A Maritime heritage expert has confirmed the identity of a 160-year-old ship uncovered on a Tasmanian beach during last month’s storms.
Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service maritime heritage officer Mike Nash identified the wreck, revealed on Friendly Beaches last month, as the 139-tonne Canadian-built brig Viola. On its Facebook page, PWS said timber samples from a large piece of the shipwreck were sent to an expert for identification.
Parks said it was found the outer planking and frames were yellow birch and the treenail, a wooden pin used to fasten timbers together, is a species of spruce. Both timbers are native to eastern North America. Based on that information, Mr Nash was confident that the shipwreck is the Viola, built in Newfoundland in 1843.
PWS historic heritage officer Peter Rigozzi developed a 3D model of the shipwreck piece, using about 90 images taken by Mike Nash.
The Viola left Newcastle with a cargo of coal for Hobart in November 1857 but was forced ashore by strong winds in the Friendly Beaches area, with no loss of life recorded.
Parks said it was likely the timbers would be left where were are as recovery of a large shipwreck section is difficult and there were further issues with conservation as the timbers dry out. The sand may re-cover the section and there is also the possibility that another storm may wash it away entirely. Consequent wave action has moved the shipwreck about a kilometre north, where it is still visible on the beach.
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Source: The Mercury
