Historical information

This is a photographic image of the three masted iron clipper Loch Vennachar created by photographer Fred Kruger of Geelong.

Fred Kruger was born in Germany in 1831 and migrated to Victoria before his wife, who arrived in 1863 and began doing work in photography in the 1850’s. He was internationally recognised for work, which covered a wide variety of subjects. He settled in Geelong in later years, registering his studio in Skene St, Newtown. He passed away in February 1888. The National Gallery of Victoria now holds much of his work.

Loch Vennachar was built by Thomson’s on the Clyde under the Glasgow Shipping Co in 1875. Her owner was the Loch Line, which named its ships after lakes; Loch Vennachar is a lake south-west of the burgh of Callander, in the Stirling region of Scotland.

Loch Vennachar made many journeys from Britain to Australia and was well known in Australian ports.

On 14th June 1905 she departed Glasgow for Adelaide and Melbourne and the last known sighting was on 6th September 1875 when she was overtaken by the SS Yongala; the captains exchanged “all well” signals. After that she then disappeared with loss of all 27 lives according to a list that was received by Fremantle by English mail; the list indicates that there were no passengers on this voyage. She was one of many sailing ships built for the Loch Line, many of which met with disaster.

The list of lost crew includes Thomas. W. Pearce, apprentice, Southampton. His father is the now famous Tom Pearce, being well known as one of the 2 survivors of the Loch Ard wrecking in 1878. Also, Thomas’ grandfather, James Pearce, was the captain of SS Gothenburg at the time of her wrecking in 1875.

The loss of both the Loch Vennachar and Loch Sloy could possibly have been avoided by having a lighthouse at Cape du Couedic on the south-west point of Kangaroo Island. Consequently a lighthouse was officially opened in June 1907. The northern headland of West Bay was named Vennachar Point in the memory of the ship in 1908.

The wreck was discovered in 1976, over seventy years after she was lost, off Kangaroo Island in by divers from the Society for Underwater Historical Research.

Significance

The Loch Vennachar performed a significant role in Australia’s colonial trade, taking goods between Great Britain and Australia.

Physical description

Black And White photograph of the Loch Vennachar in dock, without sails. (aka Loch Vennacher). Printed below photo "Loch Vennachar of Glasgow, 1485 Tons Reg. AA1 100. T.S. Ozanne, Comander" and "Fred Kruger Photo / Skene Street, Geelong"

Inscriptions & markings

Printed below photo "Loch Vennachar of Glasgow, 1485 Tons Reg. AA1 100. T.S. Ozanne, Comander" and "Fred Kruger Photo / Skene Street, Geelong"