List of shipwrecks of Australia

Satellite map of Australia with state borders

This a list of shipwrecks located in Australia.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.

New South Wales

Ship	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
Abbey	15 February 1868	A brigantine that was wrecked in a storm at Crowdy Head.	31.84°S 152.76°E / -31.84; 152.76 (Abbey (1853))
Ability	5 January 1897	A ketch that ran aground at Cape Hawke.
Absalom	29 March 1863	A ketch that was wrecked at Trial Bay.	30.83°S 153.01°E / -30.83; 153.01 (Absalom (1853))
Acielle	11 September 1929	A ketch that was driven ashore off Smoky Cape.	31.104078°S 153.024988°E / -31.104078; 153.024988 (Acielle)
Active	18 February 1852	A ketch that was wrecked at the mouth of the Hunter River.	32.92°S 151.79°E / -32.92; 151.79 (Active (1850))
Ada	29 April 1897	A ketch that was wrecked off Newcastle.	32.92°S 151.79°E / -32.92; 151.79 (Ada (ship))
Ada and Ethel	26 October 1887	Wooden schooner that sprung a leak and foundered off Seal Rocks.	32.6°S 152.7°E / -32.6; 152.7 (Ada and Ethel (1886))
Adelaide	May 1834	A wooden cutter wrecked near Norah Head.	33.23°S 151.60°E / -33.23; 151.60 (Adelaide (1832))
HMAS Adelaide	13 April 2011	An Adelaide-class frigate that was scuttled as a dive wreck off Avoca Beach.	33°28′0″S 151°27′0″E
Adele	7 May 1943	A steamship that struck the breakwater at Port Kembla.	34.4678°S 150.9170°E / -34.4678; 150.9170 (Adele (Australian ship))
Adelphoi	21 December 1879	A barque that was wrecked off Port Hacking.	34.073°S 151.12°E / -34.073; 151.12 (Adelphoi (1865))
Adolphe	30 September 1904	Sailing ship wrecked at the mouth of Hunter River.	32°54′49.46″S 151°47′50.21″E
Adonis	22 December 1889	A brigantine that sank off Crowdy Head.	32.1°S 152.8°E / -32.1; 152.8 (Adonis (1874))
Advance (1874)	12 June 1902	A schooner that was wrecked at Botany Bay.	34.00°S 151.235°E / -34.00; 151.235 (Advance (1874))
Advance (1884)	25 December 1908	An iron screw steamer that collided with the Inverna off Catherine Hill Bay.	33.1806°S 151.70328°E / -33.1806; 151.70328 (Advance (1884))
Adventure	1855	A schooner that was wrecked at Richmond River.	28.88°S 153.58°E / -28.88; 153.58 (Adventure (1850))
Aenid	12 November 1865	A cutter that was wrecked at Long Reef.
Agnes (1849)	10 March 1877	A brigantine that was wrecked off Wollongong.
Agnes (1853)	13 July 1860	A cutter that was blown ashore near Newcastle.	32.8°S 152°E / -32.8; 152 (Agnes (1853))
Agnes (1875)	12 March 1890	A schooner that was wrecked near Ocean Shores.	28.45°S 153.56°E / -28.45; 153.56 (Agnes (1875))
Agnes (1877)	1883	A ketch that was wrecked off Jervis Bay.	35.12°S 150.82°E / -35.12; 150.82 (Agnes (1877))
Agnes (1904)	27 January 1906	A launch that was wrecked in a collision in Sydney Harbour.	33.85°S 151.24°E / -33.85; 151.24 (Agnes (1904))
Agnes Irving	28 December 1879	A paddle steamer that was wrecked off Trial Bay.	30.806350°S 153.005007°E / -30.806350; 153.005007 (Agnes Irving (1862))
Alhambra	30 June 1888	Iron screw steamer wrecked off Newcastle while attempting to move the derelict wreck of the John T. Berry.	32°53′S 151°54′E
HMAS Anzac	7 May 1936	A Parker-class destroyer leader that was sunk as a target off Sydney Heads.
Argument	March 1809	A sloop that was wrecked near Broken Bay.
HMAS Arunta	12 February 1969	Tribal-class destroyer sold for scrap, but sank under tow off Sydney Heads.	33°50′S 151°19′E
HMAS Australia	12 April 1924	An Indefatigable-class battlecruiser that was scuttled off Sydney Heads.	33°51′54.21″S 155°44′25.11″E
SS Bantam	24 September 1946	A Dutch ship that was scuttled off Sydney.
SS Barcoo	1 February 1924	A passenger ship that was scuttled off Sydney Heads.
MV Bellubera	1 August 1980	A ferry that was scuttled southeast off Long Reef (New South Wales).
Bluebell	9 August 1934	A ferry that collided with the Waraneen at Newcastle.
SS Bombo	24 February 1949	A coastal steamer that sank in a storm off Port Kembla.	34°26.775′S 151°55.48′E
SS Bonnie Dundee	10 March 1879	A steamship that collided with SS Barrabool off Caves Beach.	33°06.327′S 151°42.258′E
PS Brighton	1916	A ferry that was hulked at Port Stephens.	32.6684°S 152.1259°E / -32.6684; 152.1259 (PS Brighton)
Britannia	25 August 1806	A whaler that ran up against the Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs.
SS Catterthun	8 August 1895	Hit rocks and sunk during a storm off Seal Rocks with over 50 lives lost.
SS Cawarra	12 July 1886	Sank in rough seas, with 60 lives lost and 1 survivor.
