Two significant events in the Northern Territory, and indeed it was a political terrirory if Australia until it obtained self-government in 1978,  were to leave many Australia dead, and put dozens of vessel on the seabed. Japanese naval aircraft attacked Darwin on the morning of 19 February 1942, destroying or significantly damaging at least fifteen vessels. (Loney has the date of the Darwin raid by Japanese aircraft as 18 February, hence some  vessels are listed as lost on this, incorrect, date). The largest of these was the American transport Meigs, 11358 tons, followed by the tanker British Motorist, 6891 tons, and the steamer Zealandia, 6683 tons. Also of significance was the loss of the destroyer USS Peary. Less than a month earlier, the Japanese submarine I-124 was attacked and sunk in Clarence Strait near Bathurst Island, about 130 nautical miles from Darwin, and remains to this day a protected, and controversial, wrecksite. On Christmas Eve, 1974, Cyclone Tracy ripped through the port of Darwin, adding twnety-five more vessels to the shipwreck list. Most of these were fishing trawlers, harbour ferries and other small craft, no less significant in their loss of course. Being in a cyclone belt does not hold well for fishing operators, and many other vessels have been lost over the years due to raging winds and seas caused by cyclones. On 7 January 1897, for example, a cyclone killed eighteen people on land and ten at sea, and destroyed nineteen of the twenty-nine pearling luggers at anchor. Very few early sailing ships of significant size have been recorded as lost in these waters. In recent years, dozens of Vietnamese refugee boats have been scuttled, burnt, or left to rot in the magroves.

References.
Lewis [TL] and Loney [LW] are the two main sources of information, and appear to be the only authors of public books on the wrecks off the Northern Territory coast. Tom Lewis' two publications are the more detailed and authorative, exceptionally well researched with many annecdotal tales.
[213 records]

Afric. Lugger, 12 tons. Foundered off Croker Island, NT, in a cyclone, 25 February 1915. [LW]

Agnes. Cutter. Foundered near the Wellesley Group, WA, 13 January 1903. [LW]

Alert. Swedish schooner. Involved in rescue - see Yarra, 1884.  [LW]

Alice. Cutter, 13, Port Dar, 1889. Wrecked Intercourse Island, NT, Dec 1891. [ASR]

Amazing Grace 11. Fishing vessel. Sank near Charles Point in Beagle Gulf, NT, 25 May 1992. [LW]

Amethyst. Lugger, 9 tons. Lost near Point Danger, NT, 1921. [LW]

Annie Millicent. Barque, 965 tons. Built 1865. Lbd 195 x 32.1 x 21.3 ft.  Lost after stranding on an uncharted reef in the Arafura Sea, about 5 January 1888. Apparently the crew abandoned her but were not seen again. In 1890 the survey vessel H.M.S. Penguin found her still relatively intact with most of her stores still aboard. After removing most items of value they left and the vessel eventually went to pieces. [LW],[TL]

Ark. Pearling cutter, 6 tons. Destroyed in cyclone off Darwin, 7 January 1897. The cyclone killed 28 people on land and sea. Of the 29 pearling luggers at anchor, 19 were destroyed and ten lives were lost. [LW]

Arnhem Trader. (Arnhem T.) Steel vessel, ex-trawler, 80 ft. Built Williamstown, (Victoria?), 1938. Scuttled under the Stokes Hill wharf after Cyclone Tracy struck Darwin on 24 December 1974.  [TL],[LW]

Arrow. HMAS, RAN patrol boat, 146 tons. Built 1968. During Cyclone Tracy, broke her moorings and was driven under the Stokes Hill wharf , Darwin, where she was destroyed, 24 December 1974. Two crew killed. [LW],[LAH]

Assan. Lugger. Lost off Dugong Island, NT, February 1921. [LW]

Astraea. German barque, wooden, 514 tons. Built 1868. Lbd 134.4 x 31.8 x 19 ft. From London to Normanton was spoken off Port Darwin but was not seen again, 1886. [LW],[LAH]

Ataluma. Survey vessel, wood, 112 ft. Lost near Dudley Point when Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin, 24 December 1974. [LW],[TL]
@ Scattered wreckage, machinery and ribs are all that remain.

Australian. Steel ship, 2838 tons. Built Glasgow 1896. Lbd 341.7 x 42.2 x 22.5 ft. Owned by the Eastern & Australian Steam Ship Company; reg.London. Captain St.John George. Ashore, wrecked, at Vashon Head near Port Essington on 17 November 1906. [LW],[DG],[TL]

Avra. Greek freighter, 988 tons. Built 1943. Lbd 206.7 x 36.5 x 16.4 ft. Abandoned in a sinking condition in the Arafura Sea, July 1965. [LW]

Barossa. Australian freighter, 4239 tons. Damaged during the Japanese air raid on Darwin, 19 February 1942. She was beached on fire after several direct hits but was salvaged and towed to Brisbane for repairs. [LW]

Batavia. Iron barque, 1628 tons. Built 1870. Lbd 327.4 x 39.3 x 26.5 ft.  Stranded, abandoned on Stevens Island off Napier Peninsular, NT, 1874. Mystery surrounds her loss and the fate of the crew. The native chief of the island said the barque had been on the reef for four or five weeks and those on board had left in the boats, steering in a westerly direction. Perhaps the crew were overwhelmed by rough seas but it seems probable that they may have been killed and eaten; slaughtered while at sea, or attacked and murdered when they landed in search of food and water. [LW],[LAH],[TL]

Bell Bird. Fishing boat. Gollin Kyokuyo fleet, one of six of the 'Bird' fleet of prawn trawlers, four of which were lost. Lost when Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin, 24 December 1974.  [#TL],[LW]
@ Lies upsaide down in fifteen metres, some 300 metres from shore.

