| History | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name: | William Cossar |
| Namesake: | William Cossar, Shipbuilder |
| Builder: | William Cossar, HM Dockyard, Sydney |
| Fate: | Wrecked in 1825 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Schooner |
| Tons burthen: | 20 (bm) |
William Cossar was a small 20 ton wooden New South Wales Colonial Government schooner that was wrecked in 1825.
A schooner is a type of sailing ship, as defined by its rig configuration. Typically it has two or more masts, the foremast being slightly shorter than the mainmast.
The ship was named after the Government master boat builder, William Cossar. [1]
On 7 July 1817 a party of convicts stole William Cossar from Newcastle, New South Wales. [2] [3] [4] In late November the ship was seen to have been driven ashore at Port Stephens. Nancy was sent to investigate and on 10 December 1818 William Cossar was found to be lying on a beach at the high tide mark. The rigging, sails, gaffs, booms, bowsprit and rudder were missing, as was most of the copper sheathing. There were no signs of the convicts. They may have been killed by aborigines although it was reported that one survivor returned to Sydney on 1 May 1819. [2] The ship was repaired and refloated after much effort.
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie local government areas. It is the hub of the Greater Newcastle area which includes most parts of the local government areas of City of Newcastle, City of Lake Macquarie, City of Cessnock, City of Maitland and Port Stephens Council.
New South Wales is a state on the east coast of Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria to the south, and South Australia to the west. Its coast borders the Tasman Sea to the east. The Australian Capital Territory is an enclave within the state. New South Wales' state capital is Sydney, which is also Australia's most populous city. In December 2018, the population of New South Wales was over 8 million, making it Australia's most populous state. Just under two-thirds of the state's population, 5.1 million, live in the Greater Sydney area. Inhabitants of New South Wales are referred to as New South Welshmen.
Port Stephens, an open youthful tide dominated drowned valley estuary, is a large natural harbour of approximately 134 square kilometres (52 sq mi) located in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia.
On 11 March 1824, the ship capsized near Fort Macquarie, Sydney Harbour, in a squall, and three men drowned. The ship was righted and repaired but then on 14 February 1825, while under the command of Captain Wise was wrecked on the Sow and Pigs Reef in Sydney Harbour, after towing the ship Mangles out to sea. [5] [6]
Fort Macquarie was a square castellated battlement fort built in 1798 at Bennelong Point, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, where the Sydney Opera House now stands. It was demolished in 1901 to make way for the Fort Macquarie Tram Depot.
Sow and Pigs Reef is a rocky reef in Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, Australia. The reef is situated on the eastern side of the main shipping channel between Middle Head and South Head. It is 150 metres (490 ft) long and up to 70 metres (230 ft) wide. Originally the reef was exposed and resembled a sow and her litter. Explosives were used to reduce the reef, however, and now the reef is only exposed at a very low tide. A number of ships have been wrecked or damaged after hitting the reef.
