Australian History
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Quetta
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Was it that easy? Might have to dig deep for the next one.
RMS Quetta was a Royal Mail Ship that was wrecked on the Far North Queensland coast on 28 February 1890. Quetta 's sinking killed 134 of the 292 people onboard and so this resulted in one of Queensland's biggest maritime catastrophes.
Contents [hide]
1 Background
2 Disaster
3 Memorials
4 References
5 Further reading
6 External links
Background[edit]
RMS Quetta was a British-India Steam Navigation Company liner that travelled between England, India and the Far East. The Queensland Government negotiated to have a service between the United Kingdom and Brisbane, to ease the passage of people and mail. Quetta was specifically built for the Australia run, with refrigeration capacity for the frozen meat trade. The ship was launched in March 1881 and made her first voyage to Brisbane in 1883. The designation RMS indicated the ship's role within the Queensland Royal Mail Line. Her sister ships were Manora and Merkara.
The ship was initially designed for 72 saloon (first class) and 32 steerage (second class) passengers, although this was later altered to favour steerage class due to the large number of migrants using the service. In five-and-a-half years service Quetta made 11 London-Brisbane round trips; the twelfth would be her final attempt.
Disaster[edit]
Drawing of 'Quetta' sinking
On the night of 28 February 1890 the ship's master was Captain Sanders, with Captain Keatinge aboard piloting the ship through the Torres Strait. Destined for Thursday Island, the ship turned into the Adolphus Channel to round the Cape York Peninsula. The pilot was experienced, the weather fine and visibility good, but at 9:14pm the ship struck an uncharted rock in the middle of the channel near Albany Island.[1]
The rock ripped a hole through the plates from the bow to the engine room amidships, four to 12 feet wide, sinking Quetta in 5 minutes and sending 134 of her passengers to their deaths. At the time, the Quetta's loss was thought to be the worst maritime disaster of Queensland.
At the time of the disaster Quetta had 292 people aboard: a crew of 121, comprising 15 European officers, 14 from other trades and 92 lascars from India; 70 Javanese in temporary deck houses, travelling to Batavia after working in the cane fields; and 101 other passengers.
People aboard at time of the disaster
Group No. aboard Survival rate
Javanese passengers 70 79%
Lascar crew 92 78%
Saloon passengers 26 19%
Steerage passengers 75 86%
European officers 15
Crew (other trades) 14
Total 292 54%
The ship's cutter floated clear of the wreck and capsized, surrounded by a large group of Javanese and lascar seamen. Quartermaster James Oates organised the baling of the cutter and it headed towards shore. Only one of the ship's lifeboats survived: Number 1 starboard lifeboat controlled by third officer Thomas Babb. It was damaged and largely awash. As it headed toward shore it picked up more survivors including Captain Sanders. Around midnight the two boats came together and those aboard were placed on the nearest island. Captain Sanders then ordered the cutter to search for more survivors.
After spending a night and day without food and water on Little Adolphus Island the main group of ninety-eight survivors were rescued by the Albatross, that along with the Merrie England had been dispatched from Thursday Island's Port Kennedy.
The Albatross took soundings and located the rock thought responsible for the disaster, about half a mile from where Quetta lay. Relics raised during salvage attempts months after the disaster, and later, can be found in the Quetta Memorial Church on Thursday Island, which was consecrated in 1893.
She now lies on her port side in 18 metres (59 ft) of water and is a protected historic shipwreck under Australia's Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976.
RMS Quetta was a Royal Mail Ship that was wrecked on the Far North Queensland coast on 28 February 1890. Quetta 's sinking killed 134 of the 292 people onboard and so this resulted in one of Queensland's biggest maritime catastrophes.
Contents [hide]
1 Background
2 Disaster
3 Memorials
4 References
5 Further reading
6 External links
Background[edit]
RMS Quetta was a British-India Steam Navigation Company liner that travelled between England, India and the Far East. The Queensland Government negotiated to have a service between the United Kingdom and Brisbane, to ease the passage of people and mail. Quetta was specifically built for the Australia run, with refrigeration capacity for the frozen meat trade. The ship was launched in March 1881 and made her first voyage to Brisbane in 1883. The designation RMS indicated the ship's role within the Queensland Royal Mail Line. Her sister ships were Manora and Merkara.
The ship was initially designed for 72 saloon (first class) and 32 steerage (second class) passengers, although this was later altered to favour steerage class due to the large number of migrants using the service. In five-and-a-half years service Quetta made 11 London-Brisbane round trips; the twelfth would be her final attempt.