Charlotte	1808	A sloop that was wrecked near Port Jackson.
HMAS Colac	4 March 1987	A Bathurst-class corvette that was sunk as a target near Sydney.	34°49.2′S 151°32′E
SS Colonist	9 September 1894	A cargo ship that ran aground off Newcastle.	32.914°S 151.797°E / -32.914; 151.797 (SS Colonist (1889))
Comboyne	27 November 1920	A steamship that was wrecked off Bass Point.	34.5973°S 150.9217°E / -34.5973; 150.9217 (Comboyne (1911))
Contest	28 February 1804	A sloop that sank in a storm off Port Stephens.
USS Craven	25 May 1946	A Caldwell-class destroyer that was scuttled off Sydney.
HMAS Doomba	9 December 1976	A warship that was scuttled off Dee Why.	33.716083°S 151.347217°E / -33.716083; 151.347217 (HMAS Doomba)
SS Duckenfield	1889	Struck Long Reef on its way to Sydney, but no lives lost.
Dunbar	20 August 1857	Sank after striking rocks, with 121 lives lost.
Dundee	August 1808	A ship that foundered in a gale at the mouth of the Hunter River.
Edward Lombe	25 August 1834	A merchantman that was wrecked on the Sydney Heads in a gale.	33°49.745′S 151°16.191′E
Edwin	June 1816	A schooner that was wrecked near Cape Hawke.
Eleanor Lancaster	7 November 1856	A barque that was wrecked in a gale off Newcastle.
Elizabeth Henrietta	17 December 1825	A brig that was wrecked off Newcastle.
HMAS Encounter	14 September 1932	A Challenger-class protected cruiser that was scuttled off Sydney.
Enterprize	1874	A schooner that was wrecked in Richmond River.
Estramina	19 January 1816	A schooner that ran aground off Newcastle.
MV Fairwind	23 June 1950	A lighter that was wrecked off South West Rocks.
SS Fingal	5 May 1943	A steamship that was torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-180 off Nambucca Heads.
Fitzroy	26 June 1921	A steamship that was wrecked off Cape Hawke.
Francis	21 March 1805	A schooner that was wrecked off Newcastle.
George	1806	A sloop that ran aground in Twofold Bay.
HMAS Geranium	24 April 1935	An Arabis-class sloop that was scuttled off Sydney Heads.
HMAS Goolgwai	29 May 1955	A minesweeper that was wrecked near Malabar.
Governor Hunter	July 1816	A schooner that was wrecked in a gale off Port Stephens.
Governor King	22 April 1806	A schooner that was wrecked off Newcastle.
Grecian	6 May 1864	A sailing ship that was wrecked on Nine Mile Beach in a gale.
Greycliffe	3 November 1927	Sydney ferry that collided with the mail steamer Tahiti and sank with the loss of 40 lives.
Hawkesbury Packet	14 August 1817	A sloop that ran aground at Minnamurra.	34.6244°S 150.8624°E / -34.6244; 150.8624 (Hawkesbury Packet)
Hazard	March 1809	A sloop that ran aground on Box Head.	33.54227°S 151.3485°E / -33.54227; 151.3485 (Hazard (ship))
PS Herald	1 April 1884	A paddle steamer that sank off North Head.	33°49.492′S 151°17.462′E
Hereward	5 May 1898	A clipper that ran aground on Maroubra Beach in a storm.
Hive	10 December 1835	A convict ship that ran aground south of Jervis Bay.
Hope	1817	A ship that was blown ashore at Port Stephens.
HMAS Huon	10 April 1931	A River-class torpedo-boat destroyer that was scuttled off Sydney after use as a target.
SS Iron Knight	8 February 1943	An iron ore carrier sunk by Japanese submarine I-21.	36°51′S 149°44′E
Itata		A barque that was damaged by fire and scuttled in Middle Harbour.	33°48.913′S 151°13.481′E
HMAS Karangi	1970	A Bar-class boom defence vessel that was abandoned at Homebush Bay.	33.8363379°S 151.0804902°E / -33.8363379; 151.0804902 (HMAS Karangi)
HMAS Kara Kara	31 January 1973	A boom defence vessel that was sunk as a target off Jervis Bay.
HMAS Kianga	7 July 1946	A minesweeper that was scuttled off Sydney Heads.	33.998217°S 151.601283°E / -33.998217; 151.601283 (HMAS Kianga)
HMAS Kookaburra	March 1970	A Net-class boom defence vessel that was scuttled off Sydney.	33°51.300′S 151°21.196′E
Koonya	25 January 1898	A steamboat that ran aground off Cronulla Beach.	34.042876°S 151.206777°E / -34.042876; 151.206777 (Koonya (1887))
Koraaga	10 September 1931	A steamship that was wrecked off Gerringong.	34.783268°S 150.909879°E / -34.783268; 150.909879 (Koraaga (1914))
HMAS Kuttabul	31 May 1942	A depot ship that was torpedoed during the Attack on Sydney Harbour.
MV Limerick	26 April 1943	A cargo ship that was torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-177 about 18 km east of Ballina.
SS Lindus	4 June 1899	A steamship that was wrecked in a storm off Newcastle.	32.914°S 151.797°E / -32.914; 151.797 (SS Lindus (1881))
M84	June 1942	A Japanese midget submarine that sank sometime after being shelled during the attack on Sydney Harbour, with 2 lives lost.
