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Steve Reynolds
Oct 47 min read

The History of the South Australian Archaeology Society


The South Australian Archaeology Society, formerly the Society for Underwater Historical Research, just managed to reach its 50th anniversary before being deregistered as an incorporated association.


Diver on the Loch Vennachar wreck site


As described at Wikipedia, “The Society for Underwater Historical Research (SUHR) was an amateur maritime archaeology organisation operating in South Australia (SA). It was formed in 1974 by recreational scuba divers and other persons to pursue an interest in maritime archaeology and maritime history. The SUHR was renamed as the South Australian Archaeology Society in March 2012 as part of a plan to expand its activities beyond maritime archaeology to include other archaeological disciplines.”


There hadn’t, however, been a committee for the SAAS for over 10 years, but the group was still registered as an incorporated association and continues to have a presence as a Facebook group. Deregistration of the group was finalised in September 2024.

The Society for Underwater Historical Research commenced, 50 years earlier, on 30th September 1974.


The group became incorporated on 22nd November 1976.


The South Australian Archaeology Society became the group’s name on 21st March 2012.

As described at Wikipedia, “The SUHR was founded in September 1974 by recreational scuba divers principally from the Underwater Explorers Club of South Australia (UEC) and occupational scuba divers from government agencies such as the South Australian Museum and the South Australian Police, as well as a number of individuals interested in maritime history.”


Further, “The origin of the SUHR is due in part to the positive public response to the aftermath of a successful expedition in 1973 to locate and recover two anchors discarded during 1803 by HMS Investigator whilst under the command of Matthew Flinders off the coast of what is now Western Australia. The recovery of the anchors and their connection to the voyage of HMS Investigator is commemorated in the inclusion of the best bower anchor and the outline of the Australian continent on the SUHR emblem (logo).”


Wikipedia lists the achievements of the SUHR as follows: -

The 1970s

  • The SUHR’s first project was a survey ( including excavation of artefacts) of the remains of the Glenelg Jetty at Holdfast Bay which were destroyed by a storm in April 1948.

  • Loch Vennachar – discovery of the wreck site on the west coast of Kangaroo Island in 1976, a site survey and the recovery of some material in February 1977 followed by the recovery and conservation of an anchor in 1980.

  • Morgan – recovery of artefacts from the River Murray immediately adjoining the wharf during the years 1977 to 1983.

  • Star of Greece – a survey of the wreck site at Port Willunga during early 1978.

  • Grecian – survey of the shipwreck located near North Haven including the recovery of some material during the years 1978 to 1980.

  • Santiago – survey of the abandoned hull near Port Adelaide during 1978.

  • Lady Kinnaird – the recovery of a large anchor from the wreck site near Port Neill during 1979 in response to a request from the local community, and its subsequent conservation and installation for public display in Port Neill in 1980.

  • Norma – a survey of the wreck site located west of Semaphore during the period April to December 1979.

The 1980s

  • An anchor found in Fishery Bay near Port Lincoln by an abalone diver was recovered by the SUHR and local divers during January 1981. It was then conserved with the intent of placing it on public display at 'Whaler’s Way', a privately owned nature reserve near the site where the anchor was originally found. The anchor is currently on display at the Axel Stenross Maritime Museum in Port Lincoln.

  • Tigress – discovery of the shipwreck at Robinson Point south of Port Noarlunga in late 1981 and the subsequent recovery of artefacts from shipwreck site in early 1982.

  • Wardang Island – a survey carried out in early 1982 to locate and document the wreck sites of the following ships – SS Australian, MacIntyre, Monarch, Notre Dame D'Arvor, SS Investigator, Aagot, Songvaar, Moorara, and Maid of Australia. The strandings of the ships Candida, and Jean Bart were also studied.

  • Zanoni – the unsuccessful search for the wreck site near Ardrossan during 1982 and 1983 up until its discovery by others in April 1983. The SUHR subsequently assisted on archaeology surveys during the three seasons of fieldwork conducted by the South Australian Government in the late 1980s.

  • Water Witch – the discovery of the shipwreck in the River Murray near Blanchetown in 1982 followed by a survey project in 1984 in association with the South Australian Government and divers from the South Australian Police.

  • Cowrie (also spelt Cowry) – unsuccessful search for the wreck site near Yankalilla during 1987.

  • Port Elliot – a survey carried out during 1987 and 1988 to locate and document the wreck sites of the following ships: Emu, Commodore, Josephine L'Oizeau, Lapwing, Harry, Flying Fish and Athol.

  • Margaret Brock Reef – a project conducted during 1987 to locate the wreck of the Margaret Brock on the Margaret Brock Reef near Kingston SE.

  • The North Arm Ships' Graveyard – a project run during the years 1989 and 1990 to research and survey abandoned hulls in North Arm of the Port River such as the following – Flinders, Gem, Grace Darling, Garthneill, Karatta, Mangana, Sarnia, Dorothy H, Sterling, Stanley, Sunbeam and Ullock.

  • "Steamships" was a project to research and survey the following steam-powered vessels during 1989 -1990 – SS Australian, SS Clan Ranald, SS Investigator, and SS Willyama.


The SUHR also participated in archaeological work organised by others concerning the following wreck sites:

  • Wreck site of an unknown vessel near Point Cloates, Ningaloo, Western Australia during 1980.

  • Xantho, Port Gregory, Western Australia during 1983.

  • HMS Pandora, near Cape York Peninsula, Queensland during 1984.

The 1990s

  • Lillie May – an unsuccessful search for the wreck site near Port Hughes during 1992.

  • Holdfast Bay – a second project carried out at the remains of the Glenelg Jetty destroyed in 1948 during early 2000 to undertake additional survey and artefact recovery works and to create an exhibit in the former Glenelg Town Hall. (This exhibit  is still present at the Bay Discovery Centre.)

The 2000s

  • Star of Greece – a second project involving a non-disturbance measured survey was carried out from 2002 to 2004.

  • SS Ellen – survey of the wreck site located at Morgan’s Beach near Cape Jervis in early 2003.


Advocacy

During the late 1970s and the early 1980s, the SUHR actively lobbied alone and with others for government action on the following matters:

  • Extension of the Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976 to the coastal waters of South Australia (i.e. from the Low Water Mark out to three nautical miles) which was realized in 1980.

  • The enactment of specific South Australian shipwrecks legislation to complement the Commonwealth Act which was realised in 1981,

  • The appointment of a Government maritime archaeologist which was realised in late 1981.

  • The creation of a maritime museum which was realised by the opening of the South Australian Maritime Museum at Port Adelaide in 1986.


Publications

Reports


Collections


Serials

 

 

The now SAAS continues to have a presence as a Facebook group. There is also a current website for the group. So, although the group has now been deregistered, it continues online. The group also has a public library at the Port Environment Centre, 27 North Parade, Port Adelaide that is being managed by the Marine Life Society of South Australia.


The Society was deregistered as an incorporated organisation in October 2024, just after reaching its 50th anniversary. It will, however, continue as a Facebook group and maintain its public library (via Marine Life Society) and our website.

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