Sunday 15 March 1863 - dawn breaks grey and restless over North Stradbroke Island. From the quarter-deck of the little brigantine Princeza, Captain John Sayers can already taste the brine whipping off white-topped rollers. He has nursed his 141-ton brigantine up the coast for more than a fortnight, cargo holds brimming with hay, oats, wheat and casks of Tasmanian spirits. Now, with Point Lookout astern and the promise of calm water inside Moreton Bay ahead, he hoists a flag for a pilot and steadies the wheel. But the sea has other plans. In the lead-line man's fist the soundings tumble—from five fathoms to four … to three. Before an anchor can splash, Princeza crunches into sand. A shudder runs the length of her Aberdeen-built hull and the gale begins its work.
At first the damage seems slight; a stout Scottish keel can take a knock. Yet each minute the surf piles higher. By mid-afternoon the brigantine is slewing helplessly across the bar, helm useless, deck awash. Sayers orders the cargo heaved overboard—bales of hay ride the breakers like driftwood—and when that fails he gives the grim command to cut away the masts. Spars crash over the side, rigging snarls, but the vessel will not lift. Evening finds the crew waist-deep in swirling foam, the hull thumping like a drum beneath their boots. With darkness descending, they ready the small boat. It capsizes on launch, rights itself, and finally bears most of the men toward the glow of fishermen's fires on Amity Point beach. Sayers and two volunteers stay behind with the wreck, stubborn guardians of a ship already half-claimed by sand.
Three days later, salvors Alexander Muir and James Low buy the forlorn remains for £160 and haul alongside the steamer Lady Bowen, hoping to refloat her. Another gale answers, snapping their lines and rolling Princeza belly-up on the bar. By the time the wind settles, her topsides are gone and the once-proud brigantine lies splintered among the shifting dunes of South Passage—an unwelcome new landmark for passing mariners.
Summary
The Princeza, a brigantine, met an unfortunate end on March 15th 1863 when it struck near Amity Point, Queensland, Australia while attempting to make the south entrance to Moreton Bay during a gale[1][2]. The vessel's captain had signaled for a pilot after successfully rounding Point Lookout but was challenged by rapidly shoaling water. Despite desperate attempts to steady the vessel by discarding part of its cargo and cutting the masts, the crew ultimately had no choice but to abandon ship[1][2].
Built in Aberdeen in 1850, the Princeza was owned by Messrs. B.B. Nicholson and Co., of Melbourne. The vessel was relatively new to intercolonial trade at the time of her demise. She measured up at 141 register tons (a measure of cargo-carrying capacity under the Merchant Shipping Act 1854, not displacement weight) and was under the command of Captain Sayers during her calamitous final voyage[2]. The Princeza had embarked from Melbourne on February 11th for Port Frederick in Tasmania in order to complete her cargo load before setting sail for Moreton Bay on February 28th. Her cargo included hay, oats, wheat, potatoes, timber, spirits and preserved provisions[2].
The initial grounding of the ship caused minimal damage but an untimely rising sea coupled with a turning tide hindered attempts at anchoring safely off shore. This resulted in further groundings throughout that day which rendered ineffective any attempts at manoeuvring due to her close proximity to land[2]. As evening fell on March 15th 1863, Captain Sayers began lightening load by throwing cargo overboard hoping this would ease pressure on his already beleaguered ship's hull; even ordering masts cut away in desperation as high seas washed over his vessel fore and aft. When eventually able to launch a lifeboat it promptly capsized but was subsequently righted and used to transport crew members ashore while Captain Sayers and two volunteers stayed aboard awaiting rescue[2]. Sayers' decision to remain was not merely courageous — under 19th-century maritime law and custom, a master had a legal and professional duty to stay with his vessel so long as any prospect of saving ship or cargo remained. Abandoning a salvageable vessel could result in the loss of his master's certificate and personal liability to cargo owners and underwriters.
Upon inspection following its purchase by Alexander Muir and James Low on March 18th, three days after it was wrecked, it was found that the once robust vessel had turned upside down with her topsides carried away by heavy seas. Despite their efforts to float the hull with assistance from another ship named 'Lady Bowen', another gale forced them to cut loose from their salvage operation; consequently driving ashore what remained of the Princeza near the heads of South Passage[1].
