bankfields

The bankfields

Initially located by HMAS Melville in 2006, the actual location of this wreck was unknown for some time as the navy transcribed the co-ordinates incorrectly. The transcription error was discovered in 2024 by Jeremy Green and the site was dived by WreckSploration on 04/04/2026. The wreck lies in 115m of water off the southwest of Rottnest Island.

Bankfields (ex James Beazely 1876-1950), while unremarkable, marks a relatively significant point in Perth/Fremantle’s maritime history, and came to what would have been a spectacular end. The last of Fremantle’s coal hulks and an explosive end, thanks to the RAAF.

From Dr Ross Anderson (WA Museum):

Length (59.7m) and depth of hold (6m) measurements match Bankfields
Site 34 and Bankfields scuttling photo show identical masts (foremast, mainmast and two service masts) configuration.
Site 34 bow matches Bankfields bow.
Other wrecks/ hulks in 60m length range are Site 06 Clipper wreck, Site 07 Tamerlane, Site 08, Site 34 and possibly Site 35.
Site 06 previously assessed as not being Bankfields based on mast configuration. Site 08 appears to be a dredge or hopper barge.
Summary – Site 34 identified as Bankfields (ex-James Beazley) 1876-1950.

Built in Sunderland, UK, by Osbourne Graham & Co. in 1876. The James Beazley was built for its namesake, James Beazley & Co. of Liverpool. Sold to W. Just & Co. of Liverpool in 1878 and renamed Bankfields.

Bankfields changed ownership 3 more times, and under the ownership of the Colonial Sailing Ship Co. from 1908-1911, Bankfields was used on the trade route between South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. In 1911, Bankfields changed ownership for the final time and was converted to a coal hulk by Adelaide S.S Co. and towed from Adelaide to Fremantle.

For 39 years, Bankfields served as a coal hulk at the Port of Fremantle and at the time of sinking, it was the last of Fremantle’s coal hulks.

In what was a spectacular end, Bankfields was towed 27 miles out to sea and sunk by the RAAF.

Excerpt from: The Daily News Perth, Wednesday 7th June 1950
Last Dive For Last Coal Hulk

Fremantle’s last coal hulk, the former windjammer Bankfields, rendered her last service today when the RAAF attacked it 27 miles from Fremantle in a “satisfactory exercise.”
Stripped to the poles, Bankfields went down in the “graveyard of ships” at 1.10 p.m. before the onslaught of 60lb. high explosive rockets which crashed into it from 400 m.p.h. diving Mustang aircraft.
As the Bankfields was subsiding into the water over the Continental shelf, the Mustangs turned from their rocket attack and raced in with machineguns blazing in a strafing attack.

Excerpt from: The West Australian, Saturday 13th May 1950

LAST COAL HULK Bankfields To Be Sunk Off Coast Used as a coal hulk in Fremantle Harbour for 32 years, the once trim 859-ton barque Bankfields is to be towed to sea within the next two weeks and sunk in the graveyard of ships, west of Rottnest Island. At one time there were 15 coal hulks at Fremantle, and the Bankfields is the last of them.
She is at present being stripped of all her gear for handling coal before going on her last voyage. The names of some of the hulks which were at Fremantle will recall memories of sailing ship days to many of the identities along the waterfront. They included the Maggie Moore, Loch Ness, Tamerlane, Maranda, Sesa, Samuel Plimsoll, Merion, Concordia, County of Caithness, Tocopilla, Knowsley, Clevedon, Kirkcudbrightshire and Thornliebank.

Dived and modelled 04/04/2026

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