Recovered from the iron steamship SS Xantho in 1985 by the Western Australia Maritime Museum, this is the first steam engine to be salvaged from the sea-bed. Conserved components of the engine form part of the new SS Xantho exhibition where the history of its owner Charles Edward Broadhurst and his family is also told.
Western Australian Maritime Museum
Maritime museum focussing on display of shipwreck material. Housed in a registered historic building - the former convict built government commissariat (built in 1851, with later additions). A major 'icon' is the reconstructed hull of the Dutch East India 'Batavia' (1629) and associated objects. The Batavia mutiny story is a major feature.
Address:
Cliff Street, Fremantle, WA
Tel:
0894318444
Hours:
9.30am-5pm daily
Website:
Admission:
By donation. Special exhibitions charges may apply.
Facilities:
Wheelchair access, bookshop, education program, outreach programs, reference library, brochure.
Collection:
Over 25,000 shipwreck relics. Artefacts associated with historic shipwreck sites in Western Australia dating from 17th to the 20th Century. Mainly archaeological material recovered in the course of underwater excavations. Includes structural elements of wood and iron ships; ships fittings; cargo; personal belongings.
Items
Engine
Creator:
John Penn & Son, Greenwich, London
Description:
Horizontal Trunk Engine
Date:
1872
Item Id Number:
XA Various
Chess Pieces
Creator:
Possibly Messrs Calvert of fleet Street, London.
Description:
Ivory Chess pieces recovered from the ex-slaver James Mathews (1841). Probably belonged to the De Burgh brothers who were passengers on board.
Date:
1841
Item Id Number:
JM Various
Stoneware Jug
Blue/grey saltgaze stoneware jug with pewter lid/handle
Description:
Rheinish jug probably from the Westerwald. Recovered from the VOC Shipwreck Batavia 1629.
Date:
Early 17th Century
Item Id Number:
BAT 2358
The pewter lid has an unidentified Pewterer's mark inside the dome of the lid.
Tumbler
Glass Tumbler
Description:
Hand Blown Tumbler with Ground Base
Date:
1712
Item Id Number:
2T 3979
Wreath of leaves engraved around rim; pictorial motif depicts a building with towers and turrets with flagstaffs possibly representing the castle of Middelburg. Possibly a personal possession of one of the officers as it was found in the stern area of the wreck site.
Ship's Bell/ Silver Coins/Stoneware Jug
Description:
Unmarked bell from the American China trader Rapid (1811); Silver eight reals - various dates (1754-1809)
Date:
1811
Item Id Number:
RP 2189 (Bell) RP 3290 (Jug)
Saltglaze stoneware jug (part) marked 'Boston' - The port from which the Rapid sailed and one of the indicators of the identity of the wreck.