Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: AUSTRALIA
- Type: Wooden Schooner
- Year Built: 1862
- Builder: B. Parsons, Vermilion, Ohio
- Dimensions: Length: 109 ft (33.2 m); Beam: 23 ft (7.0 m); Depth of hold: 9 ft (2.7 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 159 tons
- Location: Holland, Michigan
- Official Number: 370
- Original Owners: William Horn, Chicago
- Number of Masts: Likely two or three
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The AUSTRALIA was a wooden schooner, a common cargo-carrying vessel on the Great Lakes during the 19th century.
Key Features of Great Lakes Schooners:
- Used for transporting bulk cargo typically lumber, grain, and general freight.
- Typically had two or three masts and relied on wind power.
- Often operated as independent vessels or as consorts to steam-powered freighters.
At 109 feet in length, the AUSTRALIA was a mid-sized schooner, designed for coastal and Great Lakes trade.
Description
The AUSTRALIA was built in Vermilion, Ohio, by B. Parsons for the timber trade. It operated for 26 years, carrying timber, posts, and other cargo across Lake Michigan and the other Great Lakes before it foundered in Holland, Michigan, in 1888.
History
Key Events in the Vessel’s History:
- 1862: Built in Vermilion, Ohio, by B. Parsons for the timber trade.
- 1888, September 30: Lost near Holland, Michigan, in a storm.
Significant Incidents
The AUSTRALIA was lost on September 30, 1888, when it sprung a leak and foundered at the entrance to the Holland, Michigan harbor.
- The vessel was en route from Beaver Island to Chicago, carrying cedar posts.
- A strong gale struck, causing the vessel to heel over (lay on its beam ends).
- The crew attempted to take shelter at Holland Harbour, but the schooner struck a sandbar at the entrance.
- The vessel sprung a leak and quickly foundered, blocking the harbour entrance.
- The crew was rescued by the U.S. Lifesaving Service.
- The U.S. government removed the wreck on October 5, 1888, to reopen the harbor entrance.
The AUSTRALIA was a total loss, and no lives were lost in the accident.
Final Disposition
Since it was removed by the government, any remnants will be scattered or buried beneath harbor sediments.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Nil return. No modern navigational hazards related to this wreck are reported in Holland, Michigan, Lake Michigan.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”australia-us-370″ title=”References & Links”]
The AUSTRALIA was a hardworking schooner that served the Great Lakes timber trade for over two decades. Its loss in 1888 near Holland, Michigan, highlights the dangers of navigating Lake Michigan during fall storms, as well as the critical role of the U.S. Lifesaving Service in rescuing stranded sailors.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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