Site and Vessel Histories
OverviewMore than 70 of South Australia's documented shipwrecks (totalling more than 800 vessels) have been deliberately abandoned around the State's coast and waterways. These vessels are located at 19 identified sites known as ships' graveyards. (View map and table of vessels) Many sites contain the remains of just one or two craft, while others have been the dumping ground for numerous vessels over successive years. Goat Island
On 29 September 1966 the steamer Eleni K (50Kb PDF) (ex Liberty Ship Johns Hopkins) buckled amidships shortly after departing Thevenard with a load of wheat. Some salvage occurred, but the vessel was beyond repair. In November the Eleni K was refloated and removed from the shipping channel to its present position between Goat Island and St Peter Island. It was grounded in 11-13 metres of water and today provides one of South Australia's best shipwreck dives. Port LincolnOn 1 July 1990 the ex-tug Bronzewing (200Kb PDF) was sunk as an artificial reef in Boston Bay, Port Lincoln. The scuttling was a project of the Port Lincoln Game Fishing Club with approval from the Department of Fisheries. CowellInformation that one or 2 dredges were deliberately sunk outside Franklin Harbor, Cowell has not been verified. Although no specific details or documentation have yet been located, hydrographic survey charts support the suggestion that a vessel(s) was sunk in the area south of Whyalla. Any information about this vessel(s) would be greatly appreciated - please contact the Maritime Unit, Heritage Branch. WhyallaInformation that at least 3 vessels were deliberately sunk near Whyalla has not been verified. Although no specific details or documentation have yet been located it has been suggested that a barge was sunk 7.7 miles from shore, an unknown vessel was sunk 13.8 miles from Black Point and the tug Leeton (50Kb PDF) was deliberately sunk in 22 metres of water, 6.6 miles offshore. Further research and survey work is necessary to identify and document vessel remains near Whyalla. Any information (including photographs) which adds to what is already known would be greatly appreciated - please contact the Maritime Unit, Heritage Branch. Port Augusta
The remains of at least 6 wooden and iron vessels (50Kb PDF) are located in the Port Augusta area. They mainly appear to have been barges or lighters used locally, but abandoned when no longer required. Current information about their origins is limited and has mostly been gathered through discussions with local people. Further research and survey work is necessary to identify these vessels and to document their histories. Any information (including photographs) which adds to what is already known would be greatly appreciated - please contact the Maritime Unit, Heritage Branch.
Port FlindersThe lighter York (50Kb PDF), originally built c1862 for the P&O coaling station at King George's Sound, was beached in the 1920s at Port Flinders on Weeroona Island. For some time the abandoned vessel was used as a wharf or loading platform for barges carting stone from the island to nearby Port Pirie. Port PirieInformation about derelict vessels in Port Pirie is limited, although wreckage found at various sites, as well as documents and photographic records, suggests that a number of vessels (150Kb PDF) may have been abandoned in the area. Further research and survey is necessary to locate and identify any vessel remains. Any information which adds to what is already known would be greatly appreciated - please contact the Maritime Unit, Heritage Branch. Stenhouse BayIn April 1932 the barque Hougomont (50Kb PDF) was dismasted in a brief but fierce gale near Kangaroo Island. Despite the vessel reaching Port Adelaide safely, the owners opted to dispose of it rather than undergo costly repairs. On 8 January 1933 the Hougomont was towed to Stenhouse Bay, Yorke Peninsula, and deliberately scuttled as a breakwater for vessels loading gypsum at the nearby jetty. Ardrossan
On 11 February 1867, the 338 ton composite barque Zanoni (250Kb PDF) left Port Wakefield for Port Adelaide with 4,025 bags of wheat, a crew of 14 and 2 stevedores. In fine weather, a sudden squall from the west rolled the vessel, which sank within 10 minutes. Despite subsequent searches the wreck was not located until 17 April 1983, almost 100 years later. The Zanoni shipwreck is the most intact nineteenth century merchant sailing vessel in South Australian waters and has been declared an Historic Wreck under the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1981. In May 1983 the region within a 550 metre radius of the vessel was declared a Protected Zone, prohibiting any boating activity within the area, unless a permit is obtained from the Heritage Branch. When the Protected Zone was implemented, many anglers and divers protested the new restrictions, as the Zanoni had become an abundant artificial reef and a popular fishing location. As a result the Department of Fisheries decided to establish a new artificial reef nearby, and acquired an obsolete Department of Marine and Harbors barge for the purpose. On 11 April 1984, No 5 dumb hopper barge (50Kb PDF) was deliberately scuttled approximately 1 nautical mile south of the Zanoni wrecksite. Port Adelaide
