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The Long Search for the Yongala

In March 1911 the SS Yongala sank during a powerful cyclone with the loss of 122 lives making it one of Queensland’s worst maritime disasters. Despite efforts to locate the wreck, the ship’s final resting place would remain a mystery for almost half a century. The Yongala departed Brisbane on 21 March bound for Townsville. Continue reading “The Long Search for the Yongala”

Matthew Flinders and the loss of HMS Porpoise – 1803

Shortly after Matthew Flinders completed his historic circumnavigation of Australia he was farewelled from Sydney to return to England as a passenger onboard HMS Porpoise. To everyone’s astonishment, he returned a month later to report the loss of that ship and another on a reef far out in the Coral Sea. HMS Porpoise, under theContinue reading “Matthew Flinders and the loss of HMS Porpoise – 1803”

The Tragic Loss of George III – 1835

The 400-ton ship George the Third sailed from England on 12 December 1834 carrying 220 convicts bound for Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania). When less than 80kms from their destination at Hobart, tragedy struck with terrible loss of life. On Sunday 12 April 1835 the George III made land at South Cape, the southernmost point ofContinue reading “The Tragic Loss of George III – 1835“

The Windjammer Grace Harwar 1889 – 1935

The 1750-ton steel-hulled fully-rigged ship Grace Harwar was launched in Glasgow in 1889 and for the next 45 years, she crossed the world’s oceans carrying all manner of bulk cargoes. She was well known to Australian mariners and dockworkers regularly taking on coal, grain and other goods bound for distant ports. Despite her majestic linesContinue reading “The Windjammer Grace Harwar 1889 – 1935”

S.S. Maheno (1905 – 1935)

As anyone knows who has ventured across to K’Gari (formerly Fraser Island) the wreck of the old luxury passenger liner SS Maheno makes an imposing presence on the long sandy beach which serves as the island’s main highway. Swept ashore during a cyclone in 1935 on her way to a Japanese scrapyard, the Maheno wasContinue reading “S.S. Maheno (1905 – 1935)”