View source for Elizabeth Reef

{{Short description|Coral reef in the Tasman Sea}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2019}}
{{OSM Location map
|float       = right
|width       = 240
| coord      = {{coord|-30|155}}              
| mark-coord = {{coord|-29.956944| 159.075556}}
| label      = Elizabeth Reef
| zoom       = 5              <!--(1=whole world, 18=a street)-->
| caption    = Location of Elizabeth Reef east of New South Wales
}}

[[File:The Australian zoologist (1934) (20163567039).jpg|thumb|right|1934 map of Elizabeth Reef]]

'''Elizabeth Reef''', located at {{coord|29|57|25|S|159|4|32|E|display=inline,title}}, is a [[coral reef]] in the [[Coral Sea]]. The reef is separated by a deep [[ocean]]ic pass, some 47&nbsp;km wide, from nearby [[Middleton Reef]], both of which are part of the [[underwater plateau]] known as the [[Lord Howe Rise]]. It is around 150&nbsp;km from [[Lord Howe Island]] and 600&nbsp;km from the [[New South Wales]] coast of [[Australia]]. The [http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/csia1969158/ Environment, Sport and Territories Legislation Amendment Act 1997] included Elizabeth Reef in Australia's [[Coral Sea Islands]] Territory.<ref name=Prescott>
{{cite journal
 | last = Prescott
 | first = Victor 
 | author-link = John Robert Victor Prescott
 | title = The Uncertainties of Middleton and Elizabeth Reefs
 | journal = Maritime Studies
 | volume = 1998
 | issue = 100
 | pages = 8–14
 | date = 1998
 | language =
 | url = https://www.dur.ac.uk/resources/ibru/publications/full/bsb6-1_prescott.pdf
 | jstor =
 | issn =
 | doi = 10.1080/07266472.1998.10878528}}
</ref>

It is the southernmost coral [[atoll]] in the world and one of the southernmost platform reefs in the world. It measures 10.5&nbsp;km by 6.1&nbsp;km. Despite the relatively high latitude, a wide variety of [[flora]] and [[fauna]] exists on the reef and in the surrounding waters due to their location where tropical and temperate [[ocean current]]s converge.

At low tide most of the reef flat is exposed; at high tide, both a [[cay]] and a [[sand spit]] are visible. Elizabeth Island, with a diameter of about 50 m, is one metre above sea level. Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs form the Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Park Reserve managed by the [[Government of Australia]] under the [[Natural Heritage Trust]].<ref>[http://www.environment.gov.au/coasts/mpa/elizabeth/index.html Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Park Reserve] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603065457/http://www.environment.gov.au/coasts/mpa/elizabeth/index.html |date=2010-06-03 }}</ref>

[[File:Elizabeth Reef.jpg|frame|right|Elizabeth Reef image from [https://web.archive.org/web/20080917184349/http://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi/landsat.pl NASA Millennium Coral Reef Mapping Project]]]

==History==
===Sightings===
[[David Blackburn (Royal Navy officer)|David Blackburn]], who had previously been the master of [[HMS Supply (1759)|HMS ''Supply'']], had first sighted and named Middleton Reef (and was thus aware of it) in September 1788 what was then called Golden Grove shoal 
<blockquote>''The [[Golden Grove (1782 ship)|Golden Grove]], on her return to this port, saw a very dangerous reef, the south end of which, according to the observation of Mr. Blackburn, (the master of the Supply,) who commanded her for the voyage, lay in the latitude of 29° 25' South, and longitude 159° 29' East. It appeared to extend, when she was about four leagues from it, from the N. E. by N. to N''<ref>{{cite book |last1=Collins |first1=David |title=An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales [Volume 1] |date=1798 |publisher=T. Cadell Jun. and W. Davies 1798 |page=74 |url=https://adc.library.usyd.edu.au/data-2/colacc1.pdf}}</ref></blockquote>
This may have either been either a sighting of Elizabeth Reef (approximately 70&nbsp;km to the South West) or a re-sighting of Middleton Reef (approximately 32&nbsp;km to the West)