Bengal. Barque. Master John Sinclair.Struck a reef off Vashon Head, NT, early 1874. Eventually broke up. It appears there was a heated dispute between her two owners, and the master: 'the three men walked back to Port Darwin ... arguing all the way'.  [LW],[TL]

Benjamin Franklin. United States oil tanker, 7034 tons.  Suffered minor damage during the Japanese air raid on Darwin, 18 February 1942. [LW]

Bertie. Lugger. Set out for Buffalo Bay, NT, on 4 February 1886, to supply camps along the coast but was swamped and lost. [LW],[TL]

Betty Joan. Yacht. Small craft. Lost when Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin, 24 December 1974. [LW],[LH]

Blackjack. Pearling lugger, 6 tons. Destroyed in cyclone off Darwin, 7 January 1897. The cyclone killed 28 people on land and sea. Of the 29 pearling luggers at anchor, 19 were destroyed and ten lives were lost. [LW]

Blue Bird. Fishing boat. Gollin Kyokuyo fleet, one of six of the 'Bird' fleet of prawn trawlers, four of which were lost. Lost when Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin, 24 December 1974.  [#TL],[LW]
@ Located at a depth of fifteen metres close to shore and is regarded as a good dive.

Booya. Steel trading vessel, three-masted schooner, clipper bow, 130 ft. Built Waterhuisen, 1917. Would have been quite an attractive vessel in her day. Denham Island Transport Co. Traded between Darwin and various Asian and Australian ports. Disappeared while on a voyage from Darwin to Dili, due to Cyclone Tracy, 24 December 1974. Four men and one woman perished. Some reports suggest she may have foundered near Point Charles.  [#TL]

Brisbane. Iron steamship, 1503 tons. Built Glasgow 1874. Lbd 281.3 x 32.2 x 17.6 ft. Owned by Eastern & Australian Steam Ship Company. Captain Balfour. Struck a reef off Quail Island, about 26 nautical miles from Port Darwin, 9 October 1881. At low water the ship broke her back, forcing the keel up two feet into the engine room which filled with water as the tide rose. An officer from the ship arrived at Port Darwin next morning to report the wreck, and shortly after the passengers and most of the crew arrived in the launch Maggie, leaving the captain and officers on the ship. [LW],[LAH],[DG],[#TL],[WL]
@ Wrecksite shallow, with scattered wreckage, a boiler and anchor, with the stern at least recognisable as such. Artifacts also on display at the Darwin Museum.
~ Anchor recovered in 1976, now outside Arys and Science Museum, Darwin.

Brisbane. Pearling lugger, 11 tons. Destroyed in cyclone off Darwin, 7 January 1897. The cyclone killed 28 people on land and sea. Of the 29 pearling luggers at anchor, 19 were destroyed and ten lives were lost. [LW]

British Motorist. Tanker, 6891 tons. Built Newcastle-onTyne, 1924. LBD 440.2 x 57 x 33.8 feet. Owned by the British Tanker Company Limited: under charter to the armed forces when lost. Abandoned after being hit by two bombs during the Japanese air raid on Darwin, 19 February 1942. Two killed from crew of sixty-one. Perhaps not so ironically, she was salvaged by the Japanese in 1959 and used as a base while they cleared Darwin harbour, then she was towed back to Japan and broken up. [LW],[LAH],[TL]
@ Alhough much of the hull was raised in 1960 by Japanese salvors, the engine room section remains as it was too heavy to raise. So how did the Japanese tow the hull back to Japan? They simply welded the for and aft sections of the hull together.

Britomart. HMS. Involved in rescue - see HMS Pelorus, Port Essington, 1839. [ASW1]

Calcutta. Wooden barque, 464 tons. Built Bordeaux, France 1868. Lbd 135.1 x 29.4 x 18.8 ft. Wrecked on a reef off Port Essington, NT, 10 August 1894. No lives lost. [LW],[TL]

Cameo. Lugger. Destroyed in a storm at Darwin, 6 March 1919. [LW]

Caprice. Island trader, 134 tons. Built 1961. Lbd 93.8 x 22 x 10 ft. Sank when about 60 nautical miles north of Darwin, 8 September 1964. Crew of six reached Melville Island in a dinghy. [LW]

Carina. Ferry. Lost when Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin, 24 December 1974. [LW]

Chang. Vietnamese refugee boat. Scuttled on Fish Reef in Darwin Harbour. [TL]

Charity. Pearling lugger. Left Darwin on 8 April 1897 heading for Western Australian waters but not seen again. [LW],[TL]

Charles Todd. Wooden launch, ferry, 14 metres. Skipper Owen Morris.  Lost when Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin, 24 December 1974.  A young crew member died. There was no attempt to salvage the sunken vessel. [LW],[TL]
@ Wreck lies some 350 metres off the iron ore wharf.

Chasseur. Prawn trawler. Sank off the west coast of Bathurst Island, NT, following an engine room fire, 12 November 1990.

Cleopatra. Pearling schooner. Destroyed in cyclone off Darwin, 7 January 1897. The cyclone killed 28 people on land and sea. Of the 29 pearling luggers at anchor, 19 were destroyed and ten lives were lost. [LW],[TL]

Coongoola. Channel patrol vessel, 34 tons.  Minor damage during the Japanese air raid on Darwin, 18 February 1942. [LW]
Could this possibly be the tourist vessel operating out of Port Vila, 1980s and 1990s ?

