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Victorian Ships Graveyard Wreck Dives

Victorian Ships' Graveyard

Diving the Ships' Graveyard, Victoria, Australia
Diving Victoria's Ships' Graveyard
© Mary Malloy & Allie Beckhurst

South of Melbourne there is a Ships' Graveyard. It's located 7 kilometres (4.35 miles) east of Torquay's Fisherman's Beach through to Point Lonsdale. There are 46 known wrecks to choose from. They consist of tugs, dredges, barges, lighters, coastal freighter, World War One submarines, a paddle steamer plus a patrol boat. Many of these vessels were stripped down and scuttled by an explosive charge or an opened valve cock, and many remain fairly intact to this day.

There are two areas that make up Victoria's Ships' Graveyard:

  1. Outer Heads Area: An undocumented area outside Port Phillip Heads used between 1900 and 1925. It was the lack of discipline in the use of this area that caused an official area to be created. Back in the day they would take hulks to be scuttled out to the area, open the sea cocks and set them adrift, sometimes even ablaze. The result was some vessels drifted and ended up all over the place. The hulk of the 567-ton barque Norwester ended up on the popular tourist beach at Portsea in November 1928. Public outcry at such mishaps saw the introduction of sea dumping legislation.
  2. Commonwealth Area No. 3: This is the designated Victorian zone for sea dumping of obsolete vessels. Proclaimed in Beaches, Fishing Grounds and Sea Routes ACT 1932, this is the official Ships' Graveyard. Area #3 is 6 kilometres in diameter and ranges in depth from 40 to 60 metres and is located approximately 10 kilometres south west of Barwon Heads.
Victoria's Ships' Graveyard
Victoria's Ships' Graveyard
© Scuttlebutt Press

These vessels were decommissioned from the early 1900s through to 1999 and range in depth from 30 metres (98 feet) to 82 metres (269 feet). Penetration can be had on some wrecks, and there is little tidal current or shipping to be concerned with so wrecks can be dived at any time of the day. The main constraints are wind strength and the size of the swell.

The best reference work on these wrecks is:
"Victoria's Ships' Graveyard"
Authors: Mark Ryan, Peter Taylor & Mick Whitmore
Published: 2009 by Scuttlebutt Press
ISBN: 9780980590203
Status: Out of print.

All shipwrecks in the Victorian Ships' Graveyard are protected.
Any persons contravening the Heritage Act (1995) may face severe penalties as a result.


Alert

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Outside Port Phillip Ships Graveyard Technical Rated Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 29.217′ S   (38.486944° S / 38° 29′ 13″ S)
Longitude: 144° 45.033′ E   (144.750556° E / 144° 45′ 2″ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 01:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-05-18 03:02:08 GMT
Source: Victorian Government GPS (verified)
Nearest Neighbour: Cape Schanck Cray Reef, 10,320 m, bearing 81°, E
Historic shipwreck protected zone.
Permit Required.
Iron Screw Steamer.
Built: Glasgow, Scotland, 1877.
Sunk: 28 December 1893.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Cape Schanck, Bass Strait.
Depth: 75 m.
See the Alert dive site page

Auriga

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Outside Port Phillip Ships Graveyard Subject to Shipping Technical Rated Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 20.771′ S   (38.346175° S / 38° 20′ 46.23″ S)
Longitude: 144° 34.210′ E   (144.570168° E / 144° 34′ 12.6″ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 01:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-05-03 14:39:26 GMT
Source: Book - Victoria's Ships' Graveyard GPS (verified)
Nearest Neighbour: Campana, 178 m, bearing 209°, SSW
Three-Masted Iron Barque, 540 ton.
Built: Sunderland, UK, 1869.
Scuttled: 5 February 1930.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Bass Strait.
Depth: 55 to 57 m.
See the Auriga dive site page

Batman

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Deep Rated Outside Port Phillip Ships Graveyard Technical Rated Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 21.306′ S   (38.3551° S / 38° 21′ 18.36″ S)
Longitude: 144° 24.659′ E   (144.410983° E / 144° 24′ 39.54″ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 01:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-05-18 03:04:16 GMT
Source: Book - Victoria's Ships' Graveyard GPS (verified)
Nearest Neighbour: Dunloe, 667 m, bearing 261°, W
Steam Driven Iron Hopper Barge, 388 ton.
Built: Renfrew, Scotland, 1883.
Scuttled: 21 May 1935.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Bass Strait.
Depth: 42 to 46 m.
See the Batman dive site page