The remains of at least 40 abandoned vessels lie embedded in silt and partially hidden by mangroves in the backwaters of the Port Adelaide River (1.5Mb PDF). The collection includes large and small sailing, steam and motor vessels, barges, pontoons and dredges. Many ended their working days in Port Adelaide as storage hulks or lighters. One even became a footbridge, another a floating grain mill and another a crayfish depot. As vessels within the Port fell into disrepair or were no longer viable, harbour authorities needed to cater for their disposal. South Australia's relatively shallow Gulf waters meant that scuttling at sea was not generally an option. The alternative was that most obsolete vessels were beached and broken up at various sites around Port Adelaide - some were completely salvaged but others were only partially scrapped with their remains still in situ. View detailed information about the abandoned vessels in Port Adelaide's five ships' graveyard sites - at Garden Island, Mutton Cove, Jervois Basin, Angas Inlet and Broad Creek.  Glenelg
Approximately 6 kilometres off the Glenelg coast, in Gulf St Vincent, are the remains of 2 former Department of Marine and Harbors service vessels (a dredge and a hopper barge) which were deliberately sunk in the 1980s as part of the Department of Fisheries artificial reefs program. The "Glenelg Barge" (100Kb PDF) was sunk on 10 April 1984, with the "Glenelg Dredge" (50Kb PDF) (the South Australian) scuttled nearby on 16 January 1985. Today both wrecks lie in approximately 20 metres of water and have become home to a myriad of sea creatures. The Scuba Divers Federation has installed a star-dropper trail to enable divers to navigate the 80 metre distance between the 2 vessels, when the current is safe. Port StanvacIn 1954 the ex-dredge Saurian and 2 Telfor barges (50Kb PDF) were scuttled off-shore from the Port Stanvac Oil Refinery in Gulf St Vincent. Today the 3 vessels (known locally as 'The Stanvac Barges') lie upright on the sandy bottom, in approximately 27 metres of water. They form a NE to SW line, with the 2 smaller barges (NE) approximately 33 metres apart and the Saurian (SW) 100 metres further away. The wire rope used to tow them to the site can still be seen attached to the bollards on all 3 vessels. The Saurian is still relatively intact, but the 2 smaller barges have broken up to some extent. The vessels, which form an artificial reef on an otherwise featureless bottom, have become a haven for marine life. Port NoarlungaAdjacent to the Port Noarlunga tyre reef are 2 vessels which have been deliberately scuttled to enhance the dive potential of this artificial reef. The ex-tug H.A. Lumb was sunk by the Dive Industry Association in 1994 and lies approximately 30 metres from the reef. The fishing trawler Seawolf (50Kb PDF) is located between the reef and the H.A. Lumb. It was scuttled by the Seawolves Dive Club in March 2002. Yankalilla Bay
With the decommissioning of the HMAS Hobart (50Kb PDF) in May 2000, the Fleurieu Artificial Reef Society Incorporated (FARSI) identified an opportunity for South Australia to gain a world-class eco-tourism dive site. The State Government submitted a proposal to acquire the vessel and, in June 2000, it was gifted to South Australia by the Federal Department of Defence. On 5 November 2002, after many months of preparation at Port Adelaide's No 1 Dock, the Hobart was scuttled in Yankalilla Bay. The extent of diver access provided and the amount of 'memorabilia' remaining on board offer a unique diving experience. The Hobart is the only artificially prepared naval wreck in Australia where divers can access an engine room. Kangaroo IslandIn the waters south of Kangaroo Island lie two Adelaide Steam Ship Company vessels which ended their days afloat as targets for the Australian armed services. In 1934 the hulk Pam (50Kb PDF) was anchored south-west of Cape Hart and used for gunnery practice by HMAS Australia and HMAS Canberra. 16 years later the coastal steamer Quorna (50Kb PDF) was towed east of Cape Hart and deliberately bombed by the RAAF during 'Operation Lame Duck'. Both vessels lie in approximately 50 metres of water, with the exact location of each wreck unknown. |
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