It appears to have been Lt. John Murray in the Lady Nelson who first sailed through the notorious Rip into Port Phillip on 14 February 1802, naming it Port King in honour of the governor of New South Wales - who renamed it Port Phillip after the first governor. A fortnight earlier, Lt. Bowen had taken the ship's boat through the entrance, and no doubt reported favourably. A vast expanse of water could be seen through the narrow entrance, but the turbulent seas and treacherous rocks on either side was a formidable obstacle to enter. No doubt Murray saw the dangers, and if he had any misgivings, they would be confirmed over the next century as hundreds of vessels met their end at the entrance and within the bay. There are over seven hundred vessels in this listing, most of which were lost.

The bay is huge, roughly the shape of a distorted diamond, seven kilometres from the Rip to the city of Melbourne, and eightly kilometres east-west from Geelong to Frankston. It is no Sydney Harbour, but has its beauty in its vastness. It is never without a container ship or tanker motoring to and from Melbourne and Geelong, the Tasmanian ferry, local ferries and thousands of pleasure craft. The bay itself is relatively safe, with few navigational obstacles. It is the entrance however that causes concern to mariners. The Rip as it is appropriately called is flanked by Lonsdale reef on the west and Nepean reef on the east, with less than one kilometre of navigatable water between them, at a depth not exceeding 30 metres.  This in itself should pose no major problem, however it is the depth that creates havoc: a deep trough across the entrance, extending down to a hundred metres, creates turmoil on the surface as the tide moves forward, and the seas pound down and rise upward with then tide. Surging into the bay, the five to seven knot tide will frequently meet the  'rebounding' previous tide trying to escape. The result is a short stretch of sea that is one of the most dangerous in the world. But on a calm day, at slack water, it can be like a millpond. The Lonsdale Reef, dry at low tide, projects 500 metres across the entrance from Point Lonsdale, with rock outcrops for a further two huundred metres. The Point Nepean reef on the eastern side extends for 700 metres, and harbours the notorious Corsair Rock  which rises to within two metres.

Most losses at the Rip occurred when atempting top enter against a strong ebb tide, or when a vessel ignored the pilot and entered without assistance, perhaps at night, or anchored too close to shore. And there have been some very large vessels lost this way. In 1904 the 6901 ton steamship Australia struck Corsair Rock and was totally wrecked off Point Nepean. And the 3316 steamship Time was wrecked on the same rock in 1949 after her steering failed. The 415 ton three-masted barque Eliza Ramsden struck Corsair Rock in 1875 but managed to enter the bay and sank, now providing an excellent dive. On the other side of the entrance, a dozen ships of significant size were wrecked on the Lonsdale reef, including the 2033 ton barque George Roper, magnificent 2237 ton barque Holyhead,  and the 1071 ton barque Gange just to name a few.

Within the bay, navigational obstacles and the weather have played a minor part in losses of the larger vessels, although smaller craft have succumbed to the vagaries of the weather; collision and fire have contributed to many losses. The listing includes vessels lost at the entrance to, and within Port Phillip, which includes the port of Geelong and Corio Bay, also Hobsons Bay and the Yarra River at the port of Melbourne. Also included are those vessels scuttled in the Ship's Graveyard outside Port Phillip Heads.

References.
Shipping history and incidents have been well documented for Port Phillip. The base listing has been established from Loney [LR,LV], and Williams and Searle [WPP,WPH]. Noble [NH], and Bateson [AS1] contribute significantly to the historic record. Wealthy and Bugg [WB], Lewis [IL], Nayler [NSC, NWR], and Denmead [DD] provide excellent material on the wrecksites.
[702 records]

Associated links:  VICTORIA    GABO ISLAND

Abbey. Schooner. Stranded at Point Gellibrand, Port phillip, 15 September 1856. [WPP]

Aboukir.Ship. Assisted in the atempt to extinguish the fire on board the sship Lightning, off Geelong, 31 Octoner 1869. [LC]

Ada. Tug. Assisted ship Marilla, on fire, Port Phillip, 1839 or 1859.