Bayonet

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Deep Rated Outside Port Phillip Ships Graveyard Technical Rated Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 43.050′ S   (38.7175° S / 38° 43′ 3″ S)
Longitude: 144° 35.250′ E   (144.5875° E / 144° 35′ 15″ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 01:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-05-03 18:26:01 GMT
Source: GPS
Nearest Neighbour: Helen, 25,482 m, bearing 63°, ENE
Attack Class Patrol Boat, 150 ton.
Built: Queensland, 1968.
Sunk: 21 September 1999.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Bass Strait.
Depth: 82 m.
See the Bayonet dive site page

Beverwijk 19

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Deep Rated Outside Port Phillip Ships Graveyard Technical Rated Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 21.120′ S   (38.352° S / 38° 21′ 7.2″ S)
Longitude: 144° 25.171′ E   (144.419517° E / 144° 25′ 10.26″ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 01:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-05-03 18:38:52 GMT
Source: Book - Victoria's Ships' Graveyard GPS (verified)
Nearest Neighbour: Victorian, 226 m, bearing 10°, N
Steam Dredge, 319 ton.
Built: 1912.
Scuttled: 7 May 1963.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Bass Strait.
Depth: 42 to 46 m.
See the Beverwijk 19 dive site page

Birchgrove

Barque, Lighter

Built in 1856 and scuttled on 8 February 1932, the overall length of the vessel was approximately 41.67 metres (137 feet), beam 8.6 metres (28 feet) and draught 5.7 metres (19 feet) with a displacement weight of 470 tonnes (518 short tons(US)).

Location: Nobbies, Phillip Island

See also, Australian National Shipwreck Database: Birchgrove, and
Heritage Council Victoria: Birchgrove.


Brunette

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Outside Port Phillip Ships Graveyard Technical Rated Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 22.341′ S   (38.372351° S / 38° 22′ 20.46″ S)
Longitude: 144° 32.006′ E   (144.533428° E / 144° 32′ 0.34″ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 01:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-05-04 00:24:32 GMT
Source: Book - Victoria's Ships' Graveyard GPS (verified)
Nearest Neighbour: John Nimmo, 2,213 m, bearing 62°, ENE
Three-Masted Iron Barque, Coal Hulk, 382 ton.
Built: Deptford, UK, 1859.
Scuttled: July 1913.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Bass Strait.
Depth: 70 m.
See the Brunette dive site page

Buninyong

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Deep Rated Outside Port Phillip Ships Graveyard Technical Rated Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 20.224′ S   (38.337072° S / 38° 20′ 13.46″ S)
Longitude: 144° 31.041′ E   (144.517342° E / 144° 31′ 2.43″ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 01:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-04-28 07:36:11 GMT
Source: Book - Victoria's Ships' Graveyard GPS (verified)
Nearest Neighbour: Rotomahana, 2,520 m, bearing 40°, NE
Steel Hulled Steamship, 2076 ton.
Built: Barrow-in-Furness, UK, 1883.
Scuttled: 11 February 1926.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Bass Strait.
Depth: 50 to 54 m.
See the Buninyong dive site page

Bunyip

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Outside Port Phillip Ships Graveyard Technical Rated Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 22.305′ S   (38.371758° S / 38° 22′ 18.33″ S)
Longitude: 144° 25.563′ E   (144.426057° E / 144° 25′ 33.81″ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 01:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-05-04 06:46:11 GMT
Source: Book - Victoria's Ships' Graveyard GPS (verified)
Nearest Neighbour: D McLennan, 716 m, bearing 58°, ENE
Steam Driven Iron Dredge, 317 ton.
Built: Renfrew, Scotland, 1879.
Scuttled: 13 April 1955.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Bass Strait.
Depth: 58 m.
See the Bunyip dive site page

Burke

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Deep Rated Outside Port Phillip Ships Graveyard Technical Rated Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 20.999′ S   (38.349987° S / 38° 20′ 59.95″ S)
Longitude: 144° 25.982′ E   (144.433037° E / 144° 25′ 58.93″ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 01:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-05-04 07:16:21 GMT
Source: Book - Victoria's Ships' Graveyard GPS (verified)
Nearest Neighbour: Euro, 500 m, bearing 19°, NNE
Steam Hopper Barge, 345 ton.
Built: Adelaide, South Australia, 1876.
Scuttled: 23 September 1935.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Bass Strait.
Depth: 50 m.
See the Burke dive site page

