AOTM: Search for Deadwater wreck

Archaeological consultant has completed desktop study and site survey. Archaeological research design to be completed shortly.

OBJECTIVES
To stimulate or if necessary organise a search for the remains of the “Deadwater Wreck” north of Busselton, WA. The “Search for the Deadwater Wreck” is a project of the Australia on the Map Division of the AHS. It was adopted as a project because of its potential in making Australians aware of their early maritime history and heritage. It also has a particular resonance with hydrography, as I hope will become evident in this presentation.
The Deadwater Wreck is an ‘undiscovered’ shipwreck, probably of Dutch origin, dating from the period 1650 to 1750. I use the word ‘undiscovered’ advisedly as it was actually seen and reported on by highly credible informants on numerous occasions in the 19th century.
The Deadwater is an arm of the Vasse-Wonnerup Estuary System, about 10 km east north east of the resort/retirement town of Busselton in Western Australia, about 230 km south of Perth.