on the Line Podcasts My son was a Naval Cadet and I have always been fascinated by the challenges that sailors faced, over several centuries, against the raging storms around the Cape. 1921 tanker sunk by U-66 on January 18, 1942. The story The four-masted schooner was built in the United States in the early 20th century, converted into a floating coal hulk during World War II, and a coal transport thereafter. Where Camps Bay Other European vessels passed by for the next two centuries, including the Dutch 't Gulden Zeepaert, commanded by Franois Thijssen, in 1627 and the French Gros Venture, under Louis Aleno de St Aloarn, in 1772. [3], Cape Leeuwin is considered one of the three "great capes" of the world.[4]. For this purpose, he revitalized the wharf built initially by John Atwood in the early 19th century. After some delay a party proceeded ashore and the job of restoring the light began. Approx. Entry to Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park is free. 1917 freighter owned by Nicaragua and sunk by U-576 on July 15, 1942. 1910 tanker sunk by U-140 on August 6, 1918. The story The ship an East Indiaman built in 1794 had made eight uneventful voyages from England to the Far East, but the ninth voyage was to be its last. Whilst Cape Leeuwin is not the most southerly point of the Australasian continent, its exposure to the abundant swell of both the Indian and Southern Oceans is unparalleled. Well, at least the crew didnt have to swim to shore. This website and third-party tools use cookies for functional, analytical, and advertising purposes. . The old lighthouse, still in use, is open daily for tours. Ten years later, Matthew Flinders began his survey of the South coast of New Holland from Cape Leeuwin in 1801 when he named it. On my way I pass a mass of gnarled melaleuca scrub at the side of the road, forced over at a 45-degree angle it appears to turn its back on the ocean by the ever-present might of the wind. [3], The St Alouarn Islands is a group of islands off the tip of Cape Leeuwin. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. 1905 freighter sunk by U-123 on January 19, 1942. Interesting fact The Soares was the first of many Portuguese ships lost in the Cape over the course of the next 150 years.