Campana

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Deep Rated Outside Port Phillip Ships Graveyard Subject to Shipping Technical Rated Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 20.854′ S   (38.347567° S / 38° 20′ 51.24″ S)
Longitude: 144° 34.150′ E   (144.569167° E / 144° 34′ 9″ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 01:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-05-04 08:06:41 GMT
Source: Book - Victoria's Ships' Graveyard GPS (verified)
Nearest Neighbour: Auriga, 178 m, bearing 29°, NNE
Three-Masted Iron Barque, 815 ton.
Built: Liverpool, England, 1875.
Scuttled: 30 July 1927.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Bass Strait.
Depth: 54 to 56 m.
See the Campana dive site page

Casablanca

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Deep Rated Outside Port Phillip Ships Graveyard Technical Rated Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 21.777′ S   (38.362953° S / 38° 21′ 46.63″ S)
Longitude: 144° 26.332′ E   (144.438867° E / 144° 26′ 19.92″ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 01:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-05-04 08:45:13 GMT
Source: Book - Victoria's Ships' Graveyard GPS (verified)
Nearest Neighbour: VHB 53, 298 m, bearing 325°, NW
Three-Masted Iron Barque, Lighter, 601 ton.
Built: Liverpool, England, 1868.
Scuttled: 16 February 1950.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Bass Strait.
Depth: 57 m.
See the Casablanca dive site page

Coogee

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Advanced Open Water Rated Deep Rated Outside Port Phillip Ships Graveyard Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 18.411′ S   (38.30685° S / 38° 18′ 24.66″ S)
Longitude: 144° 34.306′ E   (144.571767° E / 144° 34′ 18.36″ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 01:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-05-07 15:01:30 GMT
Source: Packo GPS (verified)
Nearest Neighbour: J5 Yellow Submarine, 520 m, bearing 211°, SSW
Steel Hulled Steam Ship, 762 ton.
Built: Sunderland, UK, 1887.
Scuttled: 27 February 1928.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Bass Strait.
Depth: 28 to 34 m.
Dive only on: SWF, SWE, Ebb, Flood.
See the Coogee dive site page

Courier

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Deep Rated Outside Port Phillip Ships Graveyard Slack Water Subject to Shipping Technical Rated Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 19.488′ S   (38.324797° S / 38° 19′ 29.27″ S)
Longitude: 144° 34.920′ E   (144.582008° E / 144° 34′ 55.23″ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 01:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-05-01 10:23:09 GMT
Source: Book - Victoria's Ships' Graveyard GPS (verified)
Nearest Neighbour: Lost Reef, 860 m, bearing 0°, N
Steel Hulled Steam Ship, 728 ton.
Built: Wallsend-on-Tyne, England, 1887.
Scuttled: 29 March 1929.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Bass Strait.
Depth: 37 to 42 m.
Dive only on: SWF, SWE.
See the Courier dive site page

D McLennan

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Deep Rated Outside Port Phillip Ships Graveyard Subject to Shipping Technical Rated Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 22.104′ S   (38.368392° S / 38° 22′ 6.21″ S)
Longitude: 144° 25.983′ E   (144.433055° E / 144° 25′ 59″ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 01:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-05-11 19:26:34 GMT
Source: Book - Victoria's Ships' Graveyard GPS (verified)
Nearest Neighbour: Bunyip, 716 m, bearing 238°, WSW
Steel Steam Bucket Dredge, 424 tons.
Built: Leyden, Holland, 1912.
Scuttled: 8 June 1949.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Bass Strait.
Depth: 58 m.
See the D McLennan dive site page

Don Diego

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Outside Port Phillip Ships Graveyard Subject to Shipping Technical Rated Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 23.726′ S   (38.395433° S / 38° 23′ 43.56″ S)
Longitude: 144° 32.055′ E   (144.534253° E / 144° 32′ 3.31″ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 01:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-05-11 20:07:26 GMT
Source: Book - Victoria's Ships' Graveyard GPS (verified)
Nearest Neighbour: Brunette, 2,568 m, bearing 358°, N
Three-Masted Iron Barque, Coal Hulk, 320 ton.
Built: Greenock, UK, 1855.
Scuttled: 26 May 1916.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Bass Strait.
Depth: 70 to 72 m.
See the Don Diego dive site page

Dunloe

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Deep Rated Outside Port Phillip Ships Graveyard Technical Rated Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 21.360′ S   (38.356° S / 38° 21′ 21.6″ S)
Longitude: 144° 24.205′ E   (144.403417° E / 144° 24′ 12.3″ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 01:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-05-12 02:27:12 GMT
Source: Book - Victoria's Ships' Graveyard GPS (verified)
Nearest Neighbour: Batman, 667 m, bearing 81°, E
Three-Masted Iron Barque, 704 ton.
Built: Glasgow, Scotland, 1870.
Scuttled: 2 July 1947.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Bass Strait.
Depth: 44 to 46 m.
See the Dunloe dive site page

