&sq=&lang=&file=File:Joseph_Witham_-_The_four-masted_barque_%27George_Roper%27_BHC3361.jpg) The Four-masted Barque 'George Roper' by Joseph Witham
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 England | |
| Name | George Roper |
| Owner | W. T. Dickson and Son |
| Route | England to Australia |
| Builder | W. H. Potter and Son |
| Maiden voyage | 10 February 1883, Liverpool |
| Fate | Broke up and sunk at Point Lonsdale on 26 August 1883 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Iron barque |
| Tonnage | |
| Length | 301.7 ft (92.0 m) |
| Beam | 39.1 ft (11.9 m) |
| Depth | 23.6 ft (7.2 m) |
| Sail plan | Four-masted |
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Wreck_of_the_ship_George_Roper,_Point_Lonsdale_(1883)_by_Fred_Kruger.jpg)
George Roper was a four-masted iron barque that was built for service between England and Australia, launching from Liverpool on 10 February 1883. On its maiden voyage, it carried 3,842 tons of cargo, including railway track for the Victorian government, liquor, chemicals, drapery, and dynamite. It reached Australia on 4 July 1883, but got caught on the reef at Point Lonsdale while being towed into Port Melbourne. The ship sat there for nearly two months before breaking up and sinking on 26 August. The wreck remains under 4–5 metres of water and is accessible to recreational divers.