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A few days ago a post was made about the shipwreck The Fame in New South Wales, Australia. In reply to the post Tim Smith, Maritime Archaeology Program Heritage Office (NSW Government) replies: Original Post : Here in Australia, we aren't allowed to touch any wreck over 50 yrs old. I won't get into a discussion about whether or not this is right, but I do remember an occasion several years ago when a bunch of divers found the remains of a 100yr old sailing ship called "The Fame" in Sydney harbor. The wreck was unusual mainly because of the method of construction... mostly Oak and treenails... what's more, it was believed to have been fairly well preserved since it was largely buried under sand. The divers duly reported the find to the Aust Maritime Museum (I believe), and were warned from diving in the site. A couple of years later, a harbor dredge ploughed right through the wreck and ripped it to pieces. I dived on it shortly afterwards, and it was a demolition site. If divers aren't allowed to collect and preserve history, what happens to it? Has anyone got a better idea? Mr. Smith replies: I was one of the two State Government maritime archaeologists which conducted the survey of the Fame (1857) wreck site. The discovery occurred just prior to my appointment, but the following is an account of the disturbance to the site. Members will be aware that in Australia, the Federal Government administers the National Historic Shipwrecks Program (NHSP). At State level, the program and the legislation is administered in either a State planning agency or a maritime museum. At the time in NSW, the state agency was the Department of Planning, Heritage Branch (we are now a separate body called the Heritage Office). The Department administered the federal shipwrecks legislation (Historic Shipwrecks Act, 1976 which protects wrecks over 75 years of age located out from the coast), and also separate state legislation, the NSW Heritage Act, 1977, which provides automatic protection for shipwrecks (and archaeological deposits) located underwater within State waters (eg harbors, bays, rivers, etc). The Fame, being located within Sydney Harbor, was automatically protected from disturbance under the latter Act. The Department also maintains a register of known shipping losses (@1800 in NSW) and was aware of the Fame's wrecking in 1857. The discovery of the site had never been reported to it officially, and it had not conducted a systematic search for it up to 1991. It is unclear today whether the reference to divers reporting the site was in fact that of the Fame, which appeared to have been completely buried prior to discovery. There are a number of other known wreck losses in the area of the reef. Anyhow, the report of its discovery had not been made to the Department (responsible for administration of discoveries), but apparently to the Australian National Maritime Museum which has no statutory powers in relation to wrecks. The wreck was unintentionally disturbed by the actions of a bucket dredge while dredging fill to place over the newly constructed Sydney Harbor (submerged) tunnel. As part of standard planning processes, the Department made it a requirement that a maritime archaeological assessment of the proposed dredging path for the tunnel would be conducted. A systematic, side scan sonar, sub bottom profiler, magnetometer and visual diver survey was made of the entire route of the proposed tunnel prior to construction, by an independent maritime archaeologist. No shipwrecks or archaeological structures were detected. Unfortunately, the then Maritime Services Board undertook to extract fill to bury the tunnel, which was not announced as part of the former study. As it was deemed to be maintenance dredging of the shipping channel (exempt), they undertook the operation at the western end of the Sow and Pigs Reef. In the process, they uncovered the wreck which was later identified as Fame. The site was totally buried at the time. The Department immediately had the work halted and remedial processes put in place. This included the funding of an emergency survey of the site and reburial of exposed timbers to limit deterioration by marine organisms. The Fame (built 1840) was a typical two masted timber brig built in Aberdeen, largely from British Oak, with standard treenail, timber knee construction + copper sheathed hull. Obviously, this was a sad event for the Fame and under normal circumstances would not have escaped the usual planning processes which are in force to protect items of maritime archaeological heritage in the State. Readers may be aware of the extremely pro-active maritime archaeology programs being run at the State agency level in Australia. Here in NSW, we actively encourage visitation to our State's Historic Shipwrecks and widely distribute the losses and known locations of wrecks to the sports diving public. One key project in this regard, has been the dissemination of the Office's Shipwreck Atlas of NSW (ed 3 (A3 format). Much of the information on wreck locations (over 250) was derived from direct feedback between the Office (former department) and divers. We also run regular Community Wreck Survey Projects, sending out kits to dive shops/clubs and individuals, to encourage them to go out and document/record/search for, and research shipwrecks in the State. The last project had over 30 groups involved. A host of other publications /posters/pamhlets are distributed widely, with displays at major scuba diving events, etc. The NHSP also runs the NAS Maritime Archaeology Training Course in Australia which is becoming very popular for amateurs with a keen interest in shipwrecks and archaeology. It is through education that people can learn to value underwater sites and to interact with them in an informed and exciting way. All shipwrecks can be freely visited in NSW, with only two sites requiring a permit in advance. Shipwrecks are a fragile resource which needs careful managing although there are many ways that divers and archaeologists can share the fascination of the resource without the need for disturbance for disturbance sake. Tim Smith Maritime Archaeology Program Heritage Office (NSW Government) Secretary, Australian Institute for Maritime Archaeology Inc. Level 11 Signature Tower 2-10 Wentworth Street Locked Bag 5020 PARRAMATTA NSW 2124 AUSTRALIA E-Mail: smitht@he*.ns*.go*.au* web page at: <http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au> >> Pete Johnson (Still trying to work with both sides) -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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