Edward Northcote

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Outside Port Phillip Ships Graveyard Technical Rated Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 21.369′ S   (38.356157° S / 38° 21′ 22.17″ S)
Longitude: 144° 25.799′ E   (144.429983° E / 144° 25′ 47.94″ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 01:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-05-12 16:04:43 GMT
Source: Book - Victoria's Ships' Graveyard GPS (verified)
Nearest Neighbour: Wareatea, 422 m, bearing 101°, E
Steam Hopper Barge, 495 ton.
Built: Paisley, Scotland, 1911.
Scuttled: 6 November 1952.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Bass Strait.
Depth: 52 m.
See the Edward Northcote dive site page

Euro

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Outside Port Phillip Ships Graveyard Technical Rated Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 20.744′ S   (38.345738° S / 38° 20′ 44.66″ S)
Longitude: 144° 26.094′ E   (144.434905° E / 144° 26′ 5.66″ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 01:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-05-12 15:59:25 GMT
Source: Book - Victoria's Ships' Graveyard GPS (verified by Ian Scholey, VSAG)
Nearest Neighbour: H.C. Piggot, 434 m, bearing 66°, ENE
Steam Tug, 257 ton.
Built: Dundee, Scotland, 1897.
Scuttled: 10 June 1948.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Bass Strait.
Depth: 44 to 50 m.
See the Euro dive site page

Fawkner

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Outside Port Phillip Ships Graveyard Technical Rated Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 21.378′ S   (38.3563° S / 38° 21′ 22.68″ S)
Longitude: 144° 25.310′ E   (144.421833° E / 144° 25′ 18.6″ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 01:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-05-18 03:04:57 GMT
Source: Book - Victoria's Ships' Graveyard GPS (verified)
Nearest Neighbour: Beverwijk 19, 519 m, bearing 337°, NNW
Steam Driven Hopper Barge, 388 ton.
Built: Renfrew, Scotland, 1883.
Scuttled: 20 May 1935.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Bass Strait.
Depth: 44 to 46 m.
See the Fawkner dive site page

Helen

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Outside Port Phillip Ships Graveyard Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 36.900′ S   (38.615° S / 38° 36′ 54″ S)
Longitude: 144° 51.000′ E   (144.85° E / 144° 51′ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2019-03-11 05:48:07 GMT, Last updated: 2022-05-01 22:51:31 GMT
Source: Australasian Underwater Cultural Heritage Database (approximate location only)
Nearest Neighbour: Cape Schanck West, 13,596 m, bearing 13°, NNE
Three-Masted Composite Barque.
Built: 1864.
Sunk: 10 March 1938.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Bass Strait.
Depth: 75 m.
See the Helen dive site page

H.C. Piggot

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Outside Port Phillip Ships Graveyard Technical Rated Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 20.651′ S   (38.344183° S / 38° 20′ 39.06″ S)
Longitude: 144° 26.368′ E   (144.439467° E / 144° 26′ 22.08″ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 01:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-05-12 16:02:52 GMT
Source: Book - Victoria's Ships' Graveyard GPS (verified)
Nearest Neighbour: Euro, 434 m, bearing 246°, WSW
Steam Driven Hopper Barge, 495 ton.
Built: Paisley, Scotland, 1911.
Scuttled: 14 October 1935.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Bass Strait.
Depth: 46 to 48 m.
See the H.C. Piggot dive site page

Hume

Steam Tug — Graveyard

Hume
Hume
© Unknown

The Hume steam tug was built in 1922 in Dordrecht, Holland and bought by the Melbourne Harbor Trust in 1925.

Location: Ship's Graveyard

Built in 1922 and scuttled in the 1950's, the overall length of the vessel was approximately 18 metres (59 feet), beam 4.7 metres (15 feet) and draught 2 metres (6.56 feet) with a displacement weight of 43 tonnes (47 short tons(US)).


Hygeia

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Outside Port Phillip Ships Graveyard Subject to Shipping Technical Rated Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 21.017′ S   (38.350275° S / 38° 21′ 0.99″ S)
Longitude: 144° 33.633′ E   (144.560548° E / 144° 33′ 37.97″ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 01:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-05-14 04:03:12 GMT
Source: Book - Victoria's Ships' Graveyard GPS (verified)
Nearest Neighbour: Leeuwin, 346 m, bearing 127°, SE
Steel Passenger Paddle Steamer, 986 tons.
Built: Yorker (Glasgow), Scotland, 1890.
Scuttled: 10 June 1932.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Bass Strait.
Depth: 58 to 62 m.
See the Hygeia dive site page

