Port Adelaide "Admella" memorial

Memorial to commemorate the loss of SS Admella, created by Karen Genoff, originally unveiled 1992 in St Vincent St East, relocated to Timpson Street 2009. The ship’s wheel and compass pieces represent the lost ship, the coordinates & rocks indicate the wreck site. [Photo from State Library of SA: B 12398 (c1858) (photograph of painting)]

 

The Admella launched 17 Sep 1857 on the River Clyde, Scotland, arrived Port Adelaide Jan 1858 to trade between Adelaide and Melbourne. Loaded with copper and carrying over 100 passengers, she sailed from Port Adelaide 4 Aug 1859 and was wrecked on a reef near Carpenter Rocks 6 Aug 1859. Two sailors managed to get ashore, walk 25 km to Cape Northumberland lighthouse and raise the alarm. The nearest telegraph was at Mount Gambier. Stormy seas prevented rescue for several days. Business in the city halted as people waited for news. The “Corio” was sent from Port Adelaide, a lifeboat from Portland, Victoria, and the Admella’s lifeboat was found ashore, repaired & also used but it was 6 days before the weather eased to rescue the 22 survivors. The wreck and contents were sold by auction the following month. A relief fund was set up to assist, firstly, the rescuers, and secondly, the widows & orphans of those drowned.

 

“The Admella, a steamer built on the Clyde for the Adelaide and Melbourne trade may be expected shortly. She left for this port on the 4th November, and is commanded by Captain McEwen (late of the White Swan), who has been chiefly instrumental in her construction for this trade.” [Adelaide Times 16 Jan 1858]

 

“The saloon . . . pannelling [sic] is of plate glass, on which are delineated oil paintings of scenes in Scotland and Melbourne Forty passengers may be accommodated in the saloon, and the steerage passenger-room is calculated for 120 passengers. . . the capacity of the coal bunkers is such that seven days' coals may be conveniently stowed in them. . . She has two life-boats.” [Adelaide Times 18 Mar 1858]

 

“The Pleasure Excursion by the Admella. Hundreds availed themselves of the opportunity presented by this vessel on Friday, of steaming along the coast to Aldinga Bay. A most agreeable excursion it was. The vessel returned in time for passengers to avail themselves of a conveyance to town by the last train, and all expressed themselves highly gratified with the trip, and the admirable arrangement which had been made by the agents of the vessel to secure the comfort and accommodation of all on board.” [Adelaide Times 3 Apr 1858]

 

“The screw steamer Admella. . . although built to carry a fair cargo, yet her entering and delivering lines are so fine as to ensure speed as well-as to present symmetrical proportions. Her hull, sitting gracefully on the water, is very long and low: and forward the bow is terminated by a skilfully carved female figure, crowned with a wreath of wheat, the ears of which form a tiara to represent the cereal productions of the colonies. . . .A library of modem literature, consisting of 100 volumes, is placed for the use of passengers. . . in compliment to the colonies the first syllables of Adelaide and Melbourne were chosen, but Admel not sounding to euphoniously as Admella, the latter name was bestowed on the vessel. Her dimensions are — 183 feet on keel, 193 feet over all; extreme breadth, 21 feet, by 14 feet depth of hold. The speed she attained on her first trial trip was 17 knots.” [Adelaide Observer 3 Apr 1858]

 

“The steamship Admella accomplished her last run to Melbourne in the short period of 42 hours. It is most remarkable that her last three trips should have occupied the same time.” [Advertiser 16 Jul 1858]

 

“We were erroneously informed that the Admella had ceased to make a practice of calling at Glenelg. The owners of the vessel state that Captain McEwan had particular reasons for not calling last trip, but that she will continue to do so hereafter, unless adverse circumstances intervene.” [Advertiser 23 Jul 1859]

 

“Arrived. . . Monday, August 1 — The steamer Admella, 478 tons, McEwen, master, from Melbourne, Warrnambool, and Portland.” [Register 1 Aug 1859]

 

“Cleared Out. Thursday. August 4 — The steamer Admella, 478 tons, H. McEwen, master, for Portland, Port Fairy, and Melbourne. Passengers.[named]. . . Cargo of the Admella, for Portland and Melbourne. . . flour. . . lead. . . eggs. . . copper. . . horses. . . vine cuttings.” [Register 5 Aug 1859]

 

