The Earl of Charlemont was a medium-sized, 878 ton[1] passenger ship, which sank on a voyage to Australia.

[2][4] After a passage of 97 days the ship reached Cape Otway on 17 June, and set a course for Port Phillip some 56 miles away.

A passenger named Savage swam ashore with a light rope, and a hawser was stretched between the ship and the shore.

The passengers were provided with shelter by a local settler Mr. McVean, who alerted the authorities at Geelong.

[5] A subsequent inquiry laid blame for the disaster on Captain Gardner, but a sailing directory published by the Admiralty in 1855 noted that the wreck of the Earl of Charlemont and that of Sacramento two months earlier, were due to strong currents carrying the vessels inshore when hove to awaiting daylight.