J1 Deep Submarine

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Deep Rated Outside Port Phillip Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 18.959′ S   (38.315988° S / 38° 18′ 57.56″ S)
Longitude: 144° 33.219′ E   (144.553648° E / 144° 33′ 13.13″ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 01:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-04-28 07:49:27 GMT
Source: Book - Victoria's Ships' Graveyard GPS (verified)
Nearest Neighbour: New Deep Bommie, 1,157 m, bearing 101°, E
J-Class Submarine, 1820 ton.
Built: Portsmouth, UK, 1915/1916.
Scuttled: 26 May 1926.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Bass Strait.
Depth: 31 to 38 m.
See the J1 Deep Submarine dive site page

J2 Broken Submarine

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Deep Rated Outside Port Phillip Slack Water Subject to Shipping Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 18.814′ S   (38.31357° S / 38° 18′ 48.85″ S)
Longitude: 144° 34.803′ E   (144.580048° E / 144° 34′ 48.17″ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 01:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-04-28 07:49:55 GMT
Source: Book - Victoria's Ships' Graveyard GPS (verified)
Nearest Neighbour: Lost Reef, 430 m, bearing 154°, SSE
J-Class Submarine, 1820 ton.
Built: Portsmouth, UK, 1915/1916.
Scuttled: 1 June 1926.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Bass Strait.
Depth: 31 to 39 m.
See the J2 Broken Submarine dive site page

J4 26m Submarine

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Advanced Open Water Rated Outside Port Phillip Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 17.979′ S   (38.299657° S / 38° 17′ 58.77″ S)
Longitude: 144° 33.820′ E   (144.563673° E / 144° 33′ 49.22″ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 01:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-05-07 18:46:51 GMT
Source: Book - Victoria's Ships' Graveyard GPS (verified)
Nearest Neighbour: Sub Reef, 440 m, bearing 95°, E
J-Class Submarine, 1,820 ton.
Built: Portsmouth, UK, 1915/1916.
Scuttled: 28 April 1927.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Bass Strait.
Depth: 19 to 28 m.
See the J4 26m Submarine dive site page

J5 Yellow Submarine

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Deep Rated Outside Port Phillip Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 18.649′ S   (38.310822° S / 38° 18′ 38.96″ S)
Longitude: 144° 34.118′ E   (144.568632° E / 144° 34′ 7.08″ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 01:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-04-29 05:26:50 GMT
Source: Book - Victoria's Ships' Graveyard GPS (verified)
Nearest Neighbour: Coogee, 520 m, bearing 31°, NNE
J-Class Submarine, 1820 ton.
Built: Portsmouth, UK, 1915/1916.
Scuttled: 4 June 1926.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Bass Strait.
Depth: 25 to 36 m.
See the J5 Yellow Submarine dive site page

John Nimmo

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Outside Port Phillip Ships Graveyard Subject to Shipping Technical Rated Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 21.787′ S   (38.363123° S / 38° 21′ 47.24″ S)
Longitude: 144° 33.355′ E   (144.555922° E / 144° 33′ 21.32″ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 01:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-05-14 08:10:31 GMT
Source: Book - Victoria's Ships' Graveyard GPS (verified)
Nearest Neighbour: Malaita, 1,052 m, bearing 336°, NNW
Steam Dredge, 1,209 ton.
Built: Footscray, Victoria, 1887.
Scuttled: 10 August 1931.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Bass Strait.
Depth: 66 to 68 m.
See the John Nimmo dive site page

Kingswear

Collier — Graveyard

The Kingswear in the earlier part of its career had been involved coastal trade in Queensland (not mentioned in Parsons, Australian Coastal Passenger Ships) and at some point arrived in Sydney.

The Kingswear was towed from Sydney to Melbourne by the tug Eagle in October 1906, where she was transformed into a floating pumping station. In this role the Kingswear was used in reclamation works at the West Melbourne Swamp, where silt from the old river bed was pumped into the swamp measuring 10 acres in extent. As the water pumped with the silt formed mini-lakes more solid material was required, and clay cut from the Coode Canal Banks was deposited in the river bed for pumping and filling. At the time this was described as "welcome news to bayside municipal councils and yachtsmen, who have for years been complaining that the silt deposited in the bay is eventually washed onto the foreshores" (Age 22/1/1907).

Location: South of Port Phillip Heads

The Kingswear was described as having been in a "rotten state" with a prodigious amount of marine fouling on her hull when finally scuttled on 14 April 1915.

See also, Australian National Shipwreck Database: Kingswear, and
Heritage Council Victoria: Kingswear.