Dai Nippon Maru 1. Pearling lugger. Caught fire in Northern territory pearling grounds, September 1937. An exploding compressor fuelled the flames. The deck tenders were beaten back and forced to abandon the lifelines, leaving three divers helpless on the bottom. [LW]

Darwin Princess. Steel ferry, 75 ft. Built Melbourne. Lost when Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin, 24 December 1974. One life lost. [LW],[#TL]

Dawn. Schooner.  Loaded with cargo salvaged from S.S.Brisbane, foundered near Middle Point, NT, 1881. It appears that the cargo, mainly rice and sugar, had swollen and burst the hull. She sank in shallow water with her masts protruding. No lives lost. [LW],[TL]

Dawn. Ketch, 51 tons. Built Port Darwin, 1869. Broken up Port Darwin, January 1893. [ASR]

Dawn. Launch. Ashore and destroyed by a gale at Darwin, 12 April 1943. [LW]

Deloraine. HMAS Corvette. Fired the torpedo that sank the Japanese submarine I-124  in Clarence Strait near Bathurst Island, about 130 nautical miles from Darwin, 20 January 1942. [TL],[#TLI]

Diemen. Fishing vessel, 73 ft. one of nine prawn trawlers owned by Northern Research company. Lost near the Stokes Hill wharf when Cyclone Tracy struck, 24 December 1974. [#TL],[LW - listed as Nr Dieman]
@ Wreckage lies at twelve metres, with prolific marine life, 1.2 km out from the Mandurah Jetty.

DK 06 Ham Luong. Vientnames refugee boat. See Ham Luong.

Don Isidro. Filipino owned ship, 3260 tons. Built Kiel 1939. Lbd 320.9 x 46 x 20 ft. Used as a United States supply ship when lost. Attacked by dive bombers north west of Bathurst Island and set on fire during the Japanese air raid on Darwin, 19 February 1942. Eventually drifted ashore near Melville Island where she was abandoned. Eleven of  her eighty-four survivors died on the beach. [LW][LAH],[TL - burnt for several days on the north west of Bathurst Island]

Douglas Mawson. Wooden ketch-rigged steamer, 333 tons. Built 1914. Lbd 141.6 x 30.7 x 8.6 ft. Disappeared in a cyclone whilst on her regular run to Cairns after leaving Burketown 26 March 1923. When she became overdue at Thursday Island searches were organized but there was no sign of her or any identifiable wreckage. Months later, rumours circulated that two white women passengers on the ship had survived and were living with the Aborigines in a remote area of Arnhem Land. After several more unsuccessful searches, stories that the women were still alive continued for more than a decade but they were never confirmed. [LW]

Edwina May. Ferry. Darwin Harbour Ferries Co. Was anchored at Frances Bay, when Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin, 24 December 1974. She may have struck the ferry Mandorah Queen during the cyclone. She was eventually sunk under the Stoles Hill wharf. . [LW],[TL]
@ Loaction is known but being close to the wharf, diving is hazardous.

Eileen. Wooden ketch, 13 tons. Built Fremantle 1892. Inward bound from Koepang to Darwin was lost near Point Charles, NT, 18 April 1939. [Loney states - Some references date this wreck in 1937],[LW],[ASR]

Ellengowan. Iron steamer, 58/36 tons. Built Christiania, Norway, 1866; reg. Melbourne, Port Darwin. Lbd 79.7 x 15.1 x 8.4 ft.  Operated as a missionary boat in the Pacific and New Guinea for some time, then sold. Wrecked on a reef in the Daly River, Northern Territory,  April 1888. [LW],[LAH - lost October 1888],[#TL],[ASR - foundered Port Darwin]
In 1881, sank near Darwin.
Also listed:
Ellangowan. Mission vessel. Involved in rescue - see Batavia, 1874. [LW]

Emerald Star . Fishing vessel. Caught fire and sank at Dalywoi Bay, Cape Arnhem, 7 September 1991. [LW]

Ena. Lugger. Struck a reef near Port Essington, NT, 11 April 1937. Crew of six rescued. [LW]

Envy. Ketch. Involved in rescue - see Australian, 1906. [LW]

Essington. Schooner, 14 tons. Wrecked at Victoria River, NT, November 1919. [LW]

Evergreen. Yacht. Lost near Darwin while participating in the Round Australia Race, 31 August 1988. [LW]

Faith. Pearling lugger. Left Darwin on 8 April 1897 heading for Western Australian waters but not seen again. [LW],[TL]

Fleetwing.  Wooden steamer, 31 tons. Built at Nowra, 1874.  Broken up at Port Darwin, 1894. [LPA][ASR - 24 tons, built Sydney]

Flood Bird. Fishing boat. Gollin Kyokuyo fleet, one of six of the 'Bird' fleet of prawn trawlers, four of which were lost. Lost when Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin, 24 December 1974. [#TL],[LW]

Florence D. American supply ship, 2638 tons. Built 1919. Lbd 251 x 43.7 x 26.7 ft. After five direct hits during the Japanese air raid on Darwin, the ship was beached on fire south of Cape Fourcroy on Bathurst Island, 19 February 1942. The initial attack by Japanese aircraft occurred forty kilometres north-west of Bathurst Island. Forty survivors landed on the island and were rescued either by H.M.A.S.Warrnambool or walked overland to the mission station, where a lugger took them to Darwin. The Florence D had been on a mission carrying supplied to General Macarthur on Corregidor.  [LW],[LAH]

Flying Cloud. Government sailing cutter. Sold to Japanese interests who were converting her for pearling when a storm drove her ashore, wrecked, at Darwin, 1894. [LW],[TL]

Frigate Bird. Fishing boat. Skipper Bob Joss. Lost when Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin, 24 December 1974. Gollin Kyokuyo fleet, one of six of the 'Bird' fleet of prawn trawlers, four of which were lost. Skipper and one other trapped in an air-pocket in the upturned hull for nearly thirty hours when the vessel ran aground on Weed Reef. Two others drowned. [LW],[TL]