TSS Maianbar	5 May 1940	A steamship that ran aground on Nobby's Beach off Newcastle.	32°55′29″S 151°47′33.4″E
HMS Mallow	24 April 1935	An Acacia-class sloop that was sunk as a target.
HMAS Marguerite	1 August 1935	An Arabis-class sloop that was sunk as a target.
Martha	August 1800	A schooner that was wrecked off Manly.
HMAS Medea	20 January 1948	A minesweeper that was scuttled off Sydney.	33.998267°S 151.601139°E / -33.998267; 151.601139 (HMAS Medea)
HMAS Mercedes	23 January 1948	A minesweeper that was scuttled off Sydney.	33.998367°S 151.600950°E / -33.998367; 151.600950 (HMAS Mercedes)
Merksworth	7 May 1898	A steamboat that was wrecked near Stockton Beach.	32.836883°S 151.93692°E / -32.836883; 151.93692 (Merksworth (1874))
Nancy	18 April 1805	A sloop that was wrecked off Jervis Bay.	35.367°S 150.834333°E / -35.367; 150.834333 (Nancy (1803))
Narara	23 August 1903	A steamboat that was wrecked near Barrenjoey.
MV Nimbin	5 December 1940	A steamship that hit a mine off Norah Head.	33°15.392′S 151°46.976′E
Norfolk	1800	A sloop that was run aground by convicts at Stockton Beach.
Oakland	27 May 1903	A small coaster, foundered off Cabbage Tree Is. in storm, 11 lives lost.	32°40.765′S 152°14.003′E
HMAS Olive Cam	2 November 1954	An auxiliary minesweeper wrecked near Green Cape Lighthouse.	37.151107°S 150.007120°E / -37.151107; 150.007120 (HMAS Olive Cam)
USS Osborne	6 September 1947	A Clemson-class destroyer that was scuttled off Sydney following a fire.
HMAS Paterson	11 June 1951	A wooden auxiliary minesweeper that sank off The Entrance.	33.277836°S 151.571896°E / -33.277836; 151.571896 (HMAS Paterson)
HMAS Pioneer	18 February 1931	A Pelorus-class protected cruiser that was scuttled off Sydney Heads.	33°51.850′S 151°19.844′E
Queen Bee	2 September 1922	A small twin screw steamer Sixty-miler that sunk off Barrenjoey Head, Broken Bay.
Queen of Nations	31 May 1881	A clipper that ran aground off East Corrimal.
Recovery	June 1816	A sloop that was wrecked near Port Stephens.
Shockwave	10 October 2009	A yacht that ran aground off Flinders Islet.
HMAS Stalwart	22 July 1939	An S-class destroyer that was scuttled off Sydney.	33°59.906′S 151°36.067′E
HMAS Swan	2 February 1934	A River-class torpedo boat destroyer that sank under tow in the Hawkesbury River.
MV Sygna	26 May 1974	Ran aground near Newcastle.	32°51′32.94″S 151°50′40.96″E
MV Tassie III	9 June 1945	A motor vessel that was wrecked at Byron Bay.	28.638795°S 153.613906°E / -28.638795; 153.613906 (MV Tassie III)
Three Bees	20 May 1814	A convict ship that caught fire off Bennelong Point.
Titan	29 December 1992	A floating crane that broke tow and was scuttled near Kendall.	31.664267°S 152.873330°E / -31.664267; 152.873330 (Australian floating crane Titan)
HMAS Torrens	24 November 1930	A River-class torpedo-boat destroyer that was sunk as a target off Sydney Heads.
Trial	1816	A brig that ran aground at Trial Bay.
Tuncurry	22 October 1916	A steamboat that was wrecked off Broken Bay.	33°37.125′S 151°26.422′E
Tuggerah	1919	Sank during a storm off Marley Beach south of Sydney, with 6 lives lost.
HMAS Vendetta	2 July 1948	A V-class destroyer that was scuttled off Sydney Heads.
HMAS Vigilant	April 1966	A patrol boat that was scuttled off Sydney.
HMAS Voyager	10 February 1964	Sank after collision with HMAS Melbourne, with 82 killed.
TSS Wandra	15 December 1915	A steamboat that was wrecked off Jervis Bay.	35.045217°S 150.839183°E / -35.045217; 150.839183 (TSS Wandra (1907))
HMAS Waree	17 October 1946	A tugboat that ran aground at the mouth of the Clarence River.	29°25.385′S 153°21.854′E
Wendouree	20 July 1898	A steamship that was wrecked at the mouth of the Hunter River.	32.914°S 151.797°E / -32.914; 151.797 (Wendouree (1882))
William Cossar	14 February 1825	A schooner that was wrecked on the Sow and Pigs Reef.
Windsor	1816	A sloop that was wrecked on Long Reef.
SS Wollongbar (1911)	14 May 1921	A steamship that was blown ashore at Byron Bay.	28.637086°S 153.610378°E / -28.637086; 153.610378 (SS Wollongbar (1911))
SS Wollongbar (1922)	29 April 1943	A steamship that was torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-180 off Crescent Head.
HMAS Woomera	11 October 1960	An armament store carrier that caught fire off Sydney.
USS WST-1	27 July 1945	Naval salvage tug, ran aground on rocks off Susan Gilmore Beach, Newcastle in heavy fog.
HMAS Yarra	30 September 1929	A River-class torpedo-boat destroyer that was sunk as a target.