Adieu. Ketch, 15 tons. # 78057. Built Gravelly Beach, Tasmania, 1877; reg. Melbourne 1879. Lbd 38.9 x 13.8 x 5.5 ft. Engaged in the lime trade between Rye and Melbourne; wrecked in the ‘Lime Channel’ near Rye, Port Phillip, 30 September 1882. [LV],[WPP]

Afric. Steamship, 7804 tons. Suffered minor damage when she hit rocks passing through Port Phillip Heads, 18 August 1906. [LR]

Africa. Norwegian bulk carrier, 31905 tons. Stranded whilst negotiating the Point Richards Channel, two miles off Portarlington, Port Phillip, 1969. Later refloated. [LC]

Africaine. Barque. Reported lost in Port Phillip, 1850. [LV],[WPP - lost January 1840]

African Maid. Brig. Involved in collision with steamer Alhambra, Port Phillip, 11 December 1871. [LV]

Agnes. Ketch, 44 tons. # 101772. Built at Launceston, 1894 as a screw steamer. Operated as a tug before being re-rigged. Lbd 92 x 14 x 5 ft. Ashore in a gtale, wrecked, behind the rifle range at Williamstown, Port Phillip, 14 December 1933. [WPP],[LV]

Agnes. Schooner, 20 tons. Built 1872. Involved in the salvage of the barque George Roper off Port Phillip Heads, 1883.  [LO]

Ajax. Barque, 536 tons.  Out of Melbourne, disappeared without trace, 1879. [LV]

Albatross. Paddle steamer,tug, 191 tons. Built 1875. Lbd 131.4 x 21.1 x 10.7 ft. Laid up in 1918 then refitted, renamed Wortannia, and wrecked near Cairns.
In 1877, involved in collision with vessel Madina, Port Phillip Bay.
In 1877, towed the brig Emily to Melbourne for repairs after she had hit a rock entering Port Phillip.
In 1881, stood by the stranded barque hereford near Cape Otway.
In 1881, freed the stranded steamer Bancoora, ashore at Bream Creek, Victoria, and towed her to Hobsons Bay for repairs.
In 1882, towed the stricken clipper ship George Thompson from the Quarantine Station to Melbourne.
In 1883, involved in the salvage of the barque George Roper, and steamer Rodondo, off Port Phillip Heads.
In 1886, took Captain and his family from the wrecked Austrian barque Gange on to Melbourne.
In 1887, towed the damaged ship Persian Empire from Port Phillip Heads to Melbourne.  [LWP]
In 1888, involved in saving SS Bowra on shore at Apollo Bay.
In 1890, attended the stricken Holyhead off Port Phillip Heads.
In 1889, involved in collision with  boat, Yarra River, Melbourne.
In 1895, involved in collision with Julia Percy, Yarra River, Melbourne.
In 1902, towed free the steamer Paroo near Point Lonsdale, Port Phillip.
[LO],[LV],[LSS],[LE],[LR]

Albert the Good. Type not recorded. Involved in collision with steamer Arawata, Port Phillip, 1878. [LV]

Albert William. Lighter, wool barge, ex barque, 600 tons. # 47480. Built Sunderland 1863; reg. Melbourne 1933. Broke adrift from the tug Swiftness during a voyage from Melbourne to Geelong and drifted ashore near Point Gellibrand, Port Phillip, May 1955. She was a total loss and finally broken up in 1962.
In 1876, involved in rescue - see steamer Dandenong, lost Jervis Bay, NSW.
[LV],[WPP]

Albert. Ketch, 42 tons. Built 1884. Lbd 73.6 x 20.1 x 4.8 ft. Sprang a leak in rough seas shortly after leaving Lorne, Victoria, for Melbourne; the Pilot schooner Rip took her in tow but she foundered about three nautical miles outside Port Phillip Heads, 13 August, 1890. She could lie somewhere near Cape Schanck. [ASR],[LG],[LO],[LV]

Albert. Schooner, 44 ton. Built by the Victorian Government at Williamstown, Port Phillip, 1863, for duties at Port Albert, arriving there on 23 July 1863.  Wrecked off New Guinea 1888.  [LPA]

Albert. Type not recorded. Involved in collision with vessel Gem, Hobsons Bay, Port Phillip, 1898. [LV]

Alecto. Barque, 325 tons. Captain Oldham. Stranded Point Richards, Port Phillip, 2 March 1853. While arrangements were made to lighten her, a party of police was despatyched to guard 12,000 ounces of gold dust on board. The vessel was freed after five days. [LC],[WPP]