Good Intent. Ketch, 27 tons. Built 1874; reg. Darwin. Foundered at Port Emery near Darwin, November 1894. [LW],[ASR - foundered Port Darwin]
Also listed:
Good Intent. Ketch, 42 tons. Aground, wrecked between Darwin and Point Charles, 1892. [TL]

Goodwill. (Good Will). Ketch , 43 tons. Built 1906; reg. Port Macquarie. Wrecked near Cape Melville, NT, January 1950. [LW],[ASR]

Guida. Lugger. Foundered in Northern Territory waters, 28 June 1930. Three lives lost. Wreckage believed from her was seen on the beach near Point Keats. [LW]

Gulnare. Schooner, 151 tons.  Built 1856. Lbd 103.6 x 24.2 x 10.7 ft. Captain Sweet. Stranded on a reef near Vernon Island, NT,  early October 1871. Condemned after survey..
In 1869, aground between West Point and Charles Point. [LW],[TL]

Gunbar. Auxiliary minesweeper, 480 tons. Minor damage during the Japanese air raid on Darwin, 18 February 1942.  One dead. [LW]

Gunyana. Wooden pilot boat, 13 metres. Moored inside Stokes Hill Wharf but broke free, drifted and sank during Cyclone Tracy, 24 december 1974. No loss of life. [TL]

Ham Luong. (DK 06 Ham Luong). Vietname refugee boat. Arrival date at Darwin not recorded. Scuttled in Darwin Harbour, 26 January 1985.  [TL]
@ Lies in twenty metres near the Song Saigon and the John Holland barge.

Hankow. Naval hulk. Stripped of all fittings, towed outside Darwin Harbour by HMAS Albatros, and sun by gunfire, 2 September 1932.  [TL]
@ Anchor found in 1974, now at Darwin Water Ski Association club-house.

Harriet. Lugger. Last seen with her crew of three near Port Essington, NT, in a cyclone, 25 February 1915. [LW],[TL]

Henchman. Prawn trawler. Sank in the Gulf of Carpentaria, 26 September 1989. [LW]

Hibernia. Ketch, 13 tons. Lost near Port Darwin, 1882. [LW]

Holly. Ketch. Destroted during a flood on the Roper River, NT, January 1940. [LW]

I-124. Japanese submarine, 1768/1388 tons. Built 1928. Complement of seventy-five. Operational as a minelaying submarine, and was responsible for the destriction of several Allied ships off the Australian coast. Bombed and destroyed by Australian and United States surface ships  in Clarence Strait near Bathurst Island, about 130 nautical miles from Darwin, 20 January 1942. Her demise resulted from a torpedo from the corvette HMAS Deloraine. On 28 June 1977 her remains were declared an historic shipwreck.
[LW],[LAH],[#TL],[#TLI]
@ She sits uprights, intact, in 45 metres. A protective zone circles the wrecksite, so no recreational diving is allowed. The hull has not been penetrated by divers and is a war grave.

Ibis. Lugger 12 tons. Wrecked in Snake Bay off a small island, north of Melville Island, NT, May 1948. [LW]

Iolanthe. Lugger. Lost in Caledon Bay, WA, February 1934. [LW]
Caledon Bay is in NT.

Ionic. Lugger, 9 tons. Lost at Quail Island, NT, June 1919. [LW]

Islander VI. Fishing vessel, 158 tons. Built 1941. Sank in the Arafura Sea, 28 September. [LW]

Jack. Pearling lugger, 11 tons. Destroyed in cyclone off Darwin, 7 January 1897. The cyclone killed 28 people on land and sea. Of the 29 pearling luggers at anchor, 19 were destroyed and ten lives were lost. [LW]

Jane B. Cutter. Sunk in a cyclone near Goulburn Island, February 1905. Six crew ost their lives.  [TL]

Jane Anderson. Schooner, 96 tons. Built Otago 1868. Lbd 87.6 x 21.8 x 8.6 ft. Captain Duncan. Sank near Cape Fourcroy, Bathurst Island, NT, 1 July 1886. She had initially ran on to Mermaid Reef, Melville Island on 28 June but floated free next morning, leaking slightly, and continued towards Darwin. [TL],[LW]

Jenny Wright. Fishing boat, steel prawn trawler, 19 metres. . Wright Bros fishing company. Lost when Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin, 24 December 1974. [LW]
@ Sank upside down just out to sea from Doctor's Gully, but only a small gantry remains.

Jessie Anderson. Schooner, 42 tons. Built 1874; reg. Port Darwin. Broken up Port Darwin, 1895. [ASR]
Also listed:
Jessie Anderson. Steamer. Involved in rescue - see Brisbane, 1881. [LW]

John Holland barge, scuttled Darwin Harbour, July 1984. [TL]
@ Lies near the Ham Luong and Song Saigon.

John Alce. Auxiliary ketch, 33 tons. Built Gosford 1906. Owned by the Commonwealth. Destroyed in heavy weather near the Darwin jetty, 16 November 1921. [LW]

Kangaroo. Boom working vessel, 768 tons. Minor damage during the Japanese air raid on Darwin, 18 February 1942.  One dead. [LW]

Kara-kara. Boom defence vessel, 525 tons. Minor damage during the Japanese air raid on Darwin, 18 February 1942. Two killed in the raid. [LW]

Karalee. R.A.N. water lighter, wooden vessel, 117 tons. Built 1911. Temporarily repaired after being damaged in the first Japanese air raid on Darwin, sank there at her moorings, 3 March 1943. [LW]

Kathie. Lugger, 9 tons. Wrecked in Blunder Bay, NT, December 1922. [LW]

Kathleen. Schooner. Capsized off Point Emery near Darwin, 11 June 1873. Crew of four drowned. [LW]

Kelat. Coal hulk, 1849 tons. Built 1881. Formerly the Hovding. Lbd 261 x 41 x 23.5 ft. Requisitioned by the Royal Australian Navy in 1941. Sank several days after being machine gunned and badly damaged during the Japanese air raid on Darwin, 19 February 1942.
[LW],[TL]
@ She lies in twelve metres, well scattered but with many identifiable features.