Leeuwin

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Outside Port Phillip Ships Graveyard Subject to Shipping Technical Rated Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 21.129′ S   (38.35215° S / 38° 21′ 7.74″ S)
Longitude: 144° 33.823′ E   (144.563717° E / 144° 33′ 49.38″ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 01:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-05-20 22:50:20 GMT
Source: Book - Victoria's Ships' Graveyard GPS (verified)
Nearest Neighbour: Hygeia, 346 m, bearing 307°, NW
Passenger and Cargo Steamer, 580 ton.
Built: Whiteinch, Scotland, 1976.
Scuttled: 28 December 1932.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Bass Strait.
Depth: 62 m.
See the Leeuwin dive site page

Malaita

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Outside Port Phillip Ships Graveyard Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 21.267′ S   (38.354444° S / 38° 21′ 16″ S)
Longitude: 144° 33.067′ E   (144.551111° E / 144° 33′ 4″ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 01:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-04-28 07:52:59 GMT
Source: GPS
Nearest Neighbour: Hygeia, 944 m, bearing 60°, ENE
Steel Steamship, 940 ton.
Built: Grangemouth, UK, 1893.
Scuttled: 20 November 1928.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Bass Strait.
Depth: 65 m.
See the Malaita dive site page

Milora

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Deep Rated Outside Port Phillip Ships Graveyard Technical Rated Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 21.102′ S   (38.351705° S / 38° 21′ 6.14″ S)
Longitude: 144° 23.378′ E   (144.389632° E / 144° 23′ 22.68″ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 01:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-05-11 05:50:30 GMT
Source: Book - Victoria's Ships' Graveyard GPS (verified)
Nearest Neighbour: Dunloe, 1,293 m, bearing 111°, ESE
Steel Steamer Collier, 3347 ton.
Built: Williamstown, Victoria, 1920.
Scuttled: 8 March 1935.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Bass Strait.
Depth: 38 to 43 m.
See the Milora dive site page

Mosquito

Iron Sailing Brig — Graveyard

The brig Mosquito arrived in Melbourne from Hong Kong on 9 November 1878. It was laid up in Saltwater Creek (Maribyrnong River) before being sold to the South Australian Coal Company who converted it to a hulk in 1880.

Location: South of Port Phillip Heads

Built in 1859 by Henderson & Sons in Renfrew, Scotland and scuttled on the 30 September 1915, the iron sailing brig Mosquito had an overall length of approximately 113.9 feet (35 metres), beam 20.2 feet (6.16 metres) and draught 12.2 feet (3.72 metres) with a displacement weight of 198 tonnes (218 short tons(US)).

See also, Heritage Council Victoria: Mosquito, and
Australian National Shipwreck Database: Mosquito.


Norwester

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Open Water Rated Outside Port Phillip Ships Graveyard Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 19.833′ S   (38.330555° S / 38° 19′ 50″ S)
Longitude: 144° 41.433′ E   (144.690555° E / 144° 41′ 26″ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 01:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-05-15 09:13:07 GMT
Source: GPS
Nearest Neighbour: London Bridge, 151 m, bearing 52°, NE
Three-Masted Iron Barque, 567 ton.
Built: Glasgow, Scotland, 1864.
Sunk: 21 November 1928.
Portsea, Back Beaches, Mornington Peninsula.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Bass Strait.
Depth: 2 m.
See the Norwester dive site page

Palace

Three-Masted Barque — Graveyard

Originally a three-masted barque the Confederate Star, renamed Palace in 1869. Arrived Melbourne 1874. Went to New Zealand in 1878. Returned to Melbourne in 1886 and made a lighter.

The Palace and the Birchgrove were owned and operated by the Port of Melbourne Authority. In February 1932 the vessels were towed out to sea by the tug Keera for disposal. The vessels were set on fire but were carried shoreward by the wind and current and ran aground near the Nobbies on Phillip Island.

Location: Nobbies, Phillip Island

Built in 1866 in Miramichi, New Brunswick, USA and scuttled on the 10 February 1932, the Palace had an overall length of approximately 137 feet (42 metres), beam 28.2 feet (8.6 metres) and draught 12.9 feet (3.93 metres) with a displacement weight of 359 tonnes (396 short tons(US)).

See also, Heritage Council Victoria: Palace, and
Australian National Shipwreck Database: Palace.