Location
The coordinates under consideration have been sourced from AUCHD[1]. However, due to the low resolution of these coordinates, their accuracy should be considered an approximation at best. Additionally, while the Queensland Globe[3] photograph depicts the location on a sandbar, it must be noted that sandbars are subject to rapid temporal shifts. Therefore, this image may not accurately represent the geography as it existed in 1863.
South Passage — a notorious hazard
The South Passage bar had a grim reputation long before the Princeza's loss. Until the late 1840s it was the principal entrance to Moreton Bay, but its character was forever changed on 11 March 1847 — exactly sixteen years before the Princeza struck — when the paddle steamer SS Sovereign wrecked on the same bar with the loss of 44 lives, one of the worst maritime disasters in Queensland's colonial history[4]. After the Sovereign disaster, the northern entrance via Cape Moreton increasingly became the preferred route, and through traffic on the South Passage declined sharply. Nevertheless, the passage remained in use and an Amity Point pilot station continued to serve vessels attempting it. By 1863, the bar's constantly shifting sands and the risk of mistaking Point Lookout for Cape Moreton in poor visibility made it a trap for the unwary. Captain Sayers' instinct to signal immediately for a pilot on rounding Point Lookout was entirely correct — but even with a pilot available, the bar had already claimed many vessels, and would claim several more before the century was out[4].
News stories from history
The Sydney Morning Herald
The following is quite intriguing as it constitutes Captain Sayers' personal recounting of the incident. It is taken directly from The Sydney Morning Herald, Monday 23rd March 1863, Page 4[2].
The brigantine Princeze, bound for Moreton Bay, left Melbourne about the 11th February, for Port Frederick, in Tasmania, for the purpose of completing her cargo. Having done so, she sailed for this port on the 28th February, and experienced light variable winds until off Port Stephens, after which she met with strong N.E. gales until Friday, the 13th instant, when the wind shifted round to the S.E. She rounded Point Lookout on Sunday morning, when the captain signalled for a pilot, under the impression that a pilot station was close at hand. He then shaped his course under easy sail for the entrance, as marked on the chart, feeling his way with the lead, when suddenly the water shoaled from five to three fathoms. He then tried to wear ship, but being a long vessel she would not pay off readily, and shortly afterwards struck. Very little damage was done by the first grounding, and probably she would have been got off safely, but that owing to the turning of the tide, at the critical time a heavy sea rose, which prevented the lowering of a boat to get out an anchor. The vessel moved several times during the day, but on account of her being so near the ground she would not answer her helm, and the crew were therefore unable to get her out of her perilous position. At six o'clock on Sunday evening, the captain commenced lightening the vessel by throwing cargo overboard ; and as she still kept bumping over the bank he ordered the masts to be cut away to still further ease her. The sea at this time was washing fore and aft the wreck. After a time the sea abated, when a boat was launched but swamped immediately. The crew, however, succeeded in freeing her of water. The boat was inadequate to carrying the whole crew, so the captain and two seamen who volunteered to stay with him, remained on the wreck, while the others were taken ashore. When this was effected the boat returned for those left on the wreck. After the tide turned the water became smoother and the crew were thus enabled to return to the wreck and secure a portion of then clothes and effects. The captain and crew were brought up to town yesterday In a boat belonging to a fisherman named Med. When they left the vessel she was lying, bilged, on the beach at Amity Point. It is believed that if energetic measures be taken a considerable portion of her cargo may be recovered, though in a damaged state. The wreck has been since sold for £160.
The following picture is a scan of the article from The Sydney Morning Herald, Monday 23rd March 1863, Page 4[2].
The Brisbane Courier
It was highlighted as one of The Brisbane Courier's "From Fifty Years Ago" articles on Saturday 22nd March 1913[5].
Some more highlights
A notice to looters from The Courier, Saturday 21st March 1863, Page 1[6].
