South Australia's Kangaroo Island Shipwrecks
Kangaroo Island's Wrecks and the Lighthouses Built to Guide Ships
Nov 12, 2009
Kangaroo Island lies 15 km from the nearest point of mainland South Australia. The seas are forced through this narrow strait, named Backstairs Passage by Captain Matthew Flinders in 1802, causing strong tides and currents.
Kangaroo Island's Hazardous Coastline
The island is surrounded by many reefs and rocky cliffs which created further hazards for tired sailors making their way around the Australian coastline to Adelaide or Melbourne. Before radio communication, sailors had to rely on the sun and stars and somewhat unreliable shipping charts to navigate their course to the ports. Little surprise then, that the wrecks of 60 ships litter the coastal waters. Something had to be done.
Lighthouses on Kangaroo Island
In 1852, the first lighthouse to be built in South Australia was erected at Cape Willoughby on Kangaroo Island's south-east coast at the entrance to Backstairs Passage. It was built from granite and limestone quarried nearby and has walls around four feet thick. Three lighthouse keepers' cottages were built about half a mile away in a sheltered valley where the families grew fruit and vegetables to eke out their supplies which were only delivered every three months.
Cape Borda lighthouse was established in 1858 on the western tip of the island. It's a squat, square building and the cannon, once used to warn shipping, is still fired daily.
1909 saw the construction of the Cape du Couedic lighthouse on a rocky cape on the dangerous south west coast. Both Cape Borda and Cape du Couedic lighthouses were only accessible by sea and supplies had to be winched from the jetty up the cliff face by means of a 'Flying Fox' system of ropes and pulleys.
Shipwrecks on Kangaroo Island
But still the shipwrecks occurred. In 1899, the Loch Sloy, an iron ship carrying general cargo for Adelaide and Melbourne, hit a reef just north of Cape du Couedic and sank. Only four men managed to make it to shore and one died before they managed to reach help.
In 1905, the Loch Vennachar, a sister ship to the Loch Sloy, disappeared on its way to Port Adelaide. Wreckage was found scattered along the south-west coast but only one body was found. The wreck was discovered in 1976 just north of West Bay.
The Sailing Ship, Duncow
One story with a happy ending was that of the Duncow. In 1897, the sailing ship dropped anchor off Cape du Couedic to ride out a storm. As conditions worsened, the crew abandoned ship and after rowing for 24 hours, eventually made shore. On their return to the ship, they were surprised to find her still riding at anchor. They boarded her and successfully continued their voyage to Port Pirie.
Visiting the Lighthouses Today, tourists can explore both Cape Willoughby and Cape Borda lighthouses and marvel not only at the solid construction of each but at the remoteness and grandeur of their situation. Nowadays the lighthouses are unmanned. The dedication and self-sufficiency of those early keepers and their families is to be admired.
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