The City of York was a three-masted iron-hulled barque measuring approximately 67.9 meters (222.7 feet) in length, with a gross register tonnage of 1,167 GRT. Built in 1869 by Glasgow shipbuilders J. Elder and Company, the vessel was owned by the 'Ship City of York Company' and was constructed primarily of iron, reflecting the maritime engineering practices of the late 19th century. On her final voyage, the City of York departed San Francisco on 13 April 1899, carrying a cargo of 1,754.33 cubic meters of Oregon timber and 3,638 doors, and was commanded by Captain Phillip Jones. The ship made a notably swift passage to Western Australia, arriving near Rottnest Island in stormy weather on 12 July 1899. Approaching from the north in heavy rain and high seas, the vessel was sighted by the Wadjemup Lighthouse keeper at 4:30 pm, about 29 kilometers off the coast. Despite efforts by the lighthouse staff to signal the ship to stand off until a pilot could be dispatched, miscommunication occurred. The captain, mistaking the lighthouse flare signal for a pilot boat acknowledgment, continued toward the reef. Lead line measurements indicated shallow waters, and shortly after, breakers were sighted. The ship struck a reef near the northern coast of Rottnest Island, approximately 200 meters offshore. The crew attempted to abandon ship, with six men initially in the first lifeboat, which was lost when the rope holding it broke. The remaining 20 men, including Captain Jones, managed to get into another lifeboat, but it was overturned by a large wave, resulting in the drowning of 11 men. Captain Jones and others drowned, while some crew members and the lighthouse keeper managed to reach shore. Rescue efforts were undertaken by the steam tug Dunskey and subsequent rescue boats, saving eight men. An inquiry initially blamed Captain Jones for navigational errors, but this was later overturned after a parliamentary investigation. The ship was deemed a total loss, and much of its timber cargo was salvaged. The wreck today lies in about 7 meters of water, with the hull largely disintegrated but recognizable sections remaining scattered on the reef. The anchor has been recovered and is now displayed outside the island's accommodation office. The City of York’s sinking marked a significant maritime tragedy, prompting improvements in lighthouse and pilot services in the region.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.