Wreck of Star of Greece
Watercolour painting of the wreck of the Star of Greece at Port Willunga, 1888, by George F. Gregory, Jr.
Built in Belfast in 1868, the Star of Greece was one in a line of eleven clippers called the Irish Stars and famous for breaking records. Today, the ship is renowned to South Australians as one of the most tragic maritime disasters in our history. A violent storm off Port Willunga caught the clipper too close to land and cast it onto the rocks in the early hours of Friday 13 July 1888. Travelling a terrible road with near useless horses, rescue equipment did not reach Port Willunga until 4:00 pm. By then there was no one left to save.
George Frederick Gregory junior was a nineteenth century marine artist who worked in several states over the course of his long career. The quality of his output was diverse and his work ranged from postcard-sized watercolours to large canvases. While living in South Australia his most famous paintings were reconstructions of maritime tragedies. In 1888 he captured the wreck of the Star of Greece near Port Willunga. Although it was common for marine artists to make preliminary sketches on site the opportunity to do the same at wreck sites was rare. Gregory's painting was probably inspired by both sketches made on site and eyewitness accounts. He created many versions of the scene.
Artist: George Frederick Gregory junior
Tags: shipwreck, Star of Greece, GF Gregory, George Frederick Gregory
Associated Locations: Port Willunga, Willunga, Adelaide, South Australia