In The South Australian Anchor Trail I stated, “The schooner Rooganah caught fire when about 8 miles from Whyalla on 19th August 1927 and the ship was abandoned off the Eight Mile Creek beach. The ship’s anchor was recovered by a prawn trawler in February 1971, and it was donated to the National Trust at Port Pirie.
(Source: Whyalla News, 24th May 1971 – see further below. Also found at https://passengers.history.sa.gov.au/file/28360 )
As the caption states, this picture is from an original oil painting by AV Gregory, a famous Melbourne marine artist. It hung in the Rooganah's cabin and was burned with the ship (when it caught fire about 8 miles from Whyalla on 19th August 1927).
According to https://passengers.history.sa.gov.au/file/28360 , “Ronald Parsons' book "Ketches of South Australia" describes "Rooganah" as a Schooner built in 1909 by John Wilson in Port Cygnet, Tasmania. Official number 124540. In the 1920's the vessel was acquired from owners H Jones & Co of Hobart by G Loveder of Sydney. The vessel remained registered in Hobart. On August 19, 1927 under the charge of the owner and three crew, the vessel had discharged 1400 bags of coke at North Shields and was taking 198 cases of benzine to Whyalla. When about 8 miles from Whyalla an attempt was made to start the petrol engine which backfired and caused a fire that quickly spread throughout the ship. The captain was badly burned before the ship was abandoned. The Vessel was destroyed by this fire at 10am on this day.”
“South Australian Shipwrecks – A Data Base (1802-1989)” by Peter Christopher gives Rooganah’s measurements as 95/25/19 (feet, rounded off). The vessel is described as a 3-masted wooden schooner. More details can be found in “Ketches of South Australi” by Ronald Parsons, editions 1-3 (1970-1978).
The 'Rooganah' after being burnt
(This photograph is from the A.D. Edwardes Collection [PRG 1373/35/82] Source: https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/PRG+1373/35/82 )
According to https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/PRG+1373/35/82 , “The wooden schooner 'Rooganah', (was) Destroyed by fire about 10 am August 19, 1927 near Whyalla. See 'Ketches of South Australia', 3rd edition, 1978]
The wooden schooners Rooganah & Alcairo at King's Pier, Hobart
The web page found at https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/PRG+1373/35/81 describes the wooden schooner Rooganah as “99 (gross) tons, wooden auxiliary 3 mast schooner, 75 net tons, ON124540, 95.0 x 25.1 x 7.0 built 1909 Port Cygnet, Tasmania. Owners: H Jones and Co., and H Heather, registered Hobart. c. 1911/12 Alvin W Taylor: by 1919 reverts to H Jones and Co. c.1921 Sydney C Loveder (of South Australia).”
Here is a blurry close-up of the anchor: -
Here is the article in the Whyalla News, 24th May 1971: -
(Source: Whyalla News, 24th May 1971
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