SS Tambaroora
Details
Year Built: 1875
Built: Glasgow
Description: The Tambaroora was launched in Glasgow in September, 1875 by A. Stephens and Sons in their Linthouse Yard. The official number of the vessel was 73385. Registered in Sydney on 11th October 1876 at 262 tons, the vessel was jointly owned by Charles Parbury (Brisbane) and William Oswald Gilchrist (Sydney).
Length: 162 feet (49.4 meters)
Breadth: 24 feet (7.3 meters)
Depth: 14 feet (4.3 meters)
Location of Shipwreck: The wreck is located at latitude 23° 34'16" S, longitude 151° 40' 29" E on the weather side of Polmaise Reef, approximately 400 meters from the western tip of Polmaise Reef and 200 meters east of the wreck of the Polmaise (1873). The wreck of an as yet unidentified wooden schooner or brig lies nearby, approximately 75 meters closer in to the edge of the reef [possibly the Briton’s Queen (1866) the Willing Lass (1868) or the Cosmopolite (1868)] The wreck of the Deutschland (1883) lies approximately 2 km further east, towards Masthead Island; also along the weather edge of Polmaise Reef.
Wrecked: 1879
History
The SS Tambaroora was an iron screw steamer built in Glasgow for the coastal trade. On what was to be her last voyage, she was bound for Rockhampton from Sydney and Brisbane with a general cargo. At the time of the grounding, second mate David Burgess was the officer of the watch.
Following is a summary of his version of events. He had relieved the first mate at 4:00 am and had been ordered to maintain the course set by the captain and to report to the captain when he sighted the Cape Capricorn light. The vessel was six or seven miles off the coast and travelling at approximately ten knots. There was also a lookout stationed on the forecastle. After 5:00 am breakers were sighted, he ordered the engines full astern and the helm to be put hard to starboard. At 5:18 am, the vessel ran onto the reef. The captain came on deck immediately and ordered the sails to be taken in and a boat launched with a kedge anchor, so the crew could operate the capstan and haul the vessel off the reef. However, by the time the boat was lowered the engine room was flooded and the boilers had been put out. Attempts to kedge the vessel off were abandoned.
The purser, first mate and six of the crew subsequently left the vessel in a boat and reached Cape Capricorn lighthouse. The captain and remaining crew stayed with the vessel, which was eventually salvaged
Dive the SS Tambaroora
The following information is based on personal experience. Always check with authorities about local conditions before diving.
Diving Accessibility Rating: Easy
Diving Highlight: Occasional sightings of a large hammer-head shark.
Best Diving Season: December - April (during northerly winds) In shallow open water (to 6m) on the weatherside of Polmaise Reef - the wreck is much affected by waves, especially when the S E Trade winds are blowing (May - December)
Max depth: 6 meters
Getting there from Gladstone, 1770 / Agnes Waters, Bundaberg or Rockhampton
WGS Location: Not available
Hazards: Entanglement in snagged fish nets.
Other comments: The wreck lies on its port side running east to west, with the bow towards the west, and extends along a coral and sand bottom for approximately 60 meters. The depth at low tide is approximately 7 meters. The site is exposed to winds and seas from the south east, south and south west.
Care should be taken not to scuba dive when waves are higher then 0.75 meters.
Permits: Not required
Diving Video
SS Tambaroora - Queensland Museum 2002
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