Historical information

Saved from the ship Speke which ran aground on the coast of Phillip Island on the 22nd of February 1906. The ships captain gave the compass box to the Harris family.

Significance

The Speke was an all steel ship built in Wales in 1891. She was delivering wheat to Geelong and confused a bushfire in Cowes for navigation lights. Many local people salvaged goods from the resulting wreckage.

Physical description

Square wooden compass box with wooden lid, made of mahogany, brass hinges, handles and lock.