Norfolk Island

Ship	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
HMS Sirius	19 March 1790	First Fleet ship that sank on the reef in Slaughter Bay, Norfolk Island, while landing stores

Northern Territory

Ship	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
HMAS Arrow	25 December 1974	An Attack-class patrol boat that was driven ashore by Cyclone Tracy.
Booya	24 December 1974	A schooner that was sunk by Cyclone Tracy.	12°23.381′S 130°46.281′E
SS Brisbane	10 October 1881	Iron steamship that ran aground on Fish Reef off Quail Island north of Port Darwin	12.43333°S 130.43833°E / -12.43333; 130.43833 (SS Brisbane (1874))
MV British Motorist	19 February 1942	A tanker that was sunk in the bombing of Darwin.	12°28.96′S 130°50.33′E
Darwin Princess		A passenger ferry that was sunk by Cyclone Tracy.
Don Isidro	19 February 1942	A transport ship that was bombed by Japanese planes returning from the attack on Darwin. The captain attempted to beach the ship on Bathurst Island, but the engines failed three miles offshore.	11°42.3′S 130°02′E
SS Ellengowan	27 April 1888	A schooner that sank at its mooring and was abandoned.	12°32′28″S 130°52′08″E
HMAS Hankow	18 September 1932	A coal hulk that was sunk as a target off Darwin.
Japanese submarine I-124	21 January 1942	An I-121-class submarine that was sunk during World War II.	12°07′12.33″S 130°06′23.62″E
Kelat	19 February 1942	A sailing ship that was sunk in the bombing of Darwin.	12°02′00″S 130°05′00″E
HMAS Maroubra	10 May 1943	A cutter that was sunk by Japanese aircraft off Milingimbi Island.
SS Mauna Loa	19 February 1942	A cargo ship that was lost in the Japanese bombing of Darwin.	12°29.86′S 130°49.16′E
HMAS Mavie	19 February 1942	An auxiliary ship that was lost in the Japanese bombing of Darwin.
USAT Meigs	19 February 1942	A transport ship that was lost in the Japanese bombing of Darwin.	12°29.26′S 130°49.10′E
MV Neptuna	19 February 1942	A cargo ship that was lost in the Japanese bombing of Darwin.	12°28′18″S 130°50′57″E
HMAS Patricia Cam	22 January 1943	A minesweeper that was sunk by Japanese aircraft near the Wessel Islands.
USS Peary	19 February 1942	A Clemson-class destroyer that was lost in the Japanese bombing of Darwin.	12°28′30″S 130°49′45″E
SS Zealandia	19 February 1942	A cargo ship that was lost in the Japanese bombing of Darwin.	12°29.00′S 130°51.05′E

