Rendering Pot

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Overview

Brass rendering pot or "try pot" with iron handles and a dimpled brass base. Salvaged from the Castle Bay Whaling Company (1848-1870) where it was used to melt the whale blubber into whale oil.

Historical information

In 1845 John Bateman formed the Castle Bay Whaling Company with three other Fremantle businessmen and a whaling station called ‘The Fishery’ was set up at the Bay to process the whales to extract whale oil. The ‘whale lookout’ on the hill above Castle Rock was used to sight whales swimming past. Harpooned whales were brought ashore and whale oil was obtained by boiling their blubber in huge cauldrons stirred with long handled spoons. The oil was then poured into casks for shipping. The Castle Bay Whaling Company closed down in 1872 as the price of whale oil declined with the commercial development of petroleum.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-124-2024.115

Item type

Themes

Material

Width

62 cm

Height or length

72 cm

Depth

45 cm

Contextual Information

Whaling vessels from the 19th century used large iron pots, called try pots, to liquify whale blubber. Once boiled down, the liquid oil would be stored in wooden casks beneath deck.

Keywords

Castle Bay Whaling Station

Maritime Objects

Primary significance criteria

Historic significance

Social or spiritual significance

Related Objects

Parent records

Marine Room

Busselton Historical Society

Organisation Details
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