Lady Bowen

Bull Sharks are typical for the area
Courtesy of Ian Banks

Turrums are typical for the area
Courtesy of Ian Banks

Details

Year Built: 1864
Built: Glasgow
Description: Built by A.J. Inglis, the Lady Bowen was originally a 671 ton, 210 foot two-masted iron paddle-steamer and was considered one of the finest ships on the Australian coast.
Length: 228.2 feet (69.5 meters)
Breadth: 25.9 feet (7.9 meters)
Depth: 11.8 (3.6 meters)
General Location of Shipwreck: Kennedy Shoal, off Cardwell.

History

The crew of the Lady Bowen reached Cardwell after their vessel struck Kennedy Shoal and sank on 19th August 1894. The vessel had departed from Dungeness and was sailing for Sydney in ballast. The Lady Bowen arrived in Australia on 1st March 1864 and was initially owned by the Queensland Steam Navigation Co. in Brisbane. Both engines were removed in 1875 and the vessel was converted to a four-masted schooner. In 1882 the Lady Bowen was sold to the Hunter River Steam Navigation Company and in 1889 both engines were removed and the vessel was converted to a four-masted schooner.

On the 19 August 1894, the Lady Bowen was wrecked on Kennedy Shoal, on the Great Barrier Reef 15km off Mission Beach. The master was censured by a Marine Board Enquiry for not being more careful in uncharted waters.

The wreck site was discovered in 1996 and lies on a sandy bottom in 34 meters of water.

Dive the Lady Bowen

The following information is based on personal experience. Always check with authorities about local conditions before diving.

Diving Accessibility Rating: Difficult
Diving Highlight: Prolific fish life
Best Diving Season: Winter months
Max depth: 34 meters
WGS Location: 18° 02.214' S; 146° 25.884' E
Getting There The vessel lies at between 32 - 35 meters depth on a sandy bottom approximately 3.2 kilometers north-west of Kennedy Shoal. Her bows have collapsed and the hull's port side is partially covered by sand, which has mounded over her sides due to water movement. A prominent scour mark is sometimes evident. Local dive charters at Cardwell can take you to the wreck site.
Hazards: Entanglement in snagged trawl nets.
Permits: No permits required