Anchor discovered by construction workers at Bunbury’s Casuarina Boat Harbour identified as mooring anchor

The anchor discovered by construction workers at the northern breakwater at Bunbury’s Casuarina Boat Harbour earlier this month was identified as a mooring anchor. WA Museum and Department of Maritime Heritage representative Aurora Philpin said the type of anchor could also be called an admiralty anchor. “The anchor is part of the historical landscape of the Bunbury port,” she said. “We know the anchor was used in historical shipping in the area. In terms of the anchor itself, we know it’s a mooring anchor. We can tell that because it has a front arm and glue. “It’s an admiralty type. It also has a a chain attached to it called the stud link chain and this kind of chain was heavier and stronger, so it made it safe to ship and moor in port.” Ms Philpin said based on the anchor being an admiralty anchor, they believe the anchor could have been in use between the late 19th century up until the mid 20th century for sandy or muddy seabeds. “The way a mooring anchor works is it has it’s arm buried into the seabed,” she said. “This makes it safer for the ships in more shallow water, so they didn’t hit their hull on another arm and flute poking out of the seabed. Then the chain allowed the ships to pull out (of the water).” WA Museum and Department of Maritime Heritage has provided the Department of Transport with conservation advice to preserve the history of the anchor and it’s Bunbury origins.