Kendall. Steel prawn trawler, one of nine owned by the Northern Research company, see also Diemen. Captain Koji Yoshida. Overturned in Cyclone Tracy, 24 December 1974. The captain and a crewman drowned. The vessel appears to have been salvaged.  [TL]

Kookaburra. Boom working vessel, 533 tons. Minor damage during the Japanese air raid on Darwin, 18 February 1942. Two wounded. [LW]

Kuru. Naval tender. Involved in rescue - see Patricia Cam, 1942. [LW]

La Pelican. Small craft. Lost when Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin, 24 December 1974. [LW]

La Grange. Lugger. Destroyed in cyclone near Melville Island, NT, December 1948. Crew of ten lost. [LW]

Lady Nelson. Disappeared after leaving Fort Dundas for Coepang in Timor, 19 February 1825. In July 1825 the Dutch Navy reported that a vessel answering her description had been destroyed. Rumours that she had been  destroyed by natives were later confirmed.It appears she had been seized and burnt by Malay pirates at Aluta Island late in February. Another version claimed she called at the island of Baba where the crew made fun of one of the native girls, and were subsequently murdered by the natives, then the brig was run ashore and burned. A gun, still in possession of the islanders was supposed to have come from her. [LW]

Lara. Fishing boat. Sank in the Gulf of Carpentaria, 4 December 1986. [LW]

Leichardt. Government schooner, two-masted, 127 tons, 80 ft. Destroyed by fire while beached at Darwin for repairs, 30 September 1915.  [LW],[TL]

Leila. Lugger. Ashore on Darch Island, NT, during a cyclone, 25 February 1915. [LW],[TL]

Levuka. Schooner, 79, Port Darwin, 1874. Broken up Port Darwin, dec, 1891. [ASR]

Lighter No.2. Lighter, 86 tons. Lost by enemy action near Darwin, 1943. [LW]

Lizzie Jardine. Cutter. Involved in rescue - see Batavia, 1874. [LW]

Lone Hand. Government launch. Destroyed in a storm at Darwin, 6 March 1919. [LW],[TL]

Macumba. Steel steamer, 2526 tons. Built 1919. Lbd 303 x 43 x 20.7 ft. Attacked by a Japanese float plane in the Arafura Sea north of Arnhem Land, sunk, 6 August 1943. Three lives lost. [LW]

Magda. Dutch ship, 424 tons. Struck a reef off Cape Van Diemen, Melville Island, NT, 1 June 1858. Later abandoned. One boat, containing the captain, second mate, seven of the crew and two passengers was attacked by Aboriginals who speared and killed one of the crew. However, after a further fortnight of privations they were rescued by the brig Shamrock. The other boat with 12 on board was not seen again. [LW]

Maggie. Pearling lugger, 14 ton. Destroyed in cyclone off Darwin, 7 January 1897. The cyclone killed 28 people on land and sea. Of the 29 pearling luggers at anchor, 19 were destroyed and ten lives were lost. [LW]

Maggie. Launch. Involved in rescue - see Brisbane, 1881. [LW]

Maggie. Schooner. Destroyed in a storm at Darwin, 6 March 1919. [LW]

Mandorah Queen. Ferry, 22 metres. Lost when Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin, 24 December 1974. She may have collided with the ferry Edwina May during her loss. Three men lost.  [LW],[TL]
@ Vessel located in August 1981, in 20 metres.

Manunda. Australian hospital ship, 9115 tons. Damaged during the Japanese air raid on Darwin, 18 February 1942. Twelve died and 58 were wounded when she suffered several near misses and one direct hit. [LW]  Lewis only mentions this ship in a photo caption, as she was not lost.

Marchant 3. Steel freighter, 244 tons, 32 metres. Built Fremantle, 1969. Scuttled nineteen nautical miles out of Darwin Harbour, August 1988. [TL]
@ Has served her purpose in attracting prolific fish life.

Mariana. Fishing boat. Destroyed by a cyclone near Darwin, 11 December 1990. Crew of five rescued. [LW]

Maroubra. Launch, requisitioned by the R.A.N.  Destroyed by Japanese aircraft in Northern Territory waters, 10 May 1943. [LW]

Mary Ann. Lugger. Deliberately holed and abandoned at Hunter Creek, WA, in the belief that a Japanese invasion was imminent, 1942. [LW]
Hunter Creek is in NT.

Mauna Loa. American transport ship, 5436 tons. Built San Pedro, USA, 1919, as the Golden Eagle. Lbd 410 x 54.4 x 27.2 ft. While at anchor in Darwin Harbour during the Japanese air raid, was hit in an open hatch by two bombs, caught fire, broke her back, then sank by the stern, 19 February 1942. Thirty five of her crew of thirty-eight survived. [LW],[LAH],[#TL]
@ Wrecksite known, bow clearly recognisable. In 1991 a Navy Clearance Diving team raised a BSA motorcycle for the Northern Territory Museum.

Mavie. Lugger, 14 tons. Built 1903. Requisitioned for war service in 1941. Sank near the Stokes Hill wharf during the Japanese air raid on Darwin, 19 February 1942. The crew of four saved. Her remains were totally salvage by the Japanese salvage rteam in 1959/60.  [LW],[TL - 19 tons]

Meigs. American transport ship, 11358 tons. Built San Pedro, California, 1921 as the West Lewart. Lbd  430.7 x 54.3 x 26.2 ft. On fire, sank, during the Japanese air raid on Darwin, 18 Fenruary 1942.  As the largest vessel in Darwin harbour she was continually under air . Only two of her crew of sixty-six were killed. Perhaps somewhat incongruously, the vessel was part salvaged in 1959 by the Japanese, for badly needed scrap metal.
[LW],[LAH - 12568 tons, lost 19 February],[#TL]
@ Not much is left, although her shape is recognisable.