Queensland

Ship	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
Aarhus	24 February 1894	A German barque that ran aground near Cape Moreton, and is now a historical site.	27°00′14.31″S 153°26′27.92″E
SS Bee	17 March 1901	A ferry that ran aground at Picnic Bay.
HMAS Carroo	19 September 1976	A lighter that was scuttled at Hervey Bay.
Cato	17 August 1803	A full rigged ship that ran aground on the Wreck Reefs, along with HMS Porpoise.
AHS Centaur	14 May 1943	A hospital ship that was torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-177, killing 268 medical staff and crew.	27°16.98′S 153°59.22′E
Cherry Venture	6 July 1973	A cargo ship that ran aground on Teewah Beach.	25°57′42.00″S 153°10′26.14″E
SS City of Adelaide	1916	A steamship that ran aground off Cockle Bay, Magnetic Island, and used as target practice for the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II. The wreck was sunk by Cyclone Althea in 1971.	19.174842°N 146.825471°E / 19.174842; 146.825471 (SS City of Adelaide (1863))
SS Dicky	4 February 1893	A steamship that ran aground at Dicky Beach. The visible remains of the wreck were removed in 2015.
Duke of York	September 1837	A barque that was wrecked off Moreton Bay.	27°02′11.84″S 153°21′13.64″E
Frederick	May 1818	Wrecked at Cape Flinders, Stanley Island.
HMQS Gayunda	2 June 1958	A flat-iron gunboat that was beached as a breakwater off Woody Point.	27.262°S 153.10713°E / -27.262; 153.10713 (HMQS Gayundah)
George Rennie	1902	A paddle steamer that was scuttled in Picnic Bay, Magnetic Island.
SS Gothenburg	24 February 1875	A steamship that struck the Great Barrier Reef.	19°22′06″S 148°03′21″E
HMS Harrier	July 1891	A schooner that was wrecked on the Great Barrier Reef near Cooktown.
Jenny Lind	21 September 1850	A barque that was wrecked on Kenn Reef on the Great Barrier Reef.[1]	21°16′S 155°48′E
Lady Bowen	1894	A schooner that ran aground on a reef.[2]
Maheno	9 July 1935	An ocean liner that was beached on Fraser Island while under tow for scrapping in Japan.	25°16′2″S 153°14′18″E
SS Marloo	27 September 1914	A steamship that was beached on Fraser Island.	24.9488°S 153.3035°E / -24.9488; 153.3035 (SS Marloo)
HMS Mermaid	13 June 1829	A cutter that was wrecked east of Normanby Island.	17.19923333°S 146.28885°E / -17.19923333; 146.28885 (HMS Mermaid (1817))
Moltke	1911	A barque that was scuttled in Geoffrey Bay, Magnetic Island.	19.153745°S 146.869344°E / -19.153745; 146.869344 (Moltke (1870))
HMS Pandora	28 August 1791	A Porcupine-class post ship that struck and was wrecked on the Great Barrier Reef.	11°23′S 143°59′E
HMS Porpoise	17 August 1803	A sloop that ran aground on the Wreck Reefs, along with Cato.
RMS Quetta	28 February 1890	A merchant ship that struck a rock off Albany Island.	10°36′34.61″S 142°37′27.01″E
Scottish Prince	2 February 1887	A barque carrying passengers and cargo from Glasgow was wrecked at the southern tip of Stradbroke Island. The passengers and crew were rescued.[3] Parts of the wreck can still be found in shallow water approximately 500 metres (1,600 ft) offshore south of the Southport Spit and it is a popular diving site.[4] Since 2013, sand movement has resulted in increasing amounts of the wreck becoming visible.[5]
Swiftsure	4 July 1829	A brig that was wrecked off the Cape York Peninsula.
HMAS Warrnambool	13 September 1947	A Bathurst-class corvette that hit a mine in the Great Barrier Reef.	14°45′32″S 145°49′41″E
HMAS Wyatt Earp	24 January 1959	A motor vessel that was wrecked in a storm off Double Island Point.
SS Yongala	23 March 1911	A passenger ship that sank in a cyclone off Townsville.	19°18′27″S 147°37′31″E
USS YP-279	5 September 1943	A patrol vessel that foundered off Townsville.	19°12′07″S 146°53′10″E

