AMAZON
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Statement of Significance
Amazon is archaeologically significant as a rare example of an international wooden trading ship from the mid-19th century. Amazon is a representative example of mid-19th century wooden cargo carriers and while Victoria has a number of iron and steel international cargo carrying shipwrecks.
**Amazon's significance will need to be monitored as the site when exposed is at the mercy of the tides and looters.
SIGNIFICANCE CRITERIA
CRITERION 1: HISTORIC
Amazon is historically significant as an example of a mid-19th century wooden international trading vessel that contributed to Victoria's economy in the 1800s. Built in 1855 in Jersey, one of the Channel Islands of the United Kingdom, the ship may have historical insights into the shipbuilding tradition of that era.
CRITERION 2: TECHNICAL
Wooden three-masted barques were the more common types of deep-water international cargo carriers in the mid-19th century. The technical significance of the vessel cannot be determined without further research, but may offer some technical significance of Jersey shipbuilding.
CRITERION 3: SOCIAL
Social significance is minor although there are echoes of the wrecking of the Amazon at Inverloch as the entrance to Wreck Creek (named for the wreck) is approximately 20 metres to the east of the site. When Amazon ran aground on the beach, this area of coastline was deserted and the crew were lucky Mr Heales passed by on his way to Melbourne. Due to the limited exposure of the wreck since 1863, the local community do not appear to have embraced the wreck site until the recent exposure.
Currently, local interest and value in the Amazon wrecksite is increasing. This is due to the current uncovered state of the site and the push by Heritage Victoria to record the site and raise awareness about its preservation state.
CRITERION 4: ARCHAEOLOGICAL
The archaeological potential of the wreck is still to be determined. The exposed frames and ballast mound at the low tide mark is jumbled and much of the context may not be in its original form. However, the fact that the wreckage does not appear to have been exposed often since the wreck event in 1863 - and the ship was said to be beached into the sand up to 3 metres (?) indicates there may well be parts of the vessel still intact under the sand. The archaeology also has the potential to highlight mid-19th century UK shipbuilding techniques that are under-represented in the Victorian UCH resource.
CRITERION 5: SCIENTIFIC
Amazon is not currently the subject of any scientific studies. However, it has the potential to provide insight into an historic shipwreck located in the intertidal zone. Particularly preservation of wooden and iron features that are intermittently uncovered.
CRITERION 6: INTERPRETIVE
Due to its current exposure, Amazon has interpretive significance, particularly for the local community. This can be further explored through signage and images. Amazon may have interpretive potential after further archaeological study.
CRITERION 7: RARE
The Victorian shipwreck resource has quite a few examples of international iron and steel trading ships but, the wreck of the Amazon is a rare example of a mid-19th century wooden international cargo carrier. The wreck is also the only example in the Victorian wreck resource that was built in Jersey, one of the Channel Islands in the United Kingdom. The erosion that occurred during the Autumn storms in April 2015, exposed rare and delicate organic artefacts such as a deadeye with a knot still tied at one end.
CRITERION 8: REPRESENTATIVE
Amazon is representative of a mid-19th century international wooden cargo carrier, transporting goods across the world.