Alexander. Type not recorded. Involved in collision with Pirate, Corio Bay, 13 October 1853. [LV],[WPP]

Alexandra. Steamer.
In 1866, involved in collision with Windward, Port Phillip Bay, 21 January 1866.
On 30 November 1868, involved in collision with Cleopatra, Hobsons Bay, Port Phillip.
On 1 November 1873, stranded in West Channel, Hobsons Bay.
[LV],[WPP - vessel name Alexandria]

Alhambra. Steamer.
In 1862, 10 December, collided with the Pilot schooner Rip, just outside Port Phillip Heads and was considerably damaged.
On 11 December 1871, involved in collision with brig African Maid, Port Phillip.
In June 1873, involved in collision with steamer Otway, Yarra River, Melbourne.
[LR],[LV],[WPP]

Allison. Vessel type not listed. Arrived Hobsons Bay from England, December 1852 with malignant typhus on board. Fourteen deaths had occured during the voyage. The surgeon- superintendant on board reported that there was no disease, apparently in order to claim the bounty due to him if his passengers arrived in a healthy conddition. [CWR]

Alma. Involved in collision with Sparrowhawk, Port Phillip Heads,1878. [LV]

Almeida. Brigantine. Stranded in West Channel, Port Phillip, 13 July 1858. [WPP],[LV - schooner, lost Port Phillip, 1858.]

Alvina. Pilot steamer.
On 10 March 1910, involved in collision with ship Songvaar, off Queencliff, Port Phillip Heads.
In 1914, involved in rescue - see SS Campbell, 1914.
[LV],[MM],[LG]

Amicus. Schooner, 170/140 tons. Built 1839. Lbd 77 x 19.1 x 12.1 ft.  From Adelaide, struck Point Nepean Reef at Port Phillip Heads, wrecked, 1 March 1857. One sailor drowned attempting to swim ashore soon after the vessel struck. The remains floated out into bass Strait and were a menace to shipping until located by SS Victoria and towed ashore. [LG],[LV],[LR],[WPH]

Amsterdam IV. Steam hopper. Scuttled in 1981 at Corio Bay, Victoria. [LH]

Amsterdam V. Steam hopper. Scuttled in 1981 at Corio Bay, Victoria. [LH]

Andora. Ship. Touched bottom when entering the Rip, 1885. No further details. [LR]

Aneas. Steamship. Stranded at St.Kilda, Port Phillip, 31 October 1912. [WPP]

Anieura. Four-masted wooden schooner, 1328 tons. Built California, 1918 as the Oronite. Reg. Melbourne, 1928. Lbd 236.5 x 42 x 29. Last captain, de Carteret. Stripped of anything of value at the Yarra Street Pier, Geelong, in 1932; burnt to recover her copper and brass,  and sunk off Avalon Bach, two kilometres east of Point Lillias. She had been siezed for debt.
@ Her wreckage is scattered and overgrown, covered in light silt in 4 metres.
[NWR],[LC],[NSC]

Ann & Jane. Schooner. Stranded on Point Nepean, Port Phillip Heads, 19 December 1856. The crew left the vessel and made Queenscliff. [LR],[LG],[WPH]
Loney indicates she was refloated, repaired, and returned to service. Williams and Searle indicate she was totally wrecked, going to pieces the following day.

Annabella. Schooner. Stranded Corio Bay, 26 January 1854. [WPP],[LC]

Annie & Elizabeth. Schooner, 54 tons. Lost Port Phillip, 1856. [LV]

Annie. Schooner. Arrived at Geelong on 18 March 1870 to clear way the masts, and recover wool, tallow and copper ore, from the burnt ship Lightning, Coria Bay, Port Phillip. [LC]

Anonyma. Pilot schooner, 75 tons. Former Boston pilot cutter. Built Boston, USA, 1847; reg. Melbourne 1859. Lbd 62.1 x 19.2 x 7.5 ft.  Employed in the (Port Phillip) pilot srvice; commenced at Port Phillip Heads in 1853, the third vessel employed as Port Phillip pilots, and was in service until wrecked  in a gale on Lonsdale Reef, Port Phillip Heads, 2 October 1859. Crew took to the boat but it capsized, forcing all to swim to shore. All saved.
In 1853, involved in collision with steamer West Wind off Port Philip Heads.
In 1853, attended wreck of the Earl of Charlemont.
[LO],LR],[NH],[LV],[WPH - 42 gross tons],[LPH]

