FOIG-A-BALLAGH
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Statement of Significance
Foig-a-Ballagh is representative of one of the small trading sailing vessels, carrying essential goods into and out of Melbourne during the nineteenth century. Coal was becoming an indispensible commodity in Victoria from the 1850s onwards with the development of the railways and the new steamships that were becoming increasingly popular and Foig-a-Ballagh was a coal-carrying trader. Foig-a-Ballagh potentially has archaeological significance for Irish shipbuilding techniques as it is possible the bow is reasonably well preserved under the sand. The vessel holds potential significance as a training site for maritime archaeology students.
Significance assessed against criteria defined in Guidelines for the Management of Australia's Shipwrecks (1994)
CRITERION 1: HISTORIC
Foig-a-Ballagh has historical significance as representative of one of the small sailing trading vessels operating on Port Phillip Bay during the mid-nineteenth century.
CRITERION 2: TECHNICAL
Foigh-a-Ballagh currently has no proven technical significance.
CRITERION 3: SOCIAL
Foigh-a-Ballagh has minor social significance due to its part in the history of the coal trade in Victoria.
CRITERION 4: ARCHAEOLOGICAL
Foig-a-Ballagh may have archaeological significance in Irish shipbuilding techniques since what remains of the hull may be reasonably well preserved under sand. The site could be a useful training site for maritime archaeology students, in the right conditions, due to its relatively shallow depth and accessibility by boat. Training activities could include site location and non-disturbance surveys.
CRITERION 5: SCIENTIFIC
Foig-a-Ballagh is not currently the subject of any scientific studies.
CRITERION 6: INTERPRETIVE
Foig-a-Ballagh has interpretive potential both as a training site for archaeology students and as part of the history of Port Phillip Bay.
CRITERION 7: RARE
There are eight coal carrier wrecks sunk within Port Phillip Bay, six of those were in ballast. Only Foig-a-Ballagh and Seabird sank with their coal cargoes (Foster 1987: 22-23). The vessel is therefore a rare example in the archaeological record of Port Phillip Bay.
CRITERION 8: REPRESENTATIVE
Foig-a-Ballagh is representative of one of the small 'mosquito fleet' sailing vessels, carrying essential goods into and out of Melbourne during the nineteenth century.