Disaster[edit]
Drawing of 'Quetta' sinking
On the night of 28 February 1890 the ship's master was Captain Sanders, with Captain Keatinge aboard piloting the ship through the Torres Strait. Destined for Thursday Island, the ship turned into the Adolphus Channel to round the Cape York Peninsula. The pilot was experienced, the weather fine and visibility good, but at 9:14pm the ship struck an uncharted rock in the middle of the channel near Albany Island.[1]
The rock ripped a hole through the plates from the bow to the engine room amidships, four to 12 feet wide, sinking Quetta in 5 minutes and sending 134 of her passengers to their deaths. At the time, the Quetta's loss was thought to be the worst maritime disaster of Queensland.
At the time of the disaster Quetta had 292 people aboard: a crew of 121, comprising 15 European officers, 14 from other trades and 92 lascars from India; 70 Javanese in temporary deck houses, travelling to Batavia after working in the cane fields; and 101 other passengers.
People aboard at time of the disaster
Group No. aboard Survival rate
Javanese passengers 70 79%
Lascar crew 92 78%
Saloon passengers 26 19%
Steerage passengers 75 86%
European officers 15
Crew (other trades) 14
Total 292 54%
The ship's cutter floated clear of the wreck and capsized, surrounded by a large group of Javanese and lascar seamen. Quartermaster James Oates organised the baling of the cutter and it headed towards shore. Only one of the ship's lifeboats survived: Number 1 starboard lifeboat controlled by third officer Thomas Babb. It was damaged and largely awash. As it headed toward shore it picked up more survivors including Captain Sanders. Around midnight the two boats came together and those aboard were placed on the nearest island. Captain Sanders then ordered the cutter to search for more survivors.
After spending a night and day without food and water on Little Adolphus Island the main group of ninety-eight survivors were rescued by the Albatross, that along with the Merrie England had been dispatched from Thursday Island's Port Kennedy.
The Albatross took soundings and located the rock thought responsible for the disaster, about half a mile from where Quetta lay. Relics raised during salvage attempts months after the disaster, and later, can be found in the Quetta Memorial Church on Thursday Island, which was consecrated in 1893.
She now lies on her port side in 18 metres (59 ft) of water and is a protected historic shipwreck under Australia's Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976.
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Nope just knew it from research on its sister ships Manora and Merkara for other reasons. Just lucky Magilla it happens. Sorry Mate.
I will post a question in the morning.
I will post a question in the morning.
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who am I
I become quite a funny fella as the years rolled on. I was witty, wrote books on my experiences and work and wasn't a bad artist either.
I was born in NSW in the 1920's and met my mentor while attending scouts.
Essentially I was a really clever surveyor.
I become quite a funny fella as the years rolled on. I was witty, wrote books on my experiences and work and wasn't a bad artist either.
I was born in NSW in the 1920's and met my mentor while attending scouts.
Essentially I was a really clever surveyor.
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Yes a very clever and resourceful man.
Story here for those that haven't heard of him. He made the Gunbarrell Hwy and many more outback roads and was integral with his prep work for the atomic testing at Emu etc.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Len_Beadell
Over to you Nanjim
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Ok mate
another who am I
I was a nurse and a pioneer. I spent most of my life in the outback.
another who am I
I was a nurse and a pioneer. I spent most of my life in the outback.
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No Magilla
I was a little bit after Elizabeth but I was born in SA as she was.
I was a little bit after Elizabeth but I was born in SA as she was.
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Not Mary Murphy81.
I lost my Husband and one of my sons in quick succession and then lost all my stock.
I lost my Husband and one of my sons in quick succession and then lost all my stock.
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another clue
My home was listed in the Heritage Register and I received a Brolga Award in 1995 . I lived on my own for 30 years after my husband died.
My home was listed in the Heritage Register and I received a Brolga Award in 1995 . I lived on my own for 30 years after my husband died.
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Molly Clark. That was a hard one until you gave it away with the Brolga Award.
Biographical notes:Molly had a position as governess at Mungeranie Station on the Birdsville Track, where she met Malcolm (Mac) Clark and married him in 1946. They had three sons Graham, Kevin and Philip. In 1955 the family arrived at Andado Station, around 330 km South East of Alice Springs. They lived initially in the original 1920's homestead which flooded easily. In 1960, they moved the house to higher ground, 18kms to the West.
