Shipwrecks

Overview

Since the 1600s more than 8,000 shipwrecks have been recorded as occurring in Australian waters, of which only one-quarter have been located. Once located, however, wrecks and their relics reveal much about life on board the ship, the competence of the crew, and the social, political and commercial climate in which each journey took place.

This stamp issue features artists’ impressions of three historic and protected shipwrecks, together with a recovered artefact.

Learn more about each wreck in a series of interviews with shipwreck curators and a maritime artist as well as in our prestige book.

Shipwrecks – capturing our maritime past: Part 1 (Zuytdorp)
Shipwrecks – capturing our maritime past: Part 2 (Pandora)
Shipwrecks – capturing our maritime past: Part 3 (Clonmel)

Designer

Simone Sakinofsky, Australia Post Design Studio

Products released in this issue

First Day Cover (blank, gummed and self-adhesive)
Stamp pack
Maxicards
Self-adhesive roll of 100
Self-adhesive booklet of 10
Medallion cover (limited to 3,500)
Prestige book

Technical specifications

Issue date: 29 August 2017
Issue withdrawal date: 31 March 2018
Denominations: 3 x $1
Stamp design: Simone Sakinofsky
Product design: Simone Sakinofsky
Printer: RA Printing
Printer - rolls: Pemara
Paper - gummed: Tullis Russell Red Phos
Paper - self-adhesive: MC90, C100, RAFUnik
Printing process: Offset lithography
Stamp size: 37.5mm x 26mm
Perforations: 13.86 x 14.6
Sheet layout: Module of 50
FDI postmark: Port Albert VIC 3971
FDI withdrawal date: 27 September 2017

Stamps in this issue

$1 Zuytdorp

The Zuytdorp was one of a string of Dutch VOC trade ships to fall foul of the West Australian coast and the “Roaring Forties” winds during the 17th and 18th centuries. It wrecked just south of Shark Bay, sometime in June 1712, against what are now known as Zuytdorp Cliffs. The ship was carrying highly valuable cargo, including thousands of silver coins valued at 250,000 guilders, intended as trade for spices and other ‘exotic’ goods. Wreck artefacts were discovered near the site in 1927 (so 90 years ago in 2017) including silver coins dated 1711 (such as that featured on the stamp), and these coins helped archaeologists in the 1950s and 60s to identify the wreck site as that of Zuytdorp. There is an area of the wreckage site called the “carpet of silver” because of the number of coins that still remain there.

The painting used in the stamp design is by VOC specialist and artist Adriaan De Jong. The silver coin from the wreck is part of the Western Australian Museum collection.

$1 Pandora

HMS Pandora, which sank on the Great Barrier Reef on 29 August 1791 on her way home to England, had first successfully located the HMS Bounty and captured most of her infamous mutineers. The Pandora pistol symbolises the dangerous quest of capturing the mutineers and keeping them prisoner on board the ship and is one of more than 7,000 artefacts recovered from the wreck.

The painting is by renowned maritime artist Oswald Brett, courtesy of the Queensland Museum. It is based, in part, on an etching by Lieutenant Colonel Batty, which itself is based on a sketch by Pandora survivor Peter Heywood. The pistol is part of the Queensland Museum collection.

$1 Clonmel

The paddle steamer Clonmel was arguably the first luxury steamship to operate in Australian waters and a stark contrast to its slow and uncomfortable predecessors. The Clonmel departed Sydney on only its second voyage in December 1840, with 80 passengers and crew. On 1 January 1841, the Clonmel struck a sandbar on the east coast of Victoria. All on board were saved, though the highly valuable cargo of bank notes and expensive drapery had been thrown overboard in a desperate attempt to save the ship. The wreck is the oldest located steamship wreck in Australia and an important archaeological site. The shipwrecks event also helped to draw attention to an alternate access route to the rich grazing land now known as Gippsland.

The painting of the Clonmel is by maritime artist Ian Hansen. The crystal decanter and stoppers, which symbolise the luxurious nature of the ship, are part of the Heritage Victoria collection.