“Three very fine draught entire horses, bred in the colony, and valued at £1,400, were on Thursday shipped on board the steamer Admella, for Melbourne, by Mr. James Magarey. By the same vessel Mr. Filgate's Barber, Mr. Fisher's Shamrock, and Jupiter also leave the colony.” [Register 5 Aug 1859]

 

“The utmost consternation and distress was occasioned in Adelaide on Monday afternoon by the arrival of telegrams from Mount Gambier announcing the total wreck of the steamer Admella and the apprehended loss of nearly all hands. Our first telegram stated that the keeper of the Lighthouse at Cape Northumberland had forwarded intelligence to Mount Gambier of the wreck. . . The information had been communicated by two of the crew of the Admella, who arrived at the Lighthouse at 7 o'clock on Monday morning, and reported that the wreck had taken place at 5 o'clock on the morning of Saturday, and that they feared they were the only survivors. Eleven persons, including the captain, were, however, according to their report, clinging to the wreck when they left it.” [Register 9 Aug 1859]

 

“Tuesday afternoon. . . This morning, the people on shore were most anxiously signalling the Admella, but no signals for some time were exchanged. At length they were responded to by some one on the wreck, who ascended the mast and exhibited a white flag. It therefore appears that there were some alive up to 10 o'clock.” [Advertiser 10 Aug 1859]

 

“telegram. . . We have found the Admella's lifeboat about four miles off. We have been ever since daylight dragging her off. It is fearful work — she is so heavy and the sand so deep. We have her now a short half mile from the shore, and we intend to launch her. She is not much injured, and we are now repairing her. It is doubtful whether we shall be able to make the attempt to-day, but at daylight to-morrow.” [Register 11 Aug 1859]

 

“the telegrams received shortly after 1 o’clock threw a great damp on the public mind, and created a feeling of greater discouragement than anything yet received. For the rest .of the day large numbers of .persons continued-to assemble about the Exchange up to this time (about half-past 4) when a brief telegram announced that all had been saved that could be saved ; that the messenger who brought up this intelligence had been knocked up, but that further particulars would be sent as soon as possible. Very little business has been thought of.” [Register 12 Aug 1859]

 

“Messrs. Green &, Wadham request us to state that in consequence of the melancholy circumstances attending the wreck of the Admella, their usual Monthly Sale by Auction of Landed Properties, as advertised to take place this day, will be postponed until Friday next.” [Register 12 Aug 1859]

 

“Glorious News! Twenty-Two Saved. . . Nineteen gone on to Portland in the Lady Bird. Three on shore. The nineteen were rescued by the lifeboat of the Ladybird, and the three by the Port lifeboat in charge of Germain [sic]. These were taken off the wreck at 8 o'clock this morning. Conveyances are being sent for those on shore. The majority must have perished but for the Portland lifeboat. The attempt by Germain with the Port boat was a splendid one. His boat was capsized in the surf on its return. . . News from Portland states that the Lady Bird is in sight there. Conveyances and everything in readiness. Sufferers all much exhausted.” [Register 15 Aug 1859]

 

“the Admella was stranded within thirty- five miles of the telegraph station at Mount Gambier; and, consequently, from Monday, when the first intelligence of the wreck reached town, to Saturday night, when the news of the rescue of the few survivors arrived, the streets were crowded with persons anxiously awaiting the frequent messages. . . from the comparative smallness of this community it becomes the literal fact that almost every inhabitant of the colony had an acquaintance — perhaps we may say a friend — on board the Admella, whose fate they were watching, in alternate hope and dread, throughout the whole of last week.” [Register 18 Aug 1859]

 

“a list of 103 persons, some of whose names are as yet unknown, of whom no less than seventy-nine went down in the ship, or perished from the privations to which they were subsequently exposed. Among the names unknown is that of one of the sailors who first escaped from the wreck, and gave the information which led to the efforts made to rescue those remaining on board.” [Register 20 Aug 1859]

 

“They discovered two horses, of Mr. Magarey's, and Mr. Filgate's, Barber, grazing on the coast, and Shamrock lying dead.” [Adelaide Observer 27 Aug 1859]

 

“Wreck and Cargo of the Admella. . . instructions from Captain McEwen, to sell by auction, at their Mart, on Monday, September 5, at 12 o'clock. . . The Hull of the Admella as it lies, said to be on a reef 25 miles N.W. of Cape Northumberland, with Machinery, Spars, Rigging, &c. . . 4,052 Ingots and 426 Cakes Copper stamped ‘Kapunda’, and 226 Cakes Copper marked with a red cross. . . 201 Pigs of Lead, where it may be at time of sale. . . All the remainder of the cargo not washed on shore up to the time of sale, excepting 23 Bales Wool marked J T B.” [Advertiser 27 Aug 1859 advert]