Melville. Lugger, 11 tons. Lost at Melville Island, NT, January 1917. [LW]

Menmuir. Steamer. Involved in rescue - see Brisbane, 1881. [LW]

Merino. Fishing factory ship, 549 tons. Built 1949. Lbd 57 x 10.1 x 3.3 metres. Sank in the Gulf of Carpentaria, May 1987.  [LW]

N.R. Diemen. See Diemen.  [LH]

Nachi Maru. Japanese salvage vessel. Fujita Salvage Company. With much controversy, this was the salvage vessel used in 1959 and 1960 to salvage a number of wrecks in near Darwin waters for their scrap metal, vessels which the Japanese themsleves had sunk during the Drawin raid on 19 Fenruary, 1942.  [TL]

Neptuna. Steel vessel, 5952 tons. Ex Neptun 35. Built Kiel 1924. Lbd 393.3 x 51.9 x 25.3 ft. Owned by  Burns Philp. Destroyed in explosion during the Japanese air raid on Darwin, 19 February 1942. Bombs exploded in the saloon and engine room setting her on fire. Forty five were already dead, and many seriously injured as the crew prepared to abandon her, but 200 tons of depth charges exploded before they had all reached safety, showering the harbour with debris and sending flames and smoke 100 metres into the air. Salvaged by the Japanese in 1960. [LW],[LAH],[#TL]

Neptune. Wooden schooner. Lost on Melville Island, NT, June 1911. [LW]

Nft West. Prawn trawler. Went missing in the Arafura Sea in mid January 1989. Five aboard. [LW]

Nimrod. Navy workboat. Lost when Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin, 24 December 1974.  [LW]

Northern Pearl . Prawn trawler. Capsized and sank off Mornington Island, NT, 7 April 1979. [LW]

Olga. Government launch. Burnt near Darwin, September 1926. [LW]

Olive. Pearling schooner, 11 ton.  Destroyed in cyclone off Darwin, 7 January 1897. The cyclone killed 28 people on land and sea. Of the 29 pearling luggers at anchor, 19 were destroyed and ten lives were lost. [LW]

Opal. Lugger, 9 tons. Destroyed in a cyclone in Dundas Strait, NT, 25 February 1915. Six crew lost. [LW],[TL]

Orantes. Lugger. Deliberately holed and abandoned at Hunter Creek, WA, in the belief that a Japanese invasion was imminent, 1942. [LW]
Hunter Creek is in NT.

Orontes. Wooden ship, 452 tons. Built Yarmouth, UK, 1829. Mawster W. Currie. Left Port Essington, NT, for Madras in December 1839 and ran on to the reef which now bears her name near the port. There was no loss of life but the wreck was looted by Aborigines and very little was recovered by the settlement’s garrison. . [LW],[HH2],[ASW1],[TL]

Otway. Involved in rescue - see Yarra, 1884. [LW]

Patricia Cam. Auxiliary minesweeper, 301 tons. Built Brisbane Water 1940 as a tuna fishing vessel. Requisitioned by the R.A.N. on 9 February 1942. Attacked by a Japanese float plane west of Wessel Island, NT, 22 January 1943. Sank after a direct hit amidships in the centre of the cargo hatch. The Japanese plane then circled to bomb and machine gun the survivors before landing nearby, where the Japanese captured and later executed Reverend Kentish from the Methodist Northern Australian Mission. The survivors drifted ssouth on rafts and ssome died before rescue at the end of the month.  [LW],[LAH]

Peary.  United States destroyer, 1190 tons displacement. Built 1920. Lbd 314.5 x 30.8 x 9.3 ft. Destroyed during the japanese air raid on Darwin when her magazine exploded, 19 February 1942. Loss of life included her captain, all officers except one, and eighty of her crew. Ironically, a Japanese salvage team was allowed to return in 1959 to finish off the job. Popular lore suggests that the Peary was carry gold bullion at the time, but  there has been no  official confirmation of this, nor any sign of gold.  [LW],[LAH],[#TL]
@ Located in 1956, the wreck lies in 30 metres almost dircetly out from the Atrium Hotel on Darwin's Esplanade - scattered wreckage and little to define the outline of a ship.
~ One of her guns may be seen in Darwin's Bicentennial Park.

Pelorus. HMS, 18-gun brig-sloop, 385 tons. Built at Itchenor, UK, and launched 25 June 1808.Parted her cables in a hurricane; wrecked at Port Essington, Northern Territory, November 1839. Twelve lives lost. Those rescued, assisted by HMS Britomart. She was finally raised and repaired sixteen months later sufficient to sail for Singapore where she was sold out of service in 1842. [ASW1]

Peron. Motor launch. Disappeared near Darwin, 6 September 1948. [LW]

Petrel. Lugger. Involved in rescue - see Ena, lugger, 1937. [LW]

Phoenix. Barge, 100f. Disappeared between Truscott and Darwin, 7 June 1950. She was heavily loaded with road making equipment and fuel, and may have founded after an explosion. All crew lost.  [LW],[TL]

Platypus. Depot/Repair ship, 3455 tons. Minor damage during the Japanese air raid on Darwin, 18 February 1942. One dead. [LW]