South Australia

Ship	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
Aagot	11 October 1907	A sailing ship that was wrecked on Wardang Island.
SS Admella	5 August 1859	A passenger ship that ran onto a reef off the Carpenter Rocks, with 89 lives lost including 14 children.	37°52′47″S 140°21′3″E
Albatross	13 March 1913	A ketch that struck Eclipse Reef, off Wardang Island, during a gale.[6]
SS Clan Ranald	31 January 1909	A two decked turret steam ship which capsized and sank in a storm, killing 40 of her crew of 64, near the town of Edithburgh.
Edith Haviland	19 June 1877	A brig that was wrecked on the Carpenter Rocks. One seaman drowned attempting to swim to shore.
Eleni K	November 1966	A screw steamer deliberately sunk to make an artificial reef between Goat Island and St Peter Island.
Ellen	12 December 1908	A freighter/trawler that was wrecked in Gulf St Vincent at Morgan's Beach.	35°35′46.5″S 138°06′07.6″E
Ethel	2 January 1904	An iron barque which ran aground at Reef Head, near Cape Spencer [7]	35°17′55″S 136°53′31″E
Fanny	22 June 1838	A schooner that was blown ashore near Cape Jaffa, Kingston District Council.
SS Ferret	14 November 1920	A steamship that was fraudulently taken from its home in Scotland, and arrived in Victoria six months later. The conspirators were caught and charged, but the ship remained in Australia, eventually running aground off Cape Spencer in a storm.
Frances	29 August 1840	A cutter that was wrecked in the Neptune Islands.	35°33′00″S 136°12′00″E.
Gloridia V	12 March 1977	A cray-fishing boat that was wrecked in the North Neptune Islands.
Geltwood	14 June 1876	A barque that struck a reef near the town of Southend.	37°37′36″S 140°10′51″E
Grecian (barque)	13 October 1850	A barque that sank in a gale off Port Adelaide, one man drowned.[8]
Hougomont	8 January 1933	A barque that was scuttled as a breakwater in Stenhouse Bay.
Investigator	24 April 1917	A steamship that sank in rough weather southwest of Wardang Island.[6]
Koenig Wilhelm II	30 June 1857	A barque 800 tons that was wrecked off Robe, off with the loss of 16 crew after unloading 397 Chinese passengers for the Victorian goldfields.
Lady Kinnaird	21 January 1880	A barque that ran aground off Port Neill.	34°7′48″S 136°21′36″E
Loch Sloy	24 April 1899	A barque that was wrecked in the Brothers Rocks, off Kangaroo Island.
Loch Vennachar	September 1905	A clipper that sank off Kangaroo Island with the loss of 27 lives.	35°53′05″S 136°32′00″E
Macintyre	1 April 1927	A schooner that was wrecked on a reef off Wardang Island.
Maria	28 June 1840	A brigantine that was wrecked off Cape Jaffa, South Australia
Marion	11 July 1862	A screw steamer wrecked off Cable Hut Bay.[9]
No 5 dumb hopper barge	April 1984	A hopper barge that was scuttled in Gulf St Vincent.	34°31′S 138°03′E
Notre Dame d'Avor	20 March 1920	A barque that ran aground on Wardang Island. The wreck was gutted by an accidental fire the following May.[6]
Postboy	1905	A schooner that was wrecked at Arno Bay.	33°55′12″S 136°34′12″E
Saint Michele	30 March 1965	A fishing boat that was wrecked on South Neptune Islands.
Santiago	19 August 1945	A 3 masted barque abandoned in the Garden Island Ships' Graveyard near Port Adelaide.	34°48′36″S 138°32′24″E
Songvaar	14 April 1912	A Norwegian cargo ship that sank near Wardang Island when its hull was pierced by one of its own anchors. The wreck was eventually blown up as a shipping hazard.[6]
Star of Greece	13 July 1888	A cargo ship that was wrecked in a storm off Port Willunga.
South Australian	8 December 1837	A brig-sloop, formerly the former RN vessel (the Swallow (1824)), was wrecked at Encounter Bay.	35°34.641′S 138°36.213′E
Tom Brennan	1960 or 1963	A barge abandoned on the Birdsville Track to the south of the Cooper Creek in Etadunna.	28°37′49″S 138°42′30″E
Varoon	January 1856	A cargo ship that was wrecked twenty miles west of Cape Northumberland.
Water Witch	5 December 1842	A cutter which sunk whilst moored in the River Murray at Moorundie, South Australia.	34°24′0″S 139°37′12″E
Willyama	13 April 1907	A screw steamer wrecked south of Rhino Head, near Marion Bay.[10]	35°15'04.8"S 136°58'44.0"E
Venus	14 June 1946	A cutter that was wrecked in the North Neptune Islands.
Zanoni	11 February 1867	A barque which foundered during a squall in Gulf St Vincent.	34°30′43.8″S 138°03′48.4″E

Tasmania

Ship	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
Actaeon	28 October 1822	A ship that was wrecked in the D'Entrecasteaux Channel.
MV Blythe Star	13 October 1973	A coastal freighter that capsized and sank off South West Cape. All the crew escaped the vessel but three lives were lost before the survivors were rescued.
The Brothers	25 June 1816	A schooner that was driven ashore near the Kent Group.
Cataraqui	4 August 1845	400 lost when wrecked on King Island.	40°1′37.7″S 143°52′49.6″E
Campbell Macquarie	10 June 1812	A ship that was wrecked off Macquarie Island.	54.62°S 158.86°E / -54.62; 158.86 (Campbell Macquarie)
Daphne	26 October 1818	A brig that was wrecked off East Island.
Enchantress	16 July 1835	A barque that struck the rocks about half a mile off the western shore of Bruny Island.[11]
George III	12 March 1835	A convict ship that sank in the D'Entrecasteaux Channel.	43.51°S 146.98°E / -43.51; 146.98 (George III (ship))
Hebe	15 June 1808	A ship that struck a reef off George Town.	41°03′42.92″S 146°45′18.90″E
MV Iron Baron	10 July 1995	A bulk carrier that ran aground on a reef off George Town, causing an oil spill. It was refloated and scuttled off Flinders Island.	39.22°S 149.13°E / -39.22; 149.13 (MV Iron Baron (1985))
TSS Kanowna	18 February 1929	One of Tasmania's largest shipwrecks, found in 2005 in Bass Strait.
MV Lake Illawarra	5 January 1975	Bulk carrier wrecked in the River Derwent, with 12 lives lost.	42°51′52″S 147°20′45″E
Nella Dan	24 December 1987	An icebreaker that ran aground off Macquarie Island, and was subsequently scuttled.
Netherby	23 July 1866	A full-rigged ship that ran aground off King Island.
Neva	13 May 1835	A convict ship that sank off King Island, with about 225 lives lost.
Phatisalam	9 July 1821	A ship that ran aground on Hunter Island.
Sydney Cove	9 February 1797	Sank at Preservation Island with no loss of life.	40.49°S 148.07°E / -40.49; 148.07 (Sydney Cove (ship))