 

“Admella Shipwreck Reward and Relief Fund. . . this meeting deeply deplores the loss of those who have perished in the late shipwreck of the Admella, and sympathizes with their relative and friends. . . desires to express its admiration of the heroic exertions made by the Captains and Crews of the Ladybird, Corio, Ant, and the Lifeboats, and of those who co-operated from tho beach in attempting, at the risk of their lives, the rescue of the survivors. . . to collect Subscriptions throughout the colony to reward, in the first instance, the heroic men by whose exertions the 22 survivors were rescued ; and, secondly, to assist the widows and orphans and others who, by this severe calamity, are deprived of their natural means of support.” [Weekly Chronicle 27 Aug 1859 advert]

 

“The following particulars of Mails Lost in the Wreck of the Admella are published for general information. . . Auckland. . . Californis. . . Valparaiso. . . Sydney. . . Hobart Town. . . 18 Registered Letters. . . ” [Adelaide Observer 27 Aug 1859 advert]

 

“instructions from Capt. McEwan, to sell by auction, at the Mart, This Day (Monday), September 12, at 11 o'clock. The Lifeboat of the Admella, as she lies (said to be) on the Beach, about 25 miles N. W. of Cape Northumberland.” [Advertiser 12 Sep 1859 advert]

 

“report upon the circumstances connected with the loss of the iron screw-steamer Admella, and to investigate the cause or causes of such wreck. . . the Admella screw steamship left Port Adelaide on the 5th August, 1859, with about eighty passengers and twenty-seven in crew, during fine weather. . . she steered her usual course until 4.45 a.m. on the 6th August, when she struck on a reef of rocks 19 miles north-west of Cape Northumberland. . . out of 107 souls, only twenty-four survived; twenty-two were rescued by the daring gallantry of those who manned the Admella's lifeboat, the Portland Bay lifeboat, and the pilot-boat, and two seamen went on shore on the raft.” [Advertiser 17 Nov 1859]

 

“the loss of the Admella is to be attributed chiefly to the effects of a current, which appears to have been setting towards the coast, between Cape Willoughby and Northumberland, on the 5th and 6th August. . . Captain McEwan, lately commanding the Admella, and the whole of his officers and crew are most honourably exonerated from all blame; and that the conduct of the captain is worthy of our highest commendation, he having done all in his power to rescue his passengers and crew from their perilous position, sustain them in hope, and give them clothes, food, and consolation. In this work he was ably seconded by his officers, and such of the crew as survived.” [Register 17 Nov 1859]

 

“the conduct of Mr. Benjamin Germein, the head keeper of the MacDonnell Lighthouse, and his crew. These gallant men having procured a boat that had been washed on shore from the Admella, and having patched her up with canvas, soap, &c, made three attempts to leave the beach, and on each occasion they were swamped — regaining the shore with great difficulty; but on the fourth attempt they were the first to succeed in making fast to the wreck, and the first to rescue any of the survivors. In the two latter efforts of the Admella's boat she was accompanied by the pilot-boat, which, on nearing the wreck on the day the survivors were rescued, was filled by a heavy sea, and the crew had to haul off and bale her out ; the Admella's boat in the meantime succeeded in making fast her line to the wreck.” [Advertiser 18 Nov 1859]

 

“to cause lifeboats and rocket apparatus to be distributed on those parts of the coast where wrecks are likely to occur. Had those means of saving life been stationed at Cape Northumberland, we believe that a far larger proportion of the crew and passengers of the Admella would have been rescued. . . highly desirable that, whenever practicable, the electric telegraph should be extended to the lighthouses on the coast. If this were done, masters of vessels in distress would obtain far greater facilities in procuring assistance.” [Adelaide Observer 19 Nov 1859]

 

“The Geelong Advertiser of June 12 gives the following quotation from the Hobart Town Mercury:—‘By private hand we learn that several articles, bearing the name of the ill-fated Adelaide steamer, Admella, wrecked about three years since upon Cape Northumberland, have been recently washed ashore at Sealer's Cove.’” [Adelaide Observer 27 Jun 1863]

 

Done