Portmar. United States transport, 5551 tons. built Portland, Oregon, USA, 1919. Owned by Calmar Steamship Corp. of New York. Damaged during the Japanese air raid on Darwin, 18 February 1942. She was beached, then salvaged and towed to Brisbane for repairs, only to be torpedoed and sunk on her first voyage. [LW],[LAH]

Prairie Moon. Lugger. Destroyed by fire in Northern Territory waters, 9 February 1938. [LW]

Pretoria. Sreamer. Involved in rescue - see Australian, 1906. [LW]

Rachel Cohen. Wooden schooner, 171 tons. Built Manning River, NSW, 1871. Lbd  105.5 x 21 x 10.4 ft.  Known to have operated in eastern Victorian waters in the 1880s, and also to Macquarie Island. Swept by fire while anchored in Darwin Harbour, 15 January 1924. It was eventually extinguished but a fresh outbreak several hours later destroyed her and she sank in Francis Bay. [LW],[LPA],[TL]

Rasta. Small craft. Lost when Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin, 24 December 1974. [LW]

Red Gauntlet. Wooden trading yacht, 74 tons. Built 1862; reg. Melbourne. Lbd 91.9 x 19.4 x 10.7 ft. Ashore, wrecked near Trepang Bay, on the Cobourg Peninsula, NT, 28 August 1887. [LW],[TL],[ASR]

Revenge. Pearling schooner, 15 tons. Destroyed in cyclone off Darwin, 7 January 1897. The cyclone killed 28 people on land and sea. Of the 29 pearling luggers at anchor, 19 were destroyed and ten lives were lost. [LW],[TL]

Rockhampton. Barque, 447 tons. Built Sunderland 1870. Lbd 148 x 27.6 x 15 ft. Caught fire as she lay outside the Kimberley River, NT,  4 September 1885. She was carrying a general cargo which included gunpowder, dynamite and kerosene; abandoned before the fire reached the explosives and she blew to pieces. [LW]

Rode Zee. Tug. Involved in rescue - see Sedco Helen, 1970 [LW]

Rolie (Roscoe). Brig. Involved in rescue - see Yarra, 1884. [LW]

Rose Neptune. Schooner, 17, Fremantle, 1914. Vessel wrecked 45 miles out from Darwin, 9 February 1936. [ASR]

Ruby. Lugger. Lost at Melville Island, NT, April 1918. [LW]

Runic. Lugger, 9 tons. Lost in Northern Territory waters, 1934. [LW]

Sajavia. Mission boat. Ashore at Point Arrowsmith in the Gulf of Carpentaria, 1 August 1948. [LW]

Sanyo Maru. Japanese pearling mother ship, 300 tons. Built 1935. Lbd 119.9 x 23.1 x 11.5 ft. Foundered in a storm off Liverpool River, NT, July 1937. Two men drowned. [LW],[GC]

Scallywag. Small craft. Lost when Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin, 24 December 1974. [LW]

Scynta. Small craft. Lost when Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin, 24 December 1974. [LW]

Sea Fox. Ketch. Owned by actor-magician John Calvert. Stranded on Elcho Island in the Arafura Sea, 1959.  Later salvaged. On board was a chimpazee, the animal star of the popular Tarzan film series. The isolated group of Aborigines living on the island had never seen a monkey before and were also amazed and mysterfied by the man who could perform feats of magic beyond their comprehension. [LW]

Sedco Helen.  Motor vessel, 837 tonnes, one of the world’s largest oil rig tenders. Built Newcastle 1969. Capsized near oil rig Sedco 135G in the Joseph Bonapart Gulf, about 150 nautical miles to the south west of Darwin, 31 January 1970. Five crewmen and four oil rig staff, trapped below, were drowned. The eleven survivors were rescued by the tug Rode Zee. [LW],[TL - sank 150 miles east of Darwin]
@ Wreck lies in 320 ft and has been visited by a bathyscape and deep-sea divers, who determined that the wreck was unsafe to salvage.

Seicho Maru No 2. Pearl lugger. Lost her bearings in a fog and ran on to a reef off Goulburn Island, NT,  late August 1938. [LW]

Shamrock. Brig. Involved in rescue - see Magda, 1858. [LW]

Skyway. Small craft. Damaged when when Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin, 24 December 1974, but later raised and sold for scraap. [TL],[LW]
Also listed:
Skywave. Launch. Lost when Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin, 24 December 1974. [LW]

Song B 12. Vietnamese refuge boat, prawn trawler,  50 m. Arrived Darwin 28 November 1977, having been hijacked by the refugees. The crew and refugees, and ther boat, were returned to Vietnam.  [TL]

Song Saigon. Vietnamese refuge boat, ex steel tanker. Arrived Darwin with 34 people in 1979; was scuttled Darwin Harbour, 28 November 1977. Interestingly, the vessel had painted on her roof, for the benefit of reconnaiscence aircraft, "Show me the way to Australia". [TL]
@ Lies in twenty metres near the Ham Luong and the John Holland baarge. Penetration poissible.

Sovereign Star. Prawn trawler. Capsized and sank in the Gulf of Carpentaria, 1 November 1987. [LW]

Spray. Launch. Destroyed in a cyclone in Darwin Harbour, 23 December 1915. [LW]

Steady Hour. Australian naval launch. Destroyed by fire at Melville Bay, NT,  3 March 1945. [LW]

Sunbeam. Steam yacht. Wrecked in Admiralty Gulf, NT, April 1892. [LW]

Swan. Sloop, 1060 tons. Minor damage during the Japanese air raid on Darwin, 19 February 1942. Three dead, 22 wounded. [LW]

Tasma. Landing craft. Sank in heavy seas off Point Musgrave in the Gulf of Carpentaria, 28 January 1991. [LW]

The Rascal. Fishing vessel. Sank in the Arafura Sea, NNW of Darwin, after her engine room flooded, 10 November 1992. [LW]

