Lot Essay
LOCH VENNACHER WAS ONE OF THE FLEET OF IRON WOOL CLIPPERS BUILT ON THE CLYDE FOR THE GLAGOW SHIPPING COMPANY. LAUNCHED FROM THOMSON'S YARD IN AUGUST 1875 AND REGISTERED AT 1,484 TONS, SHE WAS ONE OF THE FINEST AND FASTEST OF THE 'LOCHS' BUT ALSO ONE OF THE UNLUCKIEST. USUALLY ONE OF THE FIRST CLIPPERS TO GET AWAY FROM MELBOURNE EACH OCTOBER IN ORDER TO CATCH THE JANUARY WOOL SALES AT HOME, HER PASSAGE TIMES AVERAGED 86 DAYS AND SHE COULD CARRY OVER 5,000 BALES OF WOOD WHEN FULLY LADEN.
IN 1892 LOCH VENNACHER WAS DISMASTED IN A CYCLONE IN THE SOUTHERN INDIAN OCEAN. CLEARING GLASGOW ON APRIL 6TH BOUND FOR MELBOURNE, SHE WAS SWAMPED BY TWO FREAK WAVES AND ALMOST WRECKED ON THE MORNING OF JUNE 4TH. IT TOOK FIVE WEEKS FOR CAPTAIN BENNETT TO NURSE HER INTO PORT LOUIS, MAURITIUS, WHERE SHE WAS RE-RIGGED AT A COAST OF L9,000 AND EVENTUALLY REACHED AUSTRALIA AFTER A VOYAGE OF 260 DAYS.
IN NOVEMBER 1901, WHEN ANCHORED ON THAMESHAVEN PRIOR TO LEAVING FOR MELBOURNE, SHE WAS RUN DOWN BY LOCH LINE STEAMER CATO AND BOTH VESSELS WERE SUNK. AFTER A MONTH ON THE BOTTOM OF THE THAMES, LOCH VENNACHER WAS RAISED, REPAIRED AND FULLY REFURBISHED AT A COST OF L17,000, AND RETURNED TO SERVICE ON THE AUSTRALIA RUN. IN THE EARLY AUTUMN OF 1905, SHE WAS REPORTED OVERDUE AFTER HAVING LAST BEEN SEEN ON SEPTEMBER 6TH. AT THE END OF THE MONTH LOCH VENNACHER'S WRECKAGE WAS DISCOVERED ON KANGAROO ISLAND OFF ADELAIDE, WHERE SHE HAD GONE ASHORE.
IN 1892 LOCH VENNACHER WAS DISMASTED IN A CYCLONE IN THE SOUTHERN INDIAN OCEAN. CLEARING GLASGOW ON APRIL 6TH BOUND FOR MELBOURNE, SHE WAS SWAMPED BY TWO FREAK WAVES AND ALMOST WRECKED ON THE MORNING OF JUNE 4TH. IT TOOK FIVE WEEKS FOR CAPTAIN BENNETT TO NURSE HER INTO PORT LOUIS, MAURITIUS, WHERE SHE WAS RE-RIGGED AT A COAST OF L9,000 AND EVENTUALLY REACHED AUSTRALIA AFTER A VOYAGE OF 260 DAYS.
IN NOVEMBER 1901, WHEN ANCHORED ON THAMESHAVEN PRIOR TO LEAVING FOR MELBOURNE, SHE WAS RUN DOWN BY LOCH LINE STEAMER CATO AND BOTH VESSELS WERE SUNK. AFTER A MONTH ON THE BOTTOM OF THE THAMES, LOCH VENNACHER WAS RAISED, REPAIRED AND FULLY REFURBISHED AT A COST OF L17,000, AND RETURNED TO SERVICE ON THE AUSTRALIA RUN. IN THE EARLY AUTUMN OF 1905, SHE WAS REPORTED OVERDUE AFTER HAVING LAST BEEN SEEN ON SEPTEMBER 6TH. AT THE END OF THE MONTH LOCH VENNACHER'S WRECKAGE WAS DISCOVERED ON KANGAROO ISLAND OFF ADELAIDE, WHERE SHE HAD GONE ASHORE.