Elizabeth Reef has also been called [[Seringapatam (1799 ship)|Seringapatam]] reef or Clarke's Reef<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article52075245 |title=SHIPPING MOVEMENTS. |newspaper=[[Morning Bulletin]] |volume=XXXI |issue=4824 |location=Queensland, Australia |date=11 September 1883 |accessdate=26 May 2021 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article111141901 |title=SHIPPING NEWS. |newspaper=[[The Newcastle Chronicle and Hunter River District News|The Newcastle Chronicle]] |volume=XIII |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=18 July 1871 |accessdate=26 May 2021 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3421723 |title=SHIPPING. |newspaper=[[The Brisbane Courier]] |volume=XXXVIII |issue=8,005 |location=Queensland, Australia |date=7 September 1883 |accessdate=26 May 2021 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> after the whaling ship [[Seringapatam (1799 ship)|''Seringapatam'']] and its captain, Clarke, who had been in the region of the reef in or about 1808 <ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article627583 |title=SYDNEY. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser]] |volume=VI |issue=246 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=18 September 1808 |accessdate=26 May 2021 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article627502 |title=Sitting Magistrate for the ensuing week-W. LAWSON. Esq. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser]] |volume=VI |issue=228 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=15 May 1808 |accessdate=26 May 2021 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article627547 |title=SHIP NEWS. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser]] |volume=VI |issue=237 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=17 July 1808 |accessdate=26 May 2021 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

On 19 July 1815 Matthew Bowles, master of the [[Indefatigable (1799)|''Indefatigable'']], sailed past a reef with [[Joseph Arnold]] recording
<blockquote>''The wind has been strong & foul, but we proceed to the Northward and Eastward. The Brig ''Campbell MacQuarie'' and the Ship ''Cochin'' sail very ill, so that we proceed slowly. This morning at day light we were close upon the an extensive reef which stretched from abaft the beam to nearly ahead, we were to leeward of it, and perhaps may think ourselves fortunate that the wind had been foul as we most likely should have run upon it during the night; for it did not appear that Capt. Bowles expected to fall in with it, for in the morning on my asking him whether it was down in the chart he said not, but that he thought it was part of Middleton's Reef. The Cochin was not in sight & we did not see her until nine o'clock. On referring to the Chart and making a calculation it appeared to be really Middleton's reef; though the master of the Macquarie denied it. The reef seemed to be very extensive and to run in ridges, for from the Mizen to I saw three or four one behind the other, with high breakers on each.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Arnold |first1=Joseph |title=Joseph Arnold - Journals |journal=Joseph Arnold - Journals, 1810-1815 |date=1815 |volume=8 March-17 December 1815 |url=http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/_transcript/2012/D15299/a4146.pdf}}</ref></blockquote>
But their time keeper being incorrect its longitude was not ascertained <ref name="India Directory">{{cite book|last=James Horsburgh|author-link=James Horsburgh|title=India Directory, Or, Directions for Sailing to and from the East Indies, China, Australia, Cape of Good Hope, Brazil, and the Interjacent Ports|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LbhAAQAAMAAJ&q=%22Lady+Nelson%22+Shoal+161&pg=RA2-PA730|volume=2|year=1836|publisher=[[W. H. Allen Ltd]]|page=730}}</ref>

===Naming ===
In 1820 an extract from the log book of the ship [[Claudine (1811 ship)|''Claudine'']] was published which described the discovery of Elizabeth Reef

<blockquote>''Claudine and Marquis of Hastings, May 16, 1820, at 2:30 pm saw a range of breakers (from the masthead) in the NW quarter. At 4, tacked when they bore SW. At 5pm when within 2 cables length from the reef sounded in 14 fathoms, hard rocky ground when a ¼ of a mile from it 25 fathoms, then no ground. The east side of this reef lies about SSW and NNE one mile, but the greatest extent appeared to be from the ESE to WNW. The whole does not seem to be more than 3 miles in circumference having deep water within, and forming nearly a quadrangular the edges of which (with the exception of a few rocks are covered and the sea runs high over them. I saw no passage through therefore after asserting it situation we resumed our course to the Northward Latitude of the reef 30 5’ S longitude by time keeper 159 E. This being a new discovery, I have called it Elizabeth’s Reef''<ref>{{cite journal |title=Observations and Discoveries in the South Pacific Ocean |journal=The Asiatic Journal and Monthly Register for British India and Its Dependencies |date=1821 |volume=Part 6 |issue=11 |page=342 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xa0IAAAAQAAJ&dq=%22Observations+and+Discoveries+in+the+South+Pacific+Ocean%22&pg=PA342}}</ref></blockquote>

