The American Whaler Anchor at American River

This anchor at American River on Kangaroo Island is said to be from an early American whaling ship.

The anchor at American River on Kangaroo Island

This anchor was apparently recovered from deep water near the wharf at American River in 1969.

This plaque is fixed to the memorial: -

The anchor and plaque

This is a close-up of the plaque: -

Close-up of the plaque

This is a 19th century whaling ship: -

A 19th century whaling ship

(Source: https://sl.bing.net/kjQWAV0cfDw)

This photo shows American River in the background: -

The anchor with American River in the background

The anchor display is a memorial for the American schooner Independence. In April 1803, Captain Isaac Pendleton from the brig Union* decided to spend winter at Kangaroo Island. Whilst he was there at American River, he had his crew build the schooner Independence, a small sealer. Independence was a 35-ton schooner, and it was the first ship constructed in South Australian waters.

A model of the Independence

(Source: https://www.rebuildindependence.org/)

* (According to Wikipedia, the Union (1802) was wrecked at Koro Island, Fiji, about early December, 1804. Daniel Wright, the ship's master, and the other 21 crew either drowned or were killed by natives.)

Maritime artist Jack Louis Koskie did this painting of the Union and the Independence at American River: -

The Union and the Independence at American River

(Source: 15448052.jpg (800×714) and "The Ships That Shaped Australia - Exhibition of Jack L. Koskie's maritime paintings" by Cape Otway Lightstation and Maritime Museum of Victoria 2011)

"Independence is shown being built on the beach, while Union sits quietly at anchor drying her sails." ("The Ships That Shaped Australia - Exhibition of Jack L. Koskie's maritime paintings" by Cape Otway Lightstation and Maritime Museum of Victoria 2011.)

A book titled "The Ships That Shaped Australia" by Jack Koskie was published by Angus & Robertson in 1987. I have just been referring to the 8-page pamphlet titled "The Ships That Shaped Australia - Exhibition of Jack L. Koskie's maritime paintings" by Cape Otway Lightstation and Maritime Museum of Victoria 2011 which was given to me by Alex Suslin (courtesy of Judy Hani).

Jack Koskie also did this painting of the 3-masted American whaler Emerald in Australian waters in the 1800s. (The ship is said to have been wrecked in Canada in 1848.): -

The American whaler Emerald in Australian waters in the 1800s

(Source: Jack Louis Koskie. 1914-97 Britain, Australia - Works in Past Sales and "The Ships That Shaped Australia - Exhibition of Jack L. Koskie's maritime paintings" by Cape Otway Lightstation and Maritime Museum of Victoria 2011 )

According to Wikipedia, “On 15 June 1805, Independence set sail from Sydney for the Antipodes Islands (860 km south east of Dunedin New Zealand) and was never seen again. The Sydney Gazette reported the loss on 16 March 1806.”

Artist's impression of Independence

(Source: Independence (schooner) - Wikipedia)

'

The Rebuild Independence Group has been building a replica of the Independence since May 2013. According to https://www.rebuildindependence.org/ , “The Rebuild Independence Group (RIG Inc.) is a not-for-profit Community group with the primary object of promoting the maritime heritage of American River, Kangaroo Island. We do so by maintaining a small museum at our Boathouse, which features the building of a replica of the 1803 schooner Independence, the first vessel built in South Australia.”

(Source: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aH2D4gLC49EAlQqWlAfEG6WD4rICFGe9/view )

Masthead for the "Rebuild Independence Group News"

(Source:

https://www.rebuildindependence.org/about-the-build/faqs)

American River can be seen in the foreground of the above masthead, and also in the background of the following photograph: -

The anchor with American River in the background

Here are some more photos of the anchor: -