Uncovering Bunbury's early start

The possible discovery of the wreck of the US whaling ship Samuel Wright in Bunbury has sparked excitement in the community because of its significance to Bunbury's history.

Bunbury MLA John Castrilli joined WA Museum maritime archaeologist Ross Anderson on Monday to announce that geomagnetic surveys around the proposed Department of Parks and Wildlife headquarters site along Koombana Drive indicated there was a big wreck nearby.

Mr Castrilli and Mr Anderson said they strongly believed it was the Samuel Wright and excavation work began on Monday and is expected to finish on February 16.

Bunbury Historical Society historian Phyllis Barnes transcribed colonial politician Marshall Clifton's journal and letters and in one he described a meeting with the Samuel Wright's captain - Francis Coffin - in which he talked about how the ship ran ashore.

"The letter gives a very good description of the ship and how a heavy gale blew it ashore," she said.

"I would be delighted if they discovered the Samuel Wright but only if they can prove that it is actually the ship."

Mrs Barnes said the Samuel Wright played a pivotal role in the history of Bunbury because its mast was used as a reference point in the mapping of the city.

"It (the beached ship) was used as a place where people could store goods and they also sold items in the ship too," she said.

Mr Anderson said public tours of the site would take place on Saturday and Sunday between 2.30pm and 4pm.

He said he expected to find the ship in a very good state of preservation and it would be put back into the same state once the dig was over.

"I believe this because it is below the water table and part of the work we are doing is lowering the water table by about four or five metres to be able to excavate it in a dry state," he said.

Mr Anderson said staff from the WA Museum had tested the location in 2011 during another dig nearby but were not able to do more work.