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Wreck of the Aagot
Title : Wreck of the Aagot Wreck of the Aagot
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Source : Edwardes Collection, volume 58, number 61
Date of creation : 1907
Format : Photograph
Contributor : State Library catalogue
Catalogue record
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Description :

Iron barque Aagot 1,242 tons was wrecked on the rocks on the western side of Wardang Island in October 1907. She left Semaphore 12 October with orders to proceed to Port Victoria to load grain. A southerly gale in Spencer Gulf drove her onto the rocks on the western side of Wardang Island, off Port Victoria. She quickly became a total wreck.

One of the sailors managed to swim ashore with a lifeline and the crew were able to reach safety on the island. From here they were able to cross to Port Victoria.

Aagot's captain complained about the lack of a lighthouse to mark the island and in response to this and several other wrecks a lighthouse was built in 1909. The builder placed it on the wrong hill and for a number of years this caused confusion on the charts, until finally corrected in 1920, unfortunately in response to yet another stranding on the island.
Wardang Island has many wrecks along its coast: eight ships and at least three ketches. In addition a number of other vessels ran aground on the island but were successfully refloated.
Subjects
Coverage year : 1907
Period : 1884-1913
Place : Wardang Island
Region : Yorke Peninsula
Further reading :
Cormack, Neil W. Sagas of steam and sail [Largs North, S. Aust.]: N.W. Cormack, 2002 (Yorketown, S. Aust.: Pioneer Printing Office) pp. 42-44
Loney, J. K. Wrecks on the South Australian coast: including Kangaroo Island Yarram, Vic.: Lonestone Press, 1993
Wardang Island: maritime heritage trail Adelaide: State Heritage Branch, Dept. of Environment and Planning, 1991
Internet links :
Exhibitions and events :

State Library of South Australia: Mortlock Wing exhibitions. Wooden Walls and Iron Sides August 2004-


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