Inverloch’s Amazon shipwreck receives Living Heritage Grant

A group of determined volunteers are celebrating after receiving a grant to restore buried treasure found at an Inverloch beach.

A group of volunteers from Amazon 1863 Project have received a grant to conserve shipwreck artefacts. Volunteer Trilby Parise at the shipwreck holding a dead eye a part of the ships rigging system. Picture: Sarah Matray

Bass Coast volunteers are celebrating after receiving a grant to preserve a 165-year-old shipwreck buried at Inverloch’s Surf Beach.

Amazon 1863 Project have been awarded a Living Heritage Grant of $20,000 by the State Government to fund urgent conservation works to the wooden cargo ship.

Secretary Karyn Bugeja told the The Bass Coast News the volunteer group were “rapt” but surprised with the funding.

“We were a bit surprised because some of the pieces we thought we would have no trouble getting a grant for were knocked back,” Ms Bugeja.

“We can understand why now because they were pieces that were going to take between five and eight years to conserve.”

The $20,000 grant will extend the life of the shipwreck by conserving the deadwood, which is the lower part of ship’s stem.

The artefact is currently in Wonthaggi with Parks Victoria and the treatment is expected to take a few months to complete.

The deadwood joined the stem of the bow to the keel of the ship. Picture: Supplied

Amazon 1863 Project are hoping to display the deadwood in a museum in Inverloch.

Group chairwoman Trilby Parise said she was excited for that part of preservation to start.

“We can’t wait for the museum preservation to commence so that this particular piece can be returned to the public for all to enjoy,” Ms Parise said.

She said she was thrilled about the “beautiful shipwreck” being recognised as an “important preservation worthy artefact”.

The Amazon ran aground at Inverloch on December 12, 1863, after being caught in a storm.

Built in 1855 in Jersey, it provides insights into the shipbuilding tradition of that era and is an historically significant example of a mid-19th century wooden international trading vessel that contributed to Victoria’s economy in the 1800s.

Amazon 1863 Project have launched a children’s book to raise funds to conserve the other four artefacts.

“If we sell half the amount of books we have printed, we would be well on our way to having the trail board at least well and truly started,” Ms Bugeja said.

Inverloch’s Riddle of the Amazon: When is a Bark not a Bark? will be available on Friday from ArtSpace Wonthaggi, Inverloch Post Office, Inverloch Bendigo Bank, Bunurong Environment Centre and Clancy’s Printing Wonthaggi.

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