===Surveys===
In 1851 the survey vessel [[HMS Acheron (1838)|HMS ''Acheron'']] under Lieutenant Huthwaite was dispatched from Sydney to the wreck of the ''Tyrian''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article161034891 |title=DEPARTURES. |newspaper=[[The Shipping Gazette And Sydney General Trade List]] |volume=VIII |issue=401 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=6 December 1851 |accessdate=30 May 2021 |page=350 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The ''Acheron'' reported the location of the reef.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12932835 |title=To the Editors of the Sydney Morning Herald. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |volume=XXXI |issue=4550 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=15 December 1851 |accessdate=30 May 2021 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

The first attempted dedicated survey of Elizabeth Reef was in June 1853, when [[HMS Herald (1824)|HMS ''Herald'']], under [[Henry Mangles Denham|Denham]], after having surveyed Middleton Reef between 5 and 22 June, attempted to run from Middleton to Elizabeth Reef but came across Lord Howe on 22 June and then back to Sydney.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Howard |first1=Frederick |title=Frederick Howard Log of HMS Herald 1852 – 1854 |date=1852–1854 |url=http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/_transcript/2013/D18421/a1091.html |access-date=31 May 2021}}</ref>

On 2 September 1853 HMS ''Herald'' again departed Sydney and arrived at Lord Howe Island on the 5th with the intention of surveying Elizabeth Reef but was prevented by boisterous weather and so sailed out further into the Pacific Ocean.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article30939658 |title=MAURITIUS. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |volume=[?]XV |issue=5185 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=2 January 1854 |accessdate=30 May 2021 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

On the returning leg after a second visit to Fiji (25 June 1855 to 3 February 1856), HMS ''Herald'' again attempted to survey Elizabeth Reef in January 1856 where he ran a meridian distance between Middleton and Elizabeth Reefs, verifying the position in relation to Lord Howe Island,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12992731 |title=HYDROGRAPHIC NOTICES. [No. 2—1856.] SOUTh-WESTERN PACIFIC OCEAN. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |volume=XXXVIII |issue=5849 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=2 March 1857 |accessdate=30 May 2021 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> which has been described as sketchy <ref>{{Citation
  | title=The voyage of HMS Herald to Australia : and the South-West Pacific 1852-1861 under the command of Captain Henry Mangles Denham / Andrew David
  | last=David
  | first=Andrew
  | year=1995
  | publisher=Melbourne University Press at the Miegunyah Press
  | language=English
  | page=213 
}}</ref>

In 1878 Elizabeth Reef was surveyed by Lieutenant [[G. E. Richards]] in {{HMS|Renard|1873|6}}, the plan of which is still published on the map AUS 213.<ref>{{Citation
  | title=The voyage of HMS Herald to Australia : and the South-West Pacific 1852-1861 under the command of Captain Henry Mangles Denham / Andrew David
  | last=David
  | first=Andrew
  | year=1995
  | publisher=Melbourne University Press at the Miegunyah Press
  | language=English
  | page=213 
}}</ref>

