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Report on the Coroner's Inquest and the burials of of Thomas Gibbes, Charles Kemp and James Starkie of the Edward Lombe 6 September 1834

From the collections of the
State Library of New South Wales
[Sydney Gazette, 9 September 1834, p2 via Trove]

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The wreck of the Edward Lombe
Subjects
Accidents and disasters Death and Dying Law and Order Media Ships
Artefacts
Edward Lombe Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser
Events
Edward Lombe shipwreck 1834
People
Gibbes, John George Nathaniel Kemp, Charles Starkey, James

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State Library of New South Wales

The wreck of the Edward Lombe

In August 1834 one of the worst maritime disasters in Sydney waters took place when the Edward Lombe was wrecked off Middle Head. The story has been overshadowed by the catastrophic wreck of the Dunbar in 1857, but at the time, the wreck of the Edward Lombe was a significant and distressing incident for the colony. Never before had the colony witnessed the destruction of a large sailing vessel with a resulting loss of life and the event generated widespread debate in the colony about the safety of shipping in the harbour.

Ships

Accidents and disasters

Law and Order

Death and Dying

Media

Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser

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First newspaper published in Sydney, from 5 March 1803 until 20 October 1842. 

Originally printed in a lean-to shed at the back of Government House, the newspaper moved to different premises in Macquarie Place in 1808 and then to a building on lower George Street in December 1810. In 1824 the printery moved again to a larger two storey building further south on George Street on the corner of Charlotte Place. 

Edward Lombe shipwreck 1834

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Wreck of the barque, the Edward Lombe, on Middle Head on 25 August 1834. It was the first shipwreck in the harbour with an associated loss of life and was one of the worst maritime disasters to have occurred in Sydney waters.

Edward Lombe

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A three-masted timber barque of 347 (imperial) tons (352.6 tonnes) that was built in Yorkshire in 1828 and named after a local politician. The ship travelled between England and Australia in 1830 and again in 1832-3, carrying goods and passengers, including immigrants and convicts, before her final voyage in 1834. She was wrecked on Middle Head on 25 August 1834, the first time a shipwreck occurred in Sydney with an associated loss of life. Eleven of the 29 people on board died.

Gibbes, John George Nathaniel

British soldier who became Collector of Customs for 25 years.

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Kemp, Charles

Passenger who died in the wreck of the Edward Lombe in Sydney Harbour in August 1834. He appears to have joined the ship at Hobart, ten days before the disaster. His body was found washed up near the wreck with that of seaman James Starkie. Both men were formally identified by the first mate Thomas Marshall at an inquest on 6 September. Their remains were very decomposed when found, and the treatment their bodies received on their way to burial caused a public outcry.

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Starkey, James

Sailor who died in the wreck of the Edward Lombe in Sydney Harbour in August 1834. His body was found washed up near the wreck with that of passenger Charles Kemp. Both were formally identified by the first mate Thomas  Marshall at an inquest on 6 September. Their remains were very decomposed when found, and the treatment the bodies received on their way to burial caused a public outcry. 

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