Pioneer

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Outside Port Phillip Ships Graveyard Technical Rated Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 20.366′ S   (38.339433° S / 38° 20′ 21.96″ S)
Longitude: 144° 26.378′ E   (144.439633° E / 144° 26′ 22.68″ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 01:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-05-12 17:02:12 GMT
Source: Allie Beckhurst GPS (verified)
Nearest Neighbour: H.C. Piggot, 528 m, bearing 181°, S
Steel Steam Dredge, 543 ton.
Built: Newark, Glasgow, Scotland, 1905.
Scuttled: 9 March 1950.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Bass Strait.
Depth: 46 to 50 m.
See the Pioneer dive site page

Rotomahana

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Deep Rated Outside Port Phillip Ships Graveyard Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 19.191′ S   (38.319857° S / 38° 19′ 11.49″ S)
Longitude: 144° 32.167′ E   (144.536123° E / 144° 32′ 10.04″ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 01:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-05-06 16:41:54 GMT
Source: Book - Victoria's Ships' Graveyard GPS (verified)
Nearest Neighbour: J1 Deep Submarine, 1,588 m, bearing 74°, ENE
Passenger and Cargo Steamer, 1777 ton.
Built: Dumbarton, Scotland, 1879.
Scuttled: 29 May 1928.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Bass Strait.
Depth: 35 to 39 m.
See the Rotomahana dive site page

Sir William McPherson

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Outside Port Phillip Ships Graveyard Technical Rated Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 20.697′ S   (38.344957° S / 38° 20′ 41.85″ S)
Longitude: 144° 29.214′ E   (144.486898° E / 144° 29′ 12.83″ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 01:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-05-15 10:59:41 GMT
Source: Book - Victoria's Ships' Graveyard GPS (verified)
Nearest Neighbour: Buninyong, 2,796 m, bearing 71°, ENE
Steel Steam Dredge, 482 ton.
Built: Kinderdijk, Holland, 1912.
Scuttled: 12 May 1949.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Bass Strait.
Depth: 52 to 57 m.
See the Sir William McPherson dive site page

VHB 53

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Outside Port Phillip Ships Graveyard Technical Rated Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 21.645′ S   (38.360743° S / 38° 21′ 38.67″ S)
Longitude: 144° 26.216′ E   (144.436935° E / 144° 26′ 12.97″ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 01:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-05-11 04:10:35 GMT
Source: Book - Victoria's Ships' Graveyard GPS (verified)
Nearest Neighbour: Casablanca, 298 m, bearing 145°, SE
Steel Hopper Barge.
Scuttled: 19 February 1971.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Bass Strait.
Depth: 52 to 57 m.
See the VHB 53 dive site page

VHB 54

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Outside Port Phillip Ships Graveyard Technical Rated Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 20.588′ S   (38.343138° S / 38° 20′ 35.3″ S)
Longitude: 144° 25.057′ E   (144.417622° E / 144° 25′ 3.44″ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 01:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-05-11 04:06:19 GMT
Source: Book - Victoria's Ships' Graveyard GPS (verified)
Nearest Neighbour: Victorian, 791 m, bearing 164°, SSE
Steel Hopper Barge.
Scuttled: 17 December 1970.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Bass Strait.
Depth: 52 to 54 m.
See the VHB 54 dive site page

Victorian

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Outside Port Phillip Ships Graveyard Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 21.000′ S   (38.35° S / 38° 21′ S)
Longitude: 144° 25.200′ E   (144.42° E / 144° 25′ 12″ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 01:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-04-28 08:00:43 GMT
Source: Australasian Underwater Cultural Heritage Database (approximate location only)
Nearest Neighbour: Beverwijk 19, 226 m, bearing 190°, S
Iron Screw Steamer, 718 ton.
Built: Glasgow, Scotland, 1876.
Scuttled: 8 May 1925.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Bass Strait.
Depth:45 m.
See the Victorian dive site page

Wareatea

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Outside Port Phillip Ships Graveyard Technical Rated Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 21.416′ S   (38.35694° S / 38° 21′ 24.98″ S)
Longitude: 144° 26.083′ E   (144.43472° E / 144° 26′ 4.99″ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 01:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-05-16 09:48:23 GMT
Source: Book - Victoria's Ships' Graveyard GPS (verified)
Nearest Neighbour: Edward Northcote, 422 m, bearing 281°, W
Passenger and Cargo Steamer, 511 ton.
Built: Paisley, Scotland, 1883.
Scuttled: 16 March 1945.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Bass Strait.
Depth: 48 m.
See the Wareatea dive site page

Werfa

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Outside Port Phillip Ships Graveyard Subject to Shipping Technical Rated Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 21.380′ S   (38.356327° S / 38° 21′ 22.78″ S)
Longitude: 144° 34.039′ E   (144.567317° E / 144° 34′ 2.34″ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 01:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-04-27 21:43:33 GMT
Source: Book - Victoria's Ships' Graveyard GPS (verified)
Nearest Neighbour: Leeuwin, 561 m, bearing 325°, NW
Iron Steamer | Coal Hulk, 862 ton.
Built: Newcastle-on-Tyne, UK, 1883.
Scuttled: 20 March 1929.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Bass Strait.
Depth: 62 to 65 m.
See the Werfa dive site page