===The Elizabeth Reef Lifeboat===
After the wreck of the ''Colonist'' in 1870, a lifeboat was moored in the lagoon to support future ship-wrecked sailors, by providing provisions, medical supplies, charts, and compasses. However, this boat was eventually swept away in a gale and never replaced. Nonetheless, the subsequent wreck of the ''Alma'' provided shelter and was used as such by the survivors of the wreck of the ''Naiad''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article239048150 |title=SCENE OF THE WRECK. |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|Daily Telegraph]] |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=3 Jan 1913 |accessdate=27 Jan 2023 |page=9f |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article111138779 |title=THE ELIZABETH REEF LIFEBOAT. |newspaper=[[The Newcastle Chronicle and Hunter River District News|The Newcastle Chronicle]] |volume=XIII |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=28 February 1871 |accessdate=25 May 2021 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13207842 |title=TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |volume=LXII |issue=10,023 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=6 July 1870 |accessdate=2 June 2021 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article28419925 |title=ARK, OR FLOATING REFUGE AT ELIZABETH REEF. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |volume=LXII |issue=10,024 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=7 July 1870 |accessdate=2 June 2021 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13208753 |title=ELIZABETH REEF LIFEBOAT. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |volume=LXII |issue=10,044 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=30 July 1870 |accessdate=2 June 2021 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13218113 |title=NEW SOUTH WALES PARLIAMENT. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |volume=LXII |issue=10,059 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=17 August 1870 |accessdate=2 June 2021 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13731471 |title=ELIZABETH REEF LIFEBOAT. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |issue=16,004 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=10 July 1889 |accessdate=2 June 2021 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

==Flora and fauna==
Surveys by the [[Australian Institute of Marine Science]] have highlighted a healthy number of black cod ''[[Epinephelus daemelii]]'', a threatened species<ref>[http://www.blackcod.net/ Black Cod net]</ref> in [[New South Wales|New South Welsh]] waters.<ref>[http://www.aims.gov.au/pages/research/marine-surveys/elizabeth-middleton-reefs-surveys-december2003/pdf/elizabeth-middleton-reefs-surveys-december2003.pdf Marine Surveys undertaken in the Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Nature Reserve, December 2003] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080802171157/http://www3.aims.gov.au/pages/research/marine-surveys/elizabeth-middleton-reefs-surveys-december2003/pdf/elizabeth-middleton-reefs-surveys-december2003.pdf |date=2008-08-02 }}</ref> The survey in 2003 highlighted 111 species of coral and identified 181 species of fish. The total number of recorded fish species is 311 across several surveys. High numbers of [[Galapagos shark]]s ''Carcharhinus galapagensis'' were observed at the reef, which may indicate that the reef is a nursery. [[Holothuroidea|Sea cucumber]] (black teatfish), ''Holothuria whitmaei'',<ref>[http://www.reefbase.org/resource_center/publication/pub_25203.aspx Reefbase Online Library]</ref> were found in high numbers. While the 2003 survey found only small numbers of [[crown-of-thorns starfish]], a survey in 2005 indicated that it was active.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://adc.aims.gov.au:9555/waReefPage/servreefpagenew?fullReefID=19082S |title=AIMS Reef Monitoring Elizabeth Reef |access-date=2008-08-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070911075207/http://adc.aims.gov.au:9555/waReefPage/servreefpagenew?fullReefID=19082S |archive-date=2007-09-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Shipwrecks==
Both Elizabeth Reef and Middleton Reef have been the site of numerous [[shipwreck]]s. According to the [http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20090709074141/http://environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/heritage/nsd/nsd_list.pl National Shipwrecks Database], the ships stranded at Elizabeth Reef include:

[[Britannia (1783 whaler)|'''''Britannia''''']] was wrecked on 25 August 1806 and was a 301 burthen ton full-rigged whaler built in 1783 in Bridport, England, and owned by the whaling firm [[Samuel Enderby & Sons]]. The vessel also performed two voyages transporting convicts to Port Jackson.<ref>{{cite web |title=NSW Maritime heritage database |url=https://apps.environment.nsw.gov.au/dpcmaritimeheritageapp/ViewSiteDetail.aspx?siteid=1863 |website=NSW Heritage}}</ref>