An article from The Argus (Melbourne), Wednesday 4th February 1863, Page 4 showing that Princeza, under Capt. Sayers, left "for River Mersey, V.D.L"[7] which is River Mersey, Van Diemen's Land (now known as Tasmania)[8]. Even though the colony of Van Diemen's Land was officially changed to Tasmania in 1856[8], it was still referred to as VDL in shipping columns for some years after the official name change. The Summary section notes the loading port as "Port Frederick" — this is the historical name for the port at the mouth of the River Mersey, where the twin settlements of Formby (west bank) and Torquay/East Devonport (east bank) were developing in the 1860s. The town of Devonport was formally established by amalgamation in 1893, so in 1863 "Port Frederick, River Mersey" referred to what is now the Devonport area[9].
A vessel is said to be entered outwards or inwards according as she is entered at the custom-house to depart for, or as having arrived from, foreign parts[10].
From National Australian Archives
The following page/picture is an entry in shipping registers of 1862. The register is MELBOURNE, Main Register subsequent to Merchant Shipping Act 1854, Volume 2, 1859-1863, Folio 143[11].
At the top left of the Register is the "Name, Residence, and Description of the Owners..", followed by the handwritten name: Stephen George Henty, of Melbourne. Stephen George Henty sold the Princeza on the 31st of January 1863 — just eleven days before she departed Melbourne on 11 February, making the final voyage her first under new ownership. The timing of the sale is telling: Henty's business partnership "Henty, Learmonth and Co." was dissolved in March 1863, just weeks after the wreck[12]. The disposal of the Princeza was almost certainly part of a broader wind-down of Henty's maritime assets in anticipation of that dissolution.
MonumentAustralia describes Stephen George Henty (1811-1872) as "An enterprising explorer, merchant and trader, shipowner, whaler and magistrate, he was active in all civic affairs."[13]. The Casterton & District Historical Society describes Stephen as an "Explorer, Settler, Banker & Trader of Portland Bay, Colony of Port Phillip (later Victoria)" [14]. The Victorian Parliament writes that Stephen "became Portland's leading merchant and started first line of steamers between Portland and Melbourne" [15].
From Aberdeen archives
Alexander Hall & Co. was the yard that built the ship with the yard number 169. This ship met a tragic fate, wrecked at Amity Point, Queensland on the 15th of March, 1863[16].
Alexander Hall & Co. (established 1790) was one of the most celebrated shipbuilders in Victorian Britain[17]. The firm is credited with pioneering the distinctive Aberdeen bow — a sharply raked, fine-entry hull form that became the hallmark of fast clipper ships — and their vessel Scottish Maid (1839) is regarded by many maritime historians as among the earliest true clipper ships[17]. By 1850, when the Princeza was built, Hall's was at the height of its reputation, primarily known for fast vessels serving the China tea and opium trades. The Princeza, at 141 register tons, was a modest working brigantine rather than one of their celebrated extreme clippers, but she was nonetheless a product of Aberdeen's finest shipbuilding tradition.
The ship was propelled by sails and was brig rigged. Over its lifespan, it had several owners and masters. From 1849 to 1853, it was owned by Miller & Thomson and registered at Liverpool. Between 1854 and 1856, Lamport & Co took over ownership[16]. The Aberdeen records list this owner as "Lamport & Co," which is very likely Lamport & Holt, the prominent Liverpool shipping firm founded in 1845 by William James Lamport and George Holt[18]. This identification is strongly supported by the vessel's voyage history: Lamport & Holt were well known for running ships between Liverpool and Port Natal (present-day Durban, South Africa), which precisely matches the Princeza's documented routes during the same period.
The ship had different masters throughout its operational years. Master W. Boase took command in 1850 till 1853, followed by Master P. Johnson from 1854 to 1855. Master Gordon took over from 1856 to 1857, with Master Lee succeeding him from 1858 to 1859. The last recorded master was C. Smerdon from 1861 till the ship's wreckage in 1863[16].
The ship embarked on numerous voyages throughout its life according to Lloyd's records. In its initial years in service in the early 1850s, it sailed from Aberdeen and between Liverpool and Mexico. Later in mid-1850s, it frequently navigated between Liverpool and Port Natal as well as Workington and Natal under different mastership[16]. A notable point in its general history includes an incident on November 22nd 1861 when under Master C.Smerdon's command; it cleared for Guam Pacific Islands with no passengers onboard as reported by South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide)[16].