ON a remote stretch of country road between Nirranda and Peterborough, Rex Mathieson reflects on a key moment in Australia’s maritime history.
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The retired dairy farmer has spent months pouring over old documents and organising a series of functions to commemorate the centennial of the Antares shipwreck off the south-west coast in December 1914.
Mr Mathieson said this weekend was a time to reflect on a pivotal moment in the region’s shipwreck heritage.
“The Antares was the last of the tall ships to be destroyed off the south-west coast,” the amateur historian said.
“There’s been a number of centennials but this is the last one, the last roll of the dice if you will.
“We’re known internationally as the Shipwreck Coast and the Antares is an important part of that legacy.”
The Antares was sailing from the French city Marseilles to Melbourne via the southern Australian coastline before it came to grief on a rocky outcrop near Peterborough.
Nirranda district farmers Phillip Le Couteur and Peter Mathieson — Rex’s ancestor — came across the shipwreck and reported the disaster to local police.
Festivities start on Friday night with a historical dinner at Childers Restaurant in Nullawarre featuring guest speakers John Mathieson, Ron Cashmore and Sean McNaulty, as well as several historical displays.
On Saturday at 1.30pm, Mr Mathieson will unveil a commemorative plaque at the southern end of Radfords Road.
The commemoration weekend will finish with a community dinner at the new Nirranda Community Centre with a speech from maritime historian Donald Walker, a display by Nullawarre Primary School pupils and a fireworks display.
