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It is estimated that over 1200 ships have foundered in West Australian waters since the 1600s. Many of these were salvaged or broken up for scrap, but close to 750 still lie undiscovered on the sea bed.
The two areas with the highest number of wrecks are around Fremantle and Rottnest with over 120 recorded sinkings and Broome with 108 ships recorded as being sunk.
In 1874 a Royal Commission was held into the number and causes of shipwrecks and the following results were obtained:
Losses due to unseaworthiness of vessels 5% Weather and circumstances beyond human control 30.5% Drunkenness, ignorance and incompetence 65.5% |
