Hero
A trading ketch blown onto the granite quarry rocks at Gabo Island in 1905. She had already been wrecked once, near Cape Woolamai, and refloated.
The story
The Hero was a coastal trading ketch owned by Jack Barclay and commanded by Captain Alex Cameron. In October 1904 she was driven ashore near Cape Woolamai when her anchor cables parted, then refloated, repaired at Williamstown and fitted with an engine.
Less than a year later she was carrying timber from Lakes Entrance to Gabo Island. Anchored at Gabo, she was caught in successive south-west squalls and blown onto the rocks of the granite quarries on the island’s western side. The report notes she had been assisting the ketch Kiora, which had engine failure.
Heritage Victoria describes her as a typical coastal trading ketch, important for transport to and from Gippsland ports.
Where the records differ:
The Heritage Victoria header gives October 1904, which is the earlier Cape Woolamai incident. The Gabo loss is described as less than a year later and cites The Age of 8 to 9 September 1905. No exact day is given, so September 1905 is used here.
Archive photographs for this wreck are being gathered and will be added here.
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More wrecks on this coast
Matilda
A Tasmanian schooner sent to Gabo Island for guano in 1848. Reports agree she was blown ashore but disagree on whether it happened at Gabo or on Babel Island.
1852Mary Wilson
A wine-laden brig from Portugal to Sydney that sheltered at Gabo Island and was driven ashore, one of the earliest recorded losses at the island.
1856Phoebe
A schooner damaged in a storm that sheltered in Gabo Harbour in 1856 and was blown ashore by a northerly gale. Everyone aboard survived.
16 December 1859Margaret Nicol
A coal schooner damaged in a gale and lost at Gabo Island in 1859. The crew spent two days on the island before the steamer Wonga Wonga took them off.