Lot 190

Description

The Wreck of the Steamship 'Admella', 1859, electrotype obverse only in silvered copper (51mm) by DeGruchy and Leigh (Sydney), D G & L on truncation to ground, a scene of the wreck with 'Hope To The Last' on a ribbon, divided by an anchor, legend around rim 'The Admella Steamer wrecked on her passage from Adelaide to Melbourne off Cape Northumberland (6 Aug,1859)'. Nearly extremely fine and rare.

The steamship 'Admella' of 500 tons was built in Glasgow in 1857. Taking her name from the first syllables of ADelaide, MELbourne and LAunceston, she commenced service between Adelaide and Melbourne in August 1858.

The following is an extract from the S.A.N.J. July 1950:

"The Steamship, 'Admella', left Port Adelaide on Friday, August 5, 1859, bound for Melbourne carrying 82 passengers and a crew of 31. Included in the cargo were four racehorses which were to take part in the first Melbourne Cup. The story of the tragic loss of the ship is one of epic heroism mixed with almost unbelievable ill-luck which dogged the rescue attempts. Late on Friday afternoon, due to a heavy swell, a mishap occurred to one of the horses, soon after the 'Admella' had passed Cape Willoughby and the ship was brought around so that the frightened animal could be quietened. The change in course apparently caused some confusion because of the lack of landmark and the subsequent misreading of the compass. Around about 4.30 on Saturday morning the ship ran onto Carpenter's Rocks, a sunken reef between Robe and Port MacDonnell."