Brass Binnacle
1900The Binnacle is a water tight brass rectangular shaped container with a sloping glass face. Inside you can see the compass which is mounted on gimbals
In the 1800s whaling ships came from America, England and France to scour the south-west coast of Western Australia for whales. During the convict era many of the ships which brought convicts to Western Australia were whaling boats which resumed whaling operations for the return voyage.
These whalers pursued the Humpback and Southern Right Whale which migrate along the Western Australian coastline stopping in Geographe Bay to feed and strengthen their calves before continuing to the Southern Ocean. Castle Bay was a popular anchorage for whalers as it provided shelter, water, firewood and elevated granite rocks from which to spot whales. The Castle Rock Whaling Company operated from 1845 to 1872 in what is now Meelup Regional Park.
Details
Details
Binnacles have been used since the 1700s. Over the years many developments to the technology of binnacles have been made to match changes in ship building technology. Its traditional purpose was to hold the ship's magnetic compass, mounted in gimbals to keep it level while the ship pitched and rolled.
A ship binnacle is positioned right before the helmsman’s line of vision so he can observe and steer the vessel accordingly. For this purpose, binnacles are usually mounted in a position near the waist of the steersmen handling the vessel. Usually a weather-protected lamp was attached to the Binnacle to help on a dark, rainy night.
This Binnacle dates from about 1900 and is believed to be from a whaling ship.
Busselton Historical Society
Busselton Historical Society
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