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Free talk at the State Library of Queensland

Wrecked - A survey of shipwreck sites on the Queensland coast, with Paddy Waterson - 20 April

Throughout history, Queensland’s treacherous coastline has claimed nearly 1,400 vessels. The maritime industry is at the heart of Queensland’s and Australia’s historic development and shipping was the principal mode of transport for goods and people until well into the 20th Century.The high volume of sea trade coupled with the treacherous nature of our coastline resulted in many vessels being lost or abandoned. Today, these shipwrecks continue to attract attention, both from a historical and a tourism viewpoint. Yet, despite its profile there is much we do not know about our maritime heritage.  The Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) is conducting a five year survey of Queensland’s historic shipwrecks to draw together all the available information, establishing a more complete picture of where the wrecks are and what they can tell us. Join Paddy Waterson, Queensland’s appointed historical shipwreck practitioner, as he brings some of these stories to the surface.Paddy is a Principal Heritage Officer with the Heritage Branch, DERM, and has worked throughout Queensland, especially in the Far North, Wide Bay/Burnett and South-Eastern Districts. Initially trained as a general archaeologist/historian, Paddy has since completed postgraduate qualifications in forensic osteology and maritime archaeology.When: Wed 20 Apr, 12.30pmWhere: State Library of Queensland, slq Auditorium 2, level 2 (bring your lunch)Tickets: Free, no bookings required

Picture: Drawing of the SS Quetta in the Torres Strait at 9.15 and 9.18 pm on February 28th 1890. The first drawing shows the Quetta before foundering and the second shows the shipwreck.