Hougomont, Four-masted barque in Stenhouse Bay, Australia.
The Hougomont was a steel ship with four masts measuring about 90 meters long, built to carry cargo and train sailors on ocean voyages. After it sank off Stenhouse Bay, portions of its hull settled beneath the water, with parts of the stern and bow remaining visible above the surface.
The ship originated from Greenock, Scotland, where it was built in 1897, and began its career under Gustav Erikson's shipping company in 1924. A severe storm damaged the vessel in 1932, which led to its decline and eventual loss.
The vessel was a crucial link between distant ports and continents, moving goods between ports in the Americas, Europe, and Australia. The trading routes it traveled show how sailing ships in the early 1900s connected people and cargo across long ocean journeys.
The wreck rests in relatively shallow water where visitors can explore the visible sections, with the best conditions occurring during calm weather. Check local conditions before visiting, as the site is affected by tides and weather patterns in the area.
During a 1903 voyage to Liverpool, the ship ran aground near Allonby while carrying more than 30,000 crates of canned fruit in its cargo hold. This unusual incident shows the challenges that large sailing ships of that era faced on their journeys.
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