Victoria

See also: Shipwreck Coast

Ship	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
SS Alert	28 December 1893	A steamship that sank off Cape Schanck.	38°31′34.23″S 144°52′29.35″E
SS Cambridge	7 November 1940	A steamship that hit a mine off Wilsons Promontory.	39°9′32″S 146°29′25″E
HMVS Cerberus	2 September 1926	A breastwork monitor that was scuttled as a breakwater in Half Moon Bay.	37.967487°S 145.00789°E / -37.967487; 145.00789 (HMVS Cerberus)
SS Cheviot	19 October 1887	A steamship that was wrecked near Point Nepean.	38.31417°S 144.66417°E / -38.31417; 144.66417 (SS Cheviot)
SS City of Launceston	19 November 1865	A steamship that collided with SS Penola at Port Phillip.	38°4′33″S 144°49′31″E
MS City of Rayville	8 November 1940	A steamship that hit a mine off Cape Otway.	38.9789°S 143.5075°E / -38.9789; 143.5075 (MS City of Rayville)
PS Clonmel	2 January 1841	A paddle steamer that was wrecked at Clonmel Island, near the entrance to Corner Inlet.	38°44′44″S 146°40′37″E
Curlip	3 March 1919	A paddle steamer that was washed out to sea in a flash flood, and stranded on a beach at Marlo.
Earl of Charlemont	18 June 1853	A passenger ship that ran aground off Barwon Heads.	38°18′33.43″S 144°29′28.59″E
Falls of Halladale	14 November 1908	A barque that ran onto the rocks near Peterborough.	38.6082°S 142.8571°E / -38.6082; 142.8571 (Falls of Halladale)
HMAS Goorangai	20 November 1940	A minesweeper that collided with Duntroon at Port Phillip.	38.29278°S 144.6825°E / -38.29278; 144.6825 (HMAS Goorangai)
HMVS Gordon	14 November 1914	A torpedo boat that was rammed and sunk at Port Phillip.
Joseph H. Scammell	7 May 1891	A full rigged ship that ran aground on a reef off Torquay.	38°20′31″S 144°19′54″E
TSS Kanowna	19 February 1929	One of Victoria's largest shipwrecks, found in 2005 in Bass Strait.
Lady Mary Pelham	31 August 1849	A brig that was beached at Port Fairy.
Lightning	31 October 1869	An extreme clipper that caught fire and was scuttled off Geelong.	38°8′24″S 144°22′7″E
Loch Ard	1 June 1878	Struck Mutton Bird Island.	38°38′55″S 143°04′19″E
SS Petriana	28 November 1903	An oil tanker that struck a reef off Point Nepean, releasing Australia's first major oil spill.
SS Pioneer	9 March 1950	A dredger that was scuttled off Port Phillip.
SS Saros	23 December 1937	Ran aground at Point Hicks.	37°48′13″S 149°16′31″E

Western Australia

See also: Shipwrecks of Western Australia

Ship	Sunk date	Notes	Coordinates
SS Alacrity	1931	A tugboat that was wrecked in a storm in Cockburn Sound.
Alkimos	May 1964	Greek merchant ship.	31°36′38″S 115°39′13″E
Arpenteur	November 1849	Merchant ship wrecked off Cheyne Beach	34.8698°S 118.4037°E / -34.8698; 118.4037 (Arpenteur)
Batavia	4 June 1629	Dutch VOC merchant sailing ship.	28°29′25″S 113°47′36″E
Belinda	19 July 1824	A brig that was wrecked off the Archipelago of the Recherche.
Ben Dearg	14 April 1956	A Castle-class trawler that was scuttled near Swarbricks Beach east of Albany	35.0104°S 118.0517°E / -35.0104; 118.0517 (SS Ben Dearg)
Bittern	10 May 1885	Three masted schooner, Capt. A. Bergman or Berghmann, taking jarrah piles from Hamlyn to Darwin, wrecked off Browse Island.[12]	14°06′32″S 123°32′57″E
Carlisle Castle	1899	British iron ship that struck a reef near Rockingham.
Centaur	9 December 1874	A brig that struck a reef near Perth.	31.86376°S 115.711118°E / -31.86376; 115.711118 (Centaur (1849 ship))
City of York	12 July 1899	A barque that hit a reef off Rottnest Island.	31°59.72′S 115°29.25′E
HMAS Derwent	21 December 1994	A River-class destroyer escort that was sunk as an artificial reef.
Elizabeth	22 September 1839	A merchant ship that ran aground at Cottesloe.
Fanny Nicholson	21 November 1872	A barque that was wrecked at Goode Beach in King George Sound.	35.083°S 117.9367°E / -35.083; 117.9367 (Fanny Nicholson)
SS Georgette	1 December 1876	A steamship that was wrecked at Calgardup Bay.
James Service	22 July 1878	A barque that went down in a storm off Mandurah.
Koolama	3 March 1942	A merchant vessel that was bombed by Japanese aircraft and later capsized at Wyndham. The wreck was towed further out to sea in 1948.
MV Korean Star	20 May 1988	A Panamanian bulk carrier that was lost off Cape Cuvier.
Kormoran	19 November 1941	German merchant raider scuttled after being damaged in battle by HMAS Sydney.	26°05′46″S 111°04′33″E
S.S. Kwinana	29 May 1922	A steamship wrecked in a storm off Kwinana.
Lady Elizabeth	30 June 1878	A barque that struck a reef off Rottnest Island.
Lady Lyttleton	17 July 1867	A barque that sank in Emu Point Channel near Albany	34.997717°S 117.95031°E / -34.997717; 117.95031 (Lady Lyttleton)
RMS Orizaba	February 17, 1905	A Royal Mail Ship that ran aground off Rockingham.	32.278613°S 115.624866°E / -32.278613; 115.624866 (RMS Orizaba)
SS Pericles	31 March 1910	An ocean liner that struck a rock and sank 6 miles south of Cape Leeuwin.	34.42217°S 115.13733°E / -34.42217; 115.13733 (SS Pericles)
HMAS Perth	24 November 2001	A Perth-class guided missile destroyer scuttled as a dive wreck off Albany.	35.085°S 117.96°E / -35.085; 117.96 (HMAS Perth (D 38))
Redemptora	C. 1898	A wooden Clipper abandoned or sunk off Cockburn.	[13]
Sanko Harvest	14 February 1991	A bulk carrier that struck a reef off Esperance.	34°7.4′S 122°5.1′E
HMAS Swan	14 December 1997	A River-class destroyer escort that was sunk as a dive wreck off Dunsborough.	33°33′02″S 115°06′02″E
HMAS Sydney	19 November 1941	Leander class cruiser sunk in battle by the German merchant raider Kormoran.	26°14′31″S 111°12′48″E
HMAS Torrens	14 June 1999	A River-class destroyer escort that was sunk as a target.
Tryall	25 May 1622	Honourable East India Company ship.
HMS Undine	25 March 1890	A gunboat that was wrecked in the King George Sound.
Vergulde Draeck	28 April 1656	Dutch VOC merchant sailing ship.	31°13.36′S 115°21.48′E
HMAS Wallaroo	11 June 1943	A Bathurst-class corvette that collided with the Henry Gilbert Costin off Fremantle.	31°54′24″S 114°37′31″E
Wave	5 July 1848	A brig sunk off Cheynes Beach near Cape Riche	34.5945°S 118.75165°E / -34.5945; 118.75165 (Wave)
SS Xantho	1872	A steamship that sank off Gregory.
Zeewijk	9 June 1727	Dutch VOC merchant sailing ship.	28°54′30″S 113°49′0″E
Zuytdorp	1712	Dutch VOC merchant sailing ship.	27°11′10″S 113°56′13″E