White Pine

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Outside Port Phillip Ships Graveyard Technical Rated Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 21.979′ S   (38.366322° S / 38° 21′ 58.76″ S)
Longitude: 144° 25.047′ E   (144.417452° E / 144° 25′ 2.83″ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 01:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-04-27 22:09:16 GMT
Source: Book - Victoria's Ships' Graveyard GPS (verified)
Nearest Neighbour: Bunyip, 963 m, bearing 128°, SE
Three-Masted Iron Barque, 467 ton.
Built: Aberdeen, Scotland, 1879.
Scuttled: 14 January 1947.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Bass Strait.
Depth: 48 to 57 m.
See the White Pine dive site page

Wills

Wreck Dive
Wreck Dive
Boat access
Boat access
Outside Port Phillip Ships Graveyard Technical Rated Wreck Dive Site
Latitude: 38° 21.071′ S   (38.351183° S / 38° 21′ 4.26″ S)
Longitude: 144° 26.976′ E   (144.4496° E / 144° 26′ 58.56″ E)
Datum: WGS84 Google Map
Added: 2012-07-22 01:00:00 GMT, Last updated: 2022-05-04 07:33:13 GMT
Source: Book - Victoria's Ships' Graveyard GPS (verified)
Nearest Neighbour: H.C. Piggot, 1,178 m, bearing 311°, NW
Steam Hopper Barge, 345 ton.
Built: Adelaide, South Australia, 1876.
Scuttled: 22 August 1935.
Victorian Ships' Graveyard, Bass Strait.
Depth: 55 m.
See the Wills dive site page

Other wrecks in Victoria's Ships' Graveyard include:

  • Rip
  • Rob Roy
  • Verulam

Heritage Warning: Any shipwreck or shipwreck relic that is 75 years or older is protected by legislation. Other items of maritime heritage 75 years or older are also protected by legislation. Activities such as digging for bottles, coins or other artefacts that involve the disturbance of archaeological sites may be in breach of the legislation, and penalties may apply. The legislation requires the mandatory reporting to Heritage Victoria as soon as practicable of any archaeological site that is identified. See Maritime heritage. Anyone with information about looting or stolen artefacts should call Heritage Victoria on (03) 7022 6390, or send an email to heritage.victoria@delwp.vic.gov.au.


DISCLAIMER: No claim is made by The Scuba Doctor as to the accuracy of the dive site coordinates listed here. Should anyone decide to use these GPS marks to locate and dive on a site, they do so entirely at their own risk. Always verify against other sources.

The marks come from numerous sources including commercial operators, independent dive clubs, reference works, and active divers. Some are known to be accurate, while others may not be. Some GPS marks may even have come from maps using the AGD66 datum, and thus may need be converted to the WGS84 datum. To distinguish between the possible accuracy of the dive site marks, we've tried to give each mark a source, e.g. GPS, Google Earth, or unknown.

If you don't understand the differences between the different ways coordinates are given, plus how different datum come into play, you might find the article GPS Conversions by Lloyd Borrett a useful read. It describes the problems associated with locating dive sites using a GPS receiver.

GPS latitude explained


Scuba Doctor Dive Map KML File

In the true spirit of making it easy to obtain, utilise and share the information for non-commercial purposes, you can now Download/view the Scuba Doctor Dive Map GPS Marks (KML file | 427.19 KB | 24-May-2022) in the Keyhole Markup Language (KML) file format used to display geographic data in an Earth browser such as Google Earth or Google Maps.

Some marine GPS units can import the information from a KML file. For others you can use use a file translate program (e.g. GPSBabel) to convert the KML file into an import file format (e.g. GPX) supported by your GPS unit.


Please Help Us To Correct GPS Marks and Add More Melbourne Dive Sites

If you have have information about other dive sites you'd be happy to see added to the information available here, or any corrections and/or updates to the diving site GPS marks listed here, please feel free to Contact Us. See also, Dive Site Help.

Copyright in photographs and other materials used here remains with their artists and authors. We are happy to acknowledge appropriate copyrights should they be made known to us.

Bass Strait Warning: Always keep an eye on sea conditions throughout any shore or boat dive in Bass Strait on Victoria's coastline. Please read the warnings on the web page Diving in Bass Strait before diving or snorkelling this site.

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