Maritime Archaeology
Most of the material recovered from a decade of maritime archaeological expeditions by the Silentworld Foundation is held by the Australian National Maritime Museum for the benefit of the nation, but Silentworld nonetheless holds a substantial collection of shipwreck items. This includes items found on its own expeditions as well as material from the Endeavour, the Batavia, the Bounty and other famous names.
SF001027
Cannonballs from the wreck of HMS PORPOISE
British Navy
c1803
Maritime Archaeology
SF001034
Grinding wheel from the wreck of FATIMA located in ‘Wreck Bay’
c1854
Maritime Archaeology
SF001084
Stone axe head from the pre-European settlement of Pitcairn Island
Unknown
Maritime Archaeology
Light anti-personnel swivel Carronade, maker unknown. From an unidentified shipwreck on Wishbone Reef Cape York, Australia.
c1800
Maritime Archaeology
6 pounder carronade, Bailey Pegg & Co., Ironfounders. From the wreck of CHARLES EATON, Great Detached Reef, Torres Strait.
Bailey Pegg & Co. – Manufacturer
Maritime Archaeology
Iron kentledge (pig-iron ballast) recovered from Endeavour Reef, Queensland. Jettisoned when ENDEAVOUR struck Endeavour Reef on 11 June 1770.
British Navy
c1770
Maritime Archaeology
Explore by category
Maps and Charts
Maps and Charts
Date range: 1541-1836
Ship Models
Ship Models
Date range: 1629-1890
Maritime Paintings
Maritime Paintings
Date range: 1793-1849
Manuscripts and Ephemera
Manuscripts and Ephemera
Date range: 1768-c1850
Medallions and Convict Tokens
Medallions & Convict Tokens
Date range: 1619-1880
European Portraits
European Portraits
Date range: c1700-c1860
Indigenous History
Indigenous History
Date range: c1800-1959
Landscapes
Landscapes
Date range: 1768-c1850
Books
Books
Date range: 1694-c1850
Currency and Shares
Currency and Shares
Date range: 1624-1823
Printed Material
Printed Material
Date range: 1541-1836
Maritime Archaeology
Maritime Archaeology
Date range: 1629-1854
Ceramics
Ceramics and Pottery
Date range: c1779-c1830
Cartoons
Cartoons
Date range: 1794-1851
General Interest
General Interest
Date range: c1580-c1850
Curator’s corner
New acquisitions, staff favourites and curios
Child’s Mug
The mug is decorated with an underglaze and a blue transfer print. On the body, it is titled ‘Emigrants to Australia’. This type of body and glaze was discontinued by 1840. Comparison of the handle shape and the profile of the foot, point to the attribution of manufacture by the Davenport Factory.
Bronze Ship’s Bell
Delta was a ship-rigged vessel with two decks and three masts. It was built in Dordrecht, Netherlands in 1839 at the shipyard of Jan Schouten and registered in the same port. Its hull was constructed of oak and sheathed in ‘yellow metal’. Delta was owned by H. van der Sande at the time of its loss and was engaged as a cargo trader.
The Delta carried 29 crew and passengers, while sailing from Melbourne to Batavia in ballast when wrecked at Kenn Reefs on 30 May 1854 whilst under the command of Captain J.G. Kunst. This vessel loss supports the pattern of shipwrecks located on a well-travelled shipping route that was poorly charted until the mid-nineteenth century. The crew of the Delta could see four other shipwrecks at Kenn Reefs at the time of their vessel’s loss.
Portrait of CATO
Important image of a ship associated with Matthew Flinders, that would shortly become one of the most famous early shipwrecks in eastern Australian waters. This is a fine ship’s portrait, by one of the great exponents of the art
Explore by category
Maps and Charts
Date range: 1541-1836
Ship Models
Date range: 1629-1890
Maritime Paintings
Date range: 1793-1849
Manuscripts and Ephemera
Date range: 1768-c1850
Medallions & Convict Tokens
Date range: 1619-1880
Landscapes
Date range: 1768-c1850
Books
Date range: 1694-c1850
Currency and Shares
Date range: 1624-1823
Printed Material
Date range: 1541-1836
Maritime Archaeology
Date range: 1629-1854
Curator's corner
New acquisitions, staff favourites and curios
The mug is decorated with an underglaze and a blue transfer print. On the body, it is titled ‘Emigrants to Australia’. This type of body and glaze was discontinued by 1840. Comparison of the handle shape and the profile of the foot, point to the attribution of manufacture by the Davenport Factory.
Delta was a ship-rigged vessel with two decks and three masts. It was built in Dordrecht, Netherlands in 1839 at the shipyard of Jan Schouten and registered in the same port. Its hull was constructed of oak and sheathed in ‘yellow metal’. Delta was owned by H. van der Sande at the time of its loss and was engaged as a cargo trader.
The Delta carried 29 crew and passengers, while sailing from Melbourne to Batavia in ballast when wrecked at Kenn Reefs on 30 May 1854 whilst under the command of Captain J.G. Kunst. This vessel loss supports the pattern of shipwrecks located on a well-travelled shipping route that was poorly charted until the mid-nineteenth century. The crew of the Delta could see four other shipwrecks at Kenn Reefs at the time of their vessel’s loss.
Important image of a ship associated with Matthew Flinders, that would shortly become one of the most famous early shipwrecks in eastern Australian waters. This is a fine ship’s portrait, by one of the great exponents of the art