George Roper (1882-1883)

The ship was loaded with a valuable cargo worth $10,000 pounds including iron railings for use in railway construction, malt, distilled liquors, drapery and dynamite.

The ship looked a magnificent sight, stranded on the reef with its sails intact, and it drew quite a crowd of onlookers.

Knowledge that the ships cargo was still on board also lured scavengers. Some prospective looters camped on the beach at Bucley's Cave to wait. At the the first opportunity to sneak on board the ship, or to pick up cargo which might eventually wash ashore as the ship broke up.

Ships Construction

The ship was built especially for the Australian run and designed for fast Sailing.The ship measured 301ft (91.76m) in length, 39.1ft (11.92m) in breadth, 23.6ft (7.1m) in depth and had a gross tonnage of 2,104 tons.

The Final Voyage of the Falls of Halladale

The voyage was swift and uneventful.

The ship arrived safely in Bass Strait, outside Port Phillip Heads on 4th July, 1883.At the time, a strong northerly wind was blowing and a haze had settled over the sea.

Captain Ward was making his first visit to Port Phillip and was careful to keep well away from the Heads. Eight miles out, the George Roper was taken in tow by the small paddle steamer and pilot boat, the Williams.

As they neared the Port Phillip Heads, conditions deteriorated and land became obscured by a thick fog.

The Williams lost its bearings and drifted 300 metres west toward the outer reef of Point Lonsdale.

When the port paddle of the Williams scraped along the rocky reef, the Captain, realized that both vessels were in dangerous waters.

He tried to reverse at full speed but the George Roper was so heavily loaded with cargo and was unable to stop.

Before the pilot boat could pull the George Roper's stern around, the huge ship crashed into the reef, opposite the green light at Point Lonsdale.

The rocks pierced the ships hull and all hands were on deck to try and manoeuvre the ship off the rocks. The Williams was also damaged.

The tow rope between the ship and pilot boat was cut so the Williams could make its way back to Queenscliff for repairs. The Captain of the pilot boat was later to have his pilots certificate suspended for two years.

Within fifteen minutes, the fog lifted and Captain John Ward and his crew could see the George Roper was stranded on one of the most dangerous and inaccessible parts of the reef.

The steamers Dawn and Albatross tried to pull the George Roper free. Although the barque was lightened by the removal of cargo, all efforts failed.

Captain Ward and the crew finally left the stricken ship and were taken to Queenscliff. Two days later, the underwriters sold the wreck at auction for $3,600.

Attempt to salvage the cargo was thwarted by bad weather. The crew of the steamer Blackboy, had to jettison salvaged cargo and signal for help as it bashed against the hull of the George Roper.

The vessel also became stranded on the reef and was sold to the syndicate which owned the George Roper. However it sank the same night and its cargo floated away.

Over a period of weeks, more of the cargo was salvaged. Finally on the 26th August, 1883, the George Roper broke up and disappeared underwater.

Check this wreck on the Shipwreck Map

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