'''''Rosetta Joseph''''' struck Elizabeth Reef on 1 December 1850 when on a voyage from San Francisco to Sydney. The 27-metre wooden barquentine was built at the Manning River by Moses Joseph, New South Wales in 1847 and was registered in Sydney <ref>{{cite web |title=NSW Maritime heritage database |url=https://apps.environment.nsw.gov.au/dpcmaritimeheritageapp/ViewSiteDetail.aspx?siteid=652 |website=NSW Heritage}}</ref> The vessel was described as lying on the north-west side of Clarke's (or Elizabeth) Reef <ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12923395 |title=Advertising |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |volume=XXIX |issue=4239 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=17 December 1850 |accessdate=30 May 2021 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> On 15 January the 66-ton schooner ''Bride'' departed Sydney for Elizabeth reef <ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12924157 |title=SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. DEPARTURES. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |volume=XXX |issue=4265 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=16 January 1851 |accessdate=30 May 2021 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> after having been chartered by J.S. Hanson with Captain Dalmage in command after 18 days at sea they discovered that the wreck had been visited by the Whaler ''Jane'', where its captain (Fowler) had secured all of the valuable out of the wreck and would hand them over to their lawful on arrival in Sydney <ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article161035530 |title=ADELAIDE. |newspaper=[[The Shipping Gazette And Sydney General Trade List]] |volume=VIII |issue=360 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=15 February 1851 |accessdate=30 May 2021 |page=47 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The wreck of the ''Rosetta Joseph'' prior to the arrival of the Whaler ''Jane'' had been visited by the whaler ''Canrarvon'' (sp [[Whaling in Australia#Long serving or notable Australian whaling vessels|''Caernarvon'']]) and an unknown American Whaler. The ''Rosetta Joseph'' which was quite high and dry had remained a refuge for any crew wrecked on Elizabeth Reef for several years until 1858 when Captain J Chase of the American whaling barque [[Whaling disaster of 1871#Lost whaling vessels|''Elizabeth Swift'']] ordered his crew to destroy the wreck by fire for the copper bolts to some condemnation<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article161169445 |title=CUTHBERT'S SHIPBUILDING YARD. |newspaper=[[The Shipping Gazette And Sydney General Trade List]] |volume=XV |issue=740 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=12 July 1858 |accessdate=2 June 2021 |page=135 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article7297413 |title=SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. |newspaper=[[The Argus (Melbourne)]] |issue=3770 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=12 July 1858 |accessdate=2 June 2021 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60593315 |title=ELIZABETH REEF. |newspaper=[[Empire (newspaper)|Empire]] |issue=4,563 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=30 May 1866 |accessdate=2 June 2021 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
 
'''''Tyrian''''' ran aground and was wrecked at Elizabeth Reef on 24 November 1851. In December [[Aeolus (1850)]] and the Jane assisted in taking off survivors from the wreck back to Sydney. The 226 ton Tyrian was a wooden barquentine was built at Scarborough in the United Kingdom in 1828 and was registered in London <ref>{{cite web |title=NSW Maritime heritage database |url=https://apps.environment.nsw.gov.au/dpcmaritimeheritageapp/ViewSiteDetail.aspx?siteid=413 |website=NSW Heritage}}</ref> The ''Tyrian'' stuck about 1{{Nbsp}}am, the sea carried the vessel over the outward barrier placing it high up on the inner reef, where it was tolerably protected from the sea. A longboat was sent to the nearest port under Captain Birkenshaw (formerly of the ''Minerva'' who was a passenger) After a passage of 5 days they made [[Port Macquarie]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60125801 |title=SHIPS MAILS |newspaper=[[Empire (newspaper)|Empire]] |issue=277 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=3 December 1851 |accessdate=30 May 2021 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> On 5 December [[HMS Acheron (1838)|HMS ''Acheron'']] under Lieutenant Augustus George Donston Huthwaite was dispatched from Sydney to the wreck <ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article161034891 |title=DEPARTURES. |newspaper=[[The Shipping Gazette And Sydney General Trade List]] |volume=VIII |issue=401 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=6 December 1851 |accessdate=30 May 2021 |page=350 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The second Master Napoleon Sewell advised that the vessel had arrived at the site of the wreck on the 9th and brought back 6 stranded crew and learnt that on the 30th the Whaling Barque ''Jane'' had taken off 17 of the passengers and crew and that the schooner [[Aeolus (1850)|''Aeolus'']] had taken 4 passengers and 3 crew on 5 December. The ''Acheron'' reported the location of the ''Tyrian'' as 29 53 30S 159 3 30E and the ''Roseta Joseph'' as 29 52 30S 158 55 0E <ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12932835 |title=To the Editors of the Sydney Morning Herald. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |volume=XXXI |issue=4550 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=15 December 1851 |accessdate=30 May 2021 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> With the ''Roseta Joseph'' reported as lying {{Frac|4|1|2}} miles from the ''Tyrian''<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article674775 |title=SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. |newspaper=[[The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser]] |volume=X |issue=790 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=28 January 1852 |accessdate=30 May 2021 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The 75 ton schooner ''William and James'' was reported to be salvaging the ''Tyrian'' in January 1852 where an entrance had been found in the reef to the NE with a large harbor where anchoring was done in 15 fathoms and 7 fathoms over the bar entrance at low tide <ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60127279 |title=SHIP'S MAILS. |newspaper=[[Empire (newspaper)|Empire]] |issue=323 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=26 January 1852 |accessdate=30 May 2021 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article674775 |title=SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. |newspaper=[[The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser]] |volume=X |issue=790 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=28 January 1852 |accessdate=30 May 2021 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