Thomaz Andrea. (Thomas Andrea). Wooden steamer, 63 tons. Built 1897; reg. Darwin.  Foundered off Peron Island near the mouth of the Daly River, NT, 3 September 1901.
[LW],[LAH - lost close to Heron Island, Daly River],[TL]

Tiki. Ex-army workboat. Skipper George Haritos.Sank near Goulbourn Island, NT, 1954. Four crew saved after four days in a nine-foor dinghy.[LW],[TL]

Townsville. HMAS.  Rescued 79 refugees when a Cambodian refugee boat foundered off Melville Island, NT, 1 June 1990.  [LW]

Triumph. Barge, 40 tons, 70 ft. Sank off Darwin while under tow, 13 July 1954. The nine crew members were rescued. [LW],[TL]

Tulagi. Australian transport, 2300 tons. Damaged during the Japanese air raid on Darwin, 18 February 1942. Beached, but soon refloated. [LW]

Vietnamese refugee boats. See Ham Luong, Song Saigon, Song Be 12. Many additional Vietnamese boats, generally of wood, lie rotting in the mangroves near Darwin. [TL]
Lewis notes that if planning to visit, remember there are plenty of crocodile tracks in the area.

Wahine. Steel steamship, 4436 tons. Built Dumbarton 1913. Lbd 375 x 52.2 x 25.6 ft. Having run as a ferry between Wellington and Lyttleton, NZ, in 1951 she was refitted as a troop ship; on her first voyage to Korea, struck Masella Reef in the Arafura Sea and abandoned after the failure of attempts to refloat her, 15 August 1951. All saved. [LW],[LAH],[TL]

Wanderer. Lugger. Lost in the Roper River, NT, December 1918. [LW]

Warawi. Coastal vessel. Sank off Arnhem Land while on a voyage from Gove to Darwin, 6 March 1974. [LW]

Warrego. Single screw steamship, 1552 tons. Built 1883. A.U.S.N.Co. Dismantled and converted into a hulk, towed by Coolgardie to Darwin, NT, October 1913. In 1919, a cyclone blew the old ship, with 600 tons of coal on board, high on the beach near the Darwin wharf. In 1960, she remained on the beach at a spot where a landfuill was reuired for a power station. The ship was simply covered over, and remains there to this day. [#TL],[DG]

Wild Duck. Barque, 736 tons. Built Sunderland 1859. Lbd 154.5 x 31.5 x 21 ft.  Struck heavily on a reef about fourteen nautical miles from Cape Van Diemen, NT, 28 August 1876. Abandoned as she filled with water. The crew made it to Melville Island but later, in an attempt to reach Port Darwin, a gig containing the boatswain and a boy was not seen again. [LW]

William B. Preston. Ex destroyer converted to a seaplane tender, 1190 tons. Damaged during the Japanese air raid on Darwin, 18 February 1942. Four crew killed. Later she left Darwin and reached Broome safely. [LW]

Willie. Lugger 9 tons. Lost off NT coast, September 1925. [LW]

Yampi Lass. Lugger. Ashore and destroyed by a gale at Darwin, 12 April 1943. [LW]

Yarra. Vessel of 141 tons. Built Hobart 1850. Lbd 88.3 x 21.7 x 10 ft.  Lost on Scott’s Reef near Port Darwin, 15 January 1884.  [LW]

Young Australian. Wooden paddle tug, 93 tons. Built Blackwall, England 1853. Captain Lowrie. Struck rocks near Tomato Island, NT, and abandoned, December 1872. [LW],[TL - wrecked 1873, aground in the Roper River]

Zealandia. Steel steamship, 6683 tons. Built on the Clyde, Scotland, 1910. Lbd 410.3 x 54.7 x 31.1 ft. In the First World War qwas well known for ferrying thousands of American troops across the Astlantic. Owned by Huddart Parker. Whilst unloading supplies, on fire and sank during the Japanese air raid on Darwin, 19 February 1942. Two bombs set her alight. Three lives lost from complement of 145. [LW],[LAH],[#TL]
@ Extensively salvaged in 1960, leaving a mass of ribs, and plate.

UNIDENTIFIED

Unidentified. Two luggers were sunk during a cyclone, Darwin, 23 December 1915.  [TL]

Unidentified. Lugger. Three Japanese were drowned when a lugger was lost near Perron Island, mid July 1931.  [LW]

Unidentified. Lugger. Destroyed by fire while in Darwin harbour, early September 1939. [LW]

Unidentified. Small barge, lost in the same cyclone that took the lugger La Grange, between Victoria River and Wyndham, December 1948. Two crew lost. [TL]

Unidentified. Barge, 40 ft. Owned by Shell Oil Company. Sank near Wessel Islands, September 1951.  [TL]

Unnamed. Barge. Sank near Darwin, September 1951. [LW],[TL]

Unidentified. 'Tank' landing barge. Sank, Darwin Harbour, Northern Territory, April 1954.  [TL]
@ Lies at a depth of twenty metres.

Unidentified. Nine metre vessel sank near Perron Island, 9 June 1985. Seven on board rescued. [LW]

Unnamed steel barge. Scuttled by Darwin Sub-Aqua Club in 18 metres, off Dudley Point, Darwin, December 1988. [TL]  @ Excellent fish life.

Unnamed. Cambodian refugee boat. Foundered off Melville Island, NT, 1 June 1990. HMAS Townsville rescued 79 refugees. [LW]

Unidentified. Pleasure cruiser. Sank near Bathurst Island, NT, 29 January 1993. [LW]

Unnamed. Indonesian fishing vessel. Wrecked 50 nautical miles south west of Darwin, 2 February 1993. Seven Indonesian fishermen swam to safety. [LW]