The next couple of years were difficult and often tragic. In 1975, Mollys middle son Kevin, had a car accident. This left him fighting for his life but fortunately he survived. In 1978, her husband died a week after suffering a heart attack. Nine months later, her eldest son Graham was killed in a freight train accident. Molly lost her livelihood when the Northern Territory Government was forced to destroy all her cattle.
Molly sold the property in 1985 but retained the old homestead and a 45 square kilometres block.
Molly found a new business venture catering to tourists. She set up camping facilities, cooked meals for visitors and provided personal guided tours of the homestead. In 1993, her home, now called Old Andado, was listed in the Heritage Register and Molly received a Brolga Award in 1995 for her achievement in tourism. Among the other awards she received were the 1998 NT Chief Ministers Womens Achievements Award and in 1999 a Commonwealth Recognition Award for Senior Australians in the Northern Territory Electorate.
During the 1980s, Molly had some interest in the Stockman's Hall of Fame in Longreach, Queensland but was disappointed to find that women under represented. As a result she established the National Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame in Alice Springs. The National Womens Hall of Fame and its museum had a temporary home at the old court house in Alice Springs. A permanent facility was found in the towns old jailhouse and the Hall of Fame was officially re-opened on 8th March 2007, International Womens Day. Mollys poor health and eyesight meant she had to leave Andado after fifty years with great resistance and move into a house in Alice Springs.
Biographical notes:Molly had a position as governess at Mungeranie Station on the Birdsville Track, where she met Malcolm (Mac) Clark and married him in 1946. They had three sons Graham, Kevin and Philip. In 1955 the family arrived at Andado Station, around 330 km South East of Alice Springs. They lived initially in the original 1920's homestead which flooded easily. In 1960, they moved the house to higher ground, 18kms to the West.
The next couple of years were difficult and often tragic. In 1975, Mollys middle son Kevin, had a car accident. This left him fighting for his life but fortunately he survived. In 1978, her husband died a week after suffering a heart attack. Nine months later, her eldest son Graham was killed in a freight train accident. Molly lost her livelihood when the Northern Territory Government was forced to destroy all her cattle.
Molly sold the property in 1985 but retained the old homestead and a 45 square kilometres block.
Molly found a new business venture catering to tourists. She set up camping facilities, cooked meals for visitors and provided personal guided tours of the homestead. In 1993, her home, now called Old Andado, was listed in the Heritage Register and Molly received a Brolga Award in 1995 for her achievement in tourism. Among the other awards she received were the 1998 NT Chief Ministers Womens Achievements Award and in 1999 a Commonwealth Recognition Award for Senior Australians in the Northern Territory Electorate.
During the 1980s, Molly had some interest in the Stockman's Hall of Fame in Longreach, Queensland but was disappointed to find that women under represented. As a result she established the National Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame in Alice Springs. The National Womens Hall of Fame and its museum had a temporary home at the old court house in Alice Springs. A permanent facility was found in the towns old jailhouse and the Hall of Fame was officially re-opened on 8th March 2007, International Womens Day. Mollys poor health and eyesight meant she had to leave Andado after fifty years with great resistance and move into a house in Alice Springs.
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Yes Magilla it was going nowhere so I thought I would add that in. I knew Molly and below is a picture of myself Molly and my wife Kaz at the opening of the Mt Dare Pub (the new one) where my band played several years ago. That was a wild old time in the middle of nowhere and we didn't upset the neighbours with the noise because they were literally miles away !!LOL
She was an extraordinary woman. We went to her house in Alice a couple of times after she moved off of Old Andado station as another mate of mine stayed there a fair bit.
Over to you mate.
She was an extraordinary woman. We went to her house in Alice a couple of times after she moved off of Old Andado station as another mate of mine stayed there a fair bit.
Over to you mate.
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She sounds like a very interesting lady GT.
I was a surveyor with a strong desire to see new places. I arrived in Australia in the mid nineteenth century and met an Irish immigrant whom I had a child with though we never married. The child died at age five. Who am I?
I was a surveyor with a strong desire to see new places. I arrived in Australia in the mid nineteenth century and met an Irish immigrant whom I had a child with though we never married. The child died at age five. Who am I?
Just a guess, as I have not had time to research it properly, was it James McBrien, the surveyor who found gold in the Fish River in 1823?
Edit - probably too early to fit the clue....
Edit - probably too early to fit the clue....
Might need a clue for this one.....
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