Gypsy’, ‘Agnes’, ‘Grace Darling’

Andrew, James, Charles and William Dempster acquired the cutter ‘Gypsy’ (27 tons, built in Fremantle in 1870) and transported wool to Adelaide, stores and stock from Fremantle, sheep to Esperance islands, and used in seal hunting. The ship was deregistered in 1908; ‘...not seen since 1873’ – believed ending her life pearling in the Northwest. That vessel and Captain Fred Douglas’ coastal schooners ‘Agnes’ (43 tons, built in 1874, in WA 1879) and ‘Grace Darling’ (82 tons, built 1862, in WA 1869, lost 1914) that provided the only regular shipping service to the small outpost for many years.