Artist's Impression
Bert Rubiolo - Artist's Impression
Boiler and Diver visible
SS Gothenburg
Details
Year Built: 1854 (built as SS Celt)
Built: Millwall (London)
Description: SS. Gothenburg was rigged as a three masted schooner and fitted with single screw propulsion. She had a gross tonnage of 736 tons.
Length: 126 feet (38 meters)
Breadth: 28 feet (8.5 meters)
Depth: 20 feet (6 meters)
Location of Shipwreck: Old Reef - Latitude 19° 22' 6" S - Longitude 148° 03'21" E. The Gothenburg lies 27 nautical miles to the east of Cape Upstart.
History
The Gothenburg's final voyage began in Darwin. Bound for Melbourne via Newcastle under the command of Captain R.G.A. Pearce, she was carrying a full complement of passengers, among them some dignitaries, including the French Vice-Consul, the Hon. T. Reynolds, former premier of South Australia, and Mr. R. Wells, editor of the Northern Territory Times.
On 23rd February 1875 the vessel was off Cape Cleveland under full steam with the foresail, topsail and main trysail set. At 6:30 p.m. she struck Old Reef off Bowen. Attempts to back the vessel off failed. The weather deteriorated during the night and at 1 am, the vessel was pushed broadside onto the reef during a howling gale. Listing to port, the upper deck was exposed to the elements and several people were swept from the deck. The port gig and three lifeboats were lowered.
The starboard lifeboat was full of passengers when it capsized. Six men managed to clamber back in to the boat and right it, but it was extensively damaged and swept away by waves. The men and the boat were never seen again. A second lifeboat also capsized, but remained secured to the vessel. The survivors climbed into the rigging for safety. When the storm abated, survivors managed to right the last boat and sail for Holborn Island, where they encountered survivors from one of the port lifeboats.
In all 106 lives were lost, including all of the twelve women and nine children passengers and the ship's officers. Only twenty-two men were rescued.
Dive the SS Gothenburg
The following information is based on personal experience. Always check with authorities about local conditions before diving.
Diving Accessibility Rating: Easy
Diving Highlight: Looking into the boilers for a large resident moray eel!
Best Diving Season: December - February. When winds are from the North or North East
Max depth: 19 meters
Getting there: The site is located on the western edge of Old Reef. The wreck spans 63 meters, approximately north to south, and 18 meters, east to west, with the bow facing south. At low tide, the depth ranges from 16 meters (on the stern) to 9 meters (on the bow). The bottom consists of sand off the site and coral on the site. The bow area of the wreck is relatively sheltered (by the sides of the reef fissure the wreck partially lies in). Dive operators in Townsville, Ayr and Airlie Beach regularly run dive trips to the wreck.
WGS84 Location: 19º 22.04’ S 148º 03.01’ E
Diving Video
SS Gothenburg - Queensland Museum 2002
Flash Video - 9.31 Mb
This video requires requires Flash Player*, which can be downloaded free from the Macromedia website.
* The content found by using this link is not created, controlled or approved by the Queensland Museum. No responsibility is taken for the consequences of viewing content on this site. This link will load into a new window.
Permits
A protected zone with a 200m radius from the wreck's position has been declared around the wreck site under Section 7 of Commonwealth's Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976 [external link, opens in new window] Access is restricted to individuals with permits. Permits can be applied for at the Museum of Tropical Queensland. Several Townsville- and Airlie Beach based charter operators have permits to include wreck dives in their itineraries.
Download a diving permit application form [new window 113 KB 
] if you are visiting in a private vessel.