Historical information
The Earl of Charlemont was a medium-sized, 878 ton passenger ship built at Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, in 1849.
It sailed from the Port of Liverpool on 13 March 1853 with 366 passengers plus crew, captained by William Gardner. The first port of call was to be Port Phillip, Australia, before continuing to Sydney with the majority of the passengers.
After a passage of 97 days the ship reached Cape Otway on 17 June and set a course for Port Phillip some 56 miles away. At 5.15 a.m. on the 19 June 1853 the ship struck a reef (later named Charlemont Reef) about 1½ miles from Barwon Heads.
The anchor was raised by Barwon Grove Skin Divers on June 25 1972.
Physical description
Wrought iron anchor
