CENTAUR

Shipbuildervessel built by Blaikie Brothers (Footdee, Aberdeen, Scotland, 1846 - 1896)

OwnerOwned by Blaikie Brothers (Footdee, Aberdeen, Scotland, 1846 - 1896)

Date1849

Object NameBRIG

MediumIRON

ClassificationsShip

Dimensionslength 99.4' x breadth 21.1' x depth 12.8'
gross tonnage 188 tons

Object numberABDSHIP002910

Keywords

Aberdeen Built Ships

About MeYard: Blakie Brothers
Official Number: 17568

Fate: wrecked on Little Island Reef, NW of Fremantle, Perth, Australia, 9 December 1874.

Propulsion: sail
Description: Brig rigged, standing bowsprit, square sterned iron clinch. 1½ poop decks, 2 masts, 2 galleries and a male bust figurehead.

Owners:
19/11/1849: Registered in Aberdeen for owners;
Thomas Blaikie, 32 shares; David Blaikie, 32 shares
(Aberdeen Register of Shipping (Aberdeen City Archives))
(Blaikie Bros sell in 1869, CENTAUR ceases to in Lloyd's at this point)
1874: A. J. Johnstone, Melbourne.

Masters:
1850: Master George Allan
1851-56: Master J. Joss
1857-70: Master W. Taylor
1874: Master Frederick Brabham

Voyages (Lloyd's):
1850: Aberdeen - Cape of Good Hope
1851: Aberdeen - Algoa Bay (Port Elizabeth), South Africa
1852-53: Aberdeen - Mautitius
1856: Aberdeen - London
1857-58: Aberdeen - Baltic
1859: Aberdeen
1860-71: Aberdeen - Mauritius

General History:
16/12/1874:
Wrecked on Little Island Reef, about 15 miles north of Fremantle, the brig Centaur, Brabham, master from Champion Bay to Fremantle. Cargo — 200 tons lead ore. Passengers — Hon. M. Fraser, Mr. Sept. Burt, and Messrs. John Laxenby and William Perry.
(The Inquirer and Commercial News, (Perth, WA))
(All the crew and passengers were saved)

08/03/1875
WRECK THE BRIG CENTAUR. Report to the Board of Trade of the finding of Court of lnquiry, held Fremantle, Western Australia, on the 11th December, 1874, to Investigate the circumstances connected with the wreck of the British brig CENTAUR, on the 9th December, 1874, while on a voyage from Champion Bay to Fremantle. We find, after carefully considering the evidence, that the British brig CENTAUR, Melbourne, of 188 tons burthen, official No. 17,568, commanded by Frederick Brabham, a certificated Master Mariner, from the port of South Australia, was wrecked on the south end reef about 15 miles north of Fremantle, and 1 mile from the shore, known as Little Island Reef on the 9th December, 1874, consequence of the Master. P. Brabham, having incautiously allowed the vessel to stand on an E.S.E. corse on the starboard tack until she struck at 1 ½ mile from the beach, [...] the decision of the Court is that his certificate be suspended for six months from this date, the said F. Brabham being solely to blame for the wreck of the said vessel
(Shipping and Mercantile Gazette)