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them , and left them on the beach with provisions . The convicts sailed straight out through Hells Gates , rounded southern Tasmania , and with the Roaring Forties at their backs headed east .
Six weeks passed , and on February 25 , 1834 , the Frederick was scuttled off a beach in Chile , the men made it ashore and proclaimed to be the survivors of a shipwreck . Despite arousing suspicion , Porter and three others chose to stay in the South American country whilst the remainder either fled to the United States or Jamaica . For Porter and his friends , it a fruitless decision for two years later they were handed over to the British and ultimately returned to the penal colony in Tasmania .
The men were tried for piracy and although found guilty they escaped the death penalty due to an obscure technicality as the Frederick was considered “ canvas , rope , boarding and trenails , put together ship wise , yet it was not a legal ship ”, as it had yet to be officially launched . The men were convicted of theft and not piracy .
Porter ’ s story continued with transportation to Norfolk Island , heroism and further escapes , his last effort saw him disappear forever .
The story of the Frederick is played out every night by the Round Earth Theatre Company in Strahan . Australia ’ s longest running play , the pantomime The Ship That Never Was invites the audience to participate in this fascinating story of brutality , ingenuity , and heroics , through history and laughter .
Visiting Sarah Island , Macquarie Harbour , Hells Gates , and Strahan it ’ s easy to imagine what those convicts went through although the brutality of wishing for death escaped me . The dense forests hide a unique beauty that only Tasmania can offer whilst the colonial buildings and boating community of Strahan indicate to a past with a history of
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