The '''''Packet''''', a whaling vessel, was wrecked at midnight during gale on 24 February 1857 The 25-metre brigantine with a Captain Davidson was on voyage to Sydney with a cargo of whale oil, 150 barrels and a crew of 26 was built at Prince Edward Island in Canada in 1849 and was owned by Messers Mitchell & Co <ref>{{cite web |title=NSW Maritime heritage database |url=https://apps.environment.nsw.gov.au/dpcmaritimeheritageapp/ViewSiteDetail.aspx?siteid=792 |website=NSW Heritage}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60278564 |title=WRECK OF THE WHALING BRIG PACKET. |newspaper=[[Empire (newspaper)|Empire]] |issue=1927 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=11 March 1857 |accessdate=19 May 2021 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> In January 1858 it was reported that captain Doolittle of the American Whaler ''Phantom'' (brig) was seen off Elizabeth Reef lying at anchor near the wreck of the Packet where he had secured a large quantity of the wreck and was burning it to get at the copper bolts <ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13005082 |title=SHIPS' MAILS. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |volume=XXXIX |issue=6117 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=13 January 1858 |accessdate=2 June 2021 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

The '''''Douglas''''' was wrecked on the SE extremity of the fringing reef at Elisabeth Reef on 8 May 1869. The vessel was on a voyage from Newcastle to China. The 36 metre wooden vessel is listed in the Sydney register as a barquentine was built at Machias in the United States in 1861 <ref>{{cite web |title=NSW Maritime heritage database |url=https://apps.environment.nsw.gov.au/dpcmaritimeheritageapp/ViewSiteDetail.aspx?siteid=1582 |website=NSW Heritage}}</ref> Wreck lies on the outer reef at about "5 o'clock" <ref>{{cite web |title=SHIPWRECKS of MIDDLETON and ELIZABETH REEFS, PACIFIC OCEAN |url=http://oceans1.customer.netspace.net.au/middleton-wrecks.html |website=ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AUSTRALIAN SHIPWRECKS |access-date=19 May 2021}}</ref>

[[Colonist (1861)|'''''Colonist''''']] was a general cargo and passenger schooner built in 1861 at Dumbarton Scotland by Denny & Rankine. It spent nearly 30 years plying the Western Pacific-based out of Sydney. It wrecked at midnight, on 22 May 1870 and later re-floated and returned to Sydney Harbour on 2 March 1871 more than eight months after having hit the reef with the vessel later sinking in Sydney Harbour on 1 March 1890.{{fact|date=August 2021}}

The '''''Alma''''' was wrecked at Elizabeth Reef on 3 August 1883 while under the command of Captain John Paterson. The Iron Sailing Vessel was launched as 3 masted Schooner was built at Dundee in the Scotland in 1854 by the Gourley Brothers but by 1880 was a brigantine <ref>{{cite web |title=NSW Maritime heritage database |url=https://apps.environment.nsw.gov.au/dpcmaritimeheritageapp/ViewSiteDetail.aspx?siteid=1708 |website=NSW Heritage}}</ref><ref>{{csr|register=C|id=55981|shipname=Alma|accessdate=31 March 2024}}</ref>

