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Tasmanian Seafarers' Memorial
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Brigantine Creole (1863)
The plaque reads ... 
Creole 1863
Brig of 144 tons bound for Dunedin NZ
left Launceston 28.08.1863.
Foundered in Banks Strait
near Waterhouse Is.
31 souls lost - Capt. Fleurty, 8 crew
15 passengers, 7 grooms, 13 horses
40 cattle, 200 sheep, 130 bales hay
206 bags fodder, 15 packs furniture.
The Sydney Morning Herald of 9 October 1863 stated:
"LOSS OF THE BRIGANTINE
CREOLE.
"The brigantine Creole has been wrecked in Banks Straits,
and it is feared all hands are lost. We take the following particulars
relative to the melancholy occurrence from our Tasmanian files. The Launceston
Examiner of the 26th says :- General gloom pervaded the town yesterday, in consequence
of a report that the brigantine Creole, Captain Fleurty, which sailed
from this port on the 28th ultimo, had been wrecked in Banks' Straits, and that
every soul had perished."
The article concluded with:
"The Cornwall Chronicle of 26th says :-The Creole cleared the Tamar Heads for Dunedin on the forenoon of the 28th August. There was a strong north-westerly gale blowing at the time, and very bad weather on the 29th. It is supposed that even using the promptest exertions possible, it will occupy the police boat two days in going and returning ; yet it appears there is no speedier way available for ascertaining the facts. In the meantime the utmost anxiety prevails here respecting the fate of the Creole. She was commanded by Captain Fleurty, whose wife and family of five children reside in Cameron-street. She had on board the following passengers :-Mr. and Mrs. F.A.C. Townley and child, Mr James Dean (son of Mr W. M. Dean), Miss Bain, Mrs. Rattray and three children, Mrs Green, Mr. W. Weymouth, Mr. H. Clayton, Master Clayton and Samuel Clear, Francis Gibbs, John Lanton, William Coleby, J. Wilson, Thomas Green, Andrew Stephenson, steerage passengers, attending to stock. Her crew consisted, besides Captain Fleurty, of Norman, Clarke, John Cook, R. Mortimer, W. Devar and R. Thomson. "
Richard John Mortimer aged 19 pleaded guilty to the theft of stealing boots and shoes and was convicted in 1845. He was sentenced for transportation to Van Diemen's Land for 10 years. Mortimer was employed on the Creole as a groom attending to the heavy draught horses and mares.
Plaque unveilled October 2024.