The Hercules and mangroves, Stradbroke Island
Also from our weekend on Stradbroke Island earlier this year. A friend and I walked out at low tide to this old rusty dredge called Hercules.
Hercules was built in Walker-on-Tyne by Sir William Armstrong, Whitworth and Co in 1900 for American Lindon Wallace Bates under contract to the Queensland Government for the development of the Brisbane Port at a cost of 70,000 pounds.
After construction, on its voyage from England to Brisbane, the Hercules performed experiments dredging the Suez Canal for three weeks and arrived in Brisbane on 17th April 1901.
After many years of dredging, the Hercules was put out of commission by 1917 as there was no more work in the Brisbane River that it could economically undertake. It was maintained for some years in readiness for service in case of disaster. However, newer technology meant this possibility was less likely.
In 1937 the Hercules was deemed to have outlived its useful life and was partially dismantled. In 1951 it was bought by Mr “Bonty” Dickson of Dunwich who had it towed there in 1952 to be used as a combined oyster factory and research station.
This is just a little bit about this shipwreck.
The Hercules and mangroves, Stradbroke Island
Also from our weekend on Stradbroke Island earlier this year. A friend and I walked out at low tide to this old rusty dredge called Hercules.
Hercules was built in Walker-on-Tyne by Sir William Armstrong, Whitworth and Co in 1900 for American Lindon Wallace Bates under contract to the Queensland Government for the development of the Brisbane Port at a cost of 70,000 pounds.
After construction, on its voyage from England to Brisbane, the Hercules performed experiments dredging the Suez Canal for three weeks and arrived in Brisbane on 17th April 1901.
After many years of dredging, the Hercules was put out of commission by 1917 as there was no more work in the Brisbane River that it could economically undertake. It was maintained for some years in readiness for service in case of disaster. However, newer technology meant this possibility was less likely.
In 1937 the Hercules was deemed to have outlived its useful life and was partially dismantled. In 1951 it was bought by Mr “Bonty” Dickson of Dunwich who had it towed there in 1952 to be used as a combined oyster factory and research station.
This is just a little bit about this shipwreck.