See also

• Australian National Shipwreck Database
• List of unidentified shipwrecks in Australian waters
• List of 17th-century shipwrecks in Australia

References

1. "The Sydney Morning Herald 11 November 1850". Archived from the original on 17 April 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
2. "The Lady Bowen Shipwreck, Great Barrier Reef". Calypsodive.com. Archived from the original on 12 October 2009. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
3. "The Stranding of the Scottish Prince". The Queenslander. Queensland, Australia. 12 February 1887. p. 258. Retrieved 17 December 2019 – via Trove.
4. "The Scottish Prince". Gold Coast City Libraries. 30 March 2016. Archived from the original on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
5. Forbes, Tom (17 December 2019). "Divers flock to famous shipwreck as shifting sands reveal buried secrets". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
6. "South Australian shipwrecks" Archived 21 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Encyclopedia of Australian Shipwrecks.
7. "Wreck of the Ethel". www.samemory.sa.gov.au. Archived from the original on 26 October 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
8. "Loss of the Barque "Grecian"". South Australian Register. Adelaide. 15 October 1850. p. 2. Retrieved 2 February 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
9. "SHIPWRECKS - View". www.environment.gov.au. Archived from the original on 26 October 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
10. "View Shipwreck - Willyama".
11. "Tasmanian shipwrecks" Archived 29 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Encyclopedia of Australian Shipwrecks.
12. "Wreck of the Bittern". The Argus. Melbourne. 15 May 1885. p. 6. Retrieved 24 July 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
13. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327622688_The_Clipper_Ship_Redemptora_1851-1898_A_Study_in_Archaeology_History_and_Heritage_Management

Further reading

• Loney, J. K. (1993). Wrecks on the New South Wales Coast. Oceans Enterprises. ISBN 978-0-646-11081-3.
• Bateson, Charles; Reed, AH; Reed, AW (1972). Australian Shipwrecks – Vol. 1 1622–1850. Sydney. ISBN 0-589-07112-2
• Loney, J. K. (1980). Australian Shipwrecks Vol. 2 1851–1871. Sydney.
• Loney, J. K. (1982). Australian Shipwrecks Vol. 3 1871–1900. Geelong, Vic: List Publishing.
• Loney, J. K. (1987). Australian Shipwrecks Vol. 4 1901–1986. Portarlington, Vic: Marine History Publications.
• Loney, J. K. (1991). Australian Shipwrecks Vol. 5 Update 1986. Portarlington, Vic: Marine History Publications.
• Christopher, P. (2009). Australian Shipwrecks: a pictorial history. Axiom Publishing. Stepney, South Australia. ISBN 978 1 8647658 8 5 Reprinted 2012.
• Hogarth, Christine (1985) Navigators and Shipwrecks: Australia's heritage in stamps. Melbourne: Australia Post

External links

• Australian National Shipwreck Database
• Encyclopedia of Australian Shipwrecks