Heritage TitleP18612 – City of York ShipwreckAddressCity of York ShipwreckHeritage Place No18612Construction Commenced1899HistoryThe City of York hit a reef and sank on 12 July 1899 at the end of its journey from San Francisco to Fremantle with a cargo of 3638 timber doors. Captain Philip Jones was unfamiliar with the area and misinterpreted a signal from the lighthouse keeper. Two lifeboats were launched but one overturned. Some in the overturned boat made it back to the wreck and were saved by a line rigged from the ship to shore. Eleven people died in the wreck, including Captain Jones. The vessel was a 67.9 metre iron ship built in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1869. It was owned by the City of York Company Ltd. It lies near Rottnest Island in City of York Bay. Several paintings of the ship were created after the wreck, including two by European artist George N. Bourne and two by an Aboriginal convict, Johnny Cudgely (also known as Jimmy Cudgel) who was imprisoned on Rottnest Island at the time. Artefacts salvaged from the wreck site include portholes, a grindstone, a door, a bookcase, an anchor and the clapper from the ship’s bell. Latitude 31˚59.649 Longitude 115˚29.3394. Place UseOriginal Use – OTHER: OtherOriginal Use – Transport\Communications: Water: OtherPlace TypeHistoric SiteHistoric ThemeTRANSPORT & COMMUNICATIONS - River & sea transport
Local Government Statutory Heritage Listings
Local Government Statutory Listing CustodianCity of FremantleLocal Government Statutory Listing TypeHeritage ListLocal Government Statutory Listing StatusYesLocal Government Statutory Listing Date8/03/2007
Non-Statutory Listings and Surveys
Non-statutory Listings CustodianCity of FremantleNon-statutory Listings TypeMunicipal InventoryNon-statutory Listings Grading18/09/2000Non-statutory Listings DateHistoric Site - recognise
Non-Statutory Listings and Surveys
Non-statutory Listings TypeHeritage CouncilNon-statutory Listings GradingRegister of the National EstateNon-statutory Listings Date21/03/1978