[[File:StateLibQld 1 43223 Ramsey (Ship).jpg|thumb|right|The iron ship Ramsey]]

The iron ship '''''Ramsey''''' ran aground and sunk on 31 October 1883. The vessel was 767 tons iron, three mast ship, later barque, 821 tons, ON45885, 209.5 × 32.0 × 19.2. She was built in 1863 by Gibson and Co., Ramsey.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3423852 |title=TOTAL WRECK OF THE RAMSEY. |newspaper=[[The Brisbane Courier]] |volume=XXXVIII |issue=8,061 |location=Queensland, Australia |date=10 November 1883 |accessdate=19 May 2021 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>[https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/data/UQ_241112/s18378366_1935_2_6_304.pdf eSpace Report], Retrieved 19 May 2021.</ref> There is some disagreement as to where the vessel was wrecked. The vessel was originally reported as having been lost at Elizabeth Reef including at its Marine Court of Inquiry<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3423852 |title=TOTAL WRECK OF THE RAMSEY. |newspaper=[[The Brisbane Courier]] |volume=XXXVIII |issue=8,061 |location=Queensland, Australia |date=10 November 1883 |accessdate=25 May 2021 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3424185 |title=THE LOSS OF THE RAMSEY. |newspaper=[[The Brisbane Courier]] |volume=XXXVIII |issue=8,069 |location=Queensland, Australia |date=20 November 1883 |accessdate=25 May 2021 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> although by the following January the barque Reconnaissance reports salvaging material from the Ramsey at Middleton Reef and notes seeing the three-masted schooner Alma on Elizabeth Reef.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13549141 |title=MIDDLETON REEF—THE WRECK OF THE RAMSAY. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |issue=14,291 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=16 January 1884 |accessdate=25 May 2021 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

 [[File:StateLibQld 1 134214 Argus (ship).jpg|thumb|right|The fully rigged ship ''Askøy'' as it was when named the ''Argus'']]
'''''Askøy''''' was wrecked at Elizabeth Reef on 27 December 1911. The vessel was built as the Argus by Barclay, Curle & Co., Glasgow, 1615 t, 255.5 feet. The Norwegian fully rigged ship was owned at the time of her loss by Marcussen Jens M. A., Risor and was on a voyage from Salavery, Peru to Sydney in ballast. Two boats were manned, and the crew equally divided, the captain taking one and the mate the other. The mate's boat, after six trying days and nights, reached Yamba, Clarence Heads whilst the captains arrived at Nouméa.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133951300 |title=WRECK OF THE ASKOY. |newspaper=[[Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate]] |issue=11,596 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=3 January 1912 |accessdate=19 May 2021 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{csr|register=C|id=1417|shipname=Argus|accessdate=31 March 2024}}</ref>

The '''''Kaineo Maru''''' was wrecked on Elizabeth Reef on or around 20 January 1969. It has also been referred to as the Yoshin Maru Iwaki or Kosim Maru {{coord|29|56.019688|S|159|01.542613|E|display=inline }} 

British sailor Steve Landles was winched to a Royal Australian Navy Sea Hawk helicopter from the stranded yacht '''''Lamachan''''' on 2 August 2007; the yacht could not be recovered.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.amsa.gov.au/about_amsa/corporate_information/Recent_Events/lord_howe.asp |title=Lamachan Rescue 1 August 2007 |access-date=19 August 2008 |archive-date=24 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724151018/http://www.amsa.gov.au/about_amsa/corporate_information/Recent_Events/lord_howe.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Lord Howe Marine Park]]
* [[Lord Howe Seamount Chain]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.dur.ac.uk/resources/ibru/publications/full/bsb6-1_prescott.pdf The Uncertainties of Middleton and Elizabeth Reefs (Geopolitical Study)]

[[Category:Coral Sea Islands]]
[[Category:Ramsar sites in Australia]]
[[Category:Volcanoes of Zealandia]]