Anonyma. Ship, 1300 tons. Badly damaged by fire while unloading cargo at the Sandridge railway pier (Port Melbourne), 22 August 1879. Volunteers from several ships fought the fire, but eventually she was towed across towards St Kilda, where rivets were knocked out below the waterline to allow her to fill and sink.  She was raised a few days later. [LV]

Anthracite. Barque. Stranded Point Gellibrand, Port Phillip, 12 September 1853. [WPP]

Antoinette Cezard. French ship, wood, 642 tons. Built France, 1852; reg. Bordeaux, reg. Melbourne in 1854. Captain Marin.  From London to Melbourne with general cargo and nine passengers, struck Corsair Rock, Point Nepean, and under advice from pilot Draper, run aground on Swan Island, 2 May 1854.   She had attempted to enter Port Phillip without a pilot. Later refloated, repaired and returned to service as the ship Thomas & Ann Cole (qv).
[LV], [LG],[LR],[WPH - Captain E. Marius],[LPH]

Aphrasia. Wooden paddle steamer, 94 tons. Built at Deptford, NSW, 1841; reg. Melbourne 3/1845. Lbd 99/7 x 16 x 8.6 ft. Well known for ‘getting into trouble’. Entered the Melbourne- Geelong  trade in 1841 and traded in Port Phillip Bay until she left for New Zealand, where she was wrecked in 1864. [LO],[LV]
On 21 February 1848, considerably damaged by fire when tied up in Melbourne. [AS1]
In 1850, assisted the stricken barque Victory, Port Phillip. [LR]
On 28 February 1850, ran ashore near Point Henry, Corio Bay. [LC]
On 20 October 1850, grounded at Geelong. [LC]
On 12 October 1852, involved in collision with steamer Gipsy, Yarra River, Melbourne. [WPP]
On 19 October 1852, stranded at Geelong. [WPP]
In 1852, attended the ship Isabella Watson, Port Phillip.
In 1853, assisted ship Sacramento, Port Phillip.  [LPH]
On 28 October 1861, sank after colliding in the Yarra with steamer Balclutha. Raised and towed to Williamstown, repaired.  [WPP]

Arabian. (Arabia).Wooden ship of 1400/1067 tons. Built St. Johns, New Brunswick, 1852. Lbd 163.2 x 31.3 x 22.9. Owned by American interests until 1854 when she was purchased for the White Star Line and registered at Liverpool.  Captain Harding. Destroyed by fire at Railway Pier, Sandridge (Port Melbourne), 12 November 1860.  The origin of the fire is unknown. Crews from the ships Lightning and Result assisted, however the fire spread rapidly. Attempts to scuttle her failed and she eventually sank. Some time later she was salvaged and sold as a storeship in 1867. The tug Sophia assisted. [AS6],[LV],[WPP],[MM]

Aranmac. Involved in collision with vessel Nantes, Port Phillip Bay, 1906. [LV]
Could this possibly be the steamer Aramac?

Argo. Ship. Assisted in the atempt to extinguish the fire on board the ship Lightning, off Geelong, 31 Octoner 1869. [LC]

Aristos. Barque. Stranded near Queenscliff, Port Phillip, 14 March 1872. [WPP]

Arnoldus Vinnen. Barque. Involved in collision with tug Alacrity, off Williamstown, Port Phiilip, 11 February 1913. [LV],[WPP]

Arthur The Great. Ship, 1389 tons. Captain W. Davies. Inward bound from Southampton to Geelong, stranded, twice, near Point Wilson, Port Phillip, 6 June 1856. She was carrying 463 immigrants, and fibe cabin passengers. After a week she was towed off to an anchorage at Point Henry. [LC],[WPP]

Asa Packer. American barque, 329 tons. Lbd 123.4 x 23.8 x 11.7 ft. Captain John Cordy. Wrecked on a reef inside the extreme end of Point Nepean, 24 May 1859. Left Melbourne for Newcastle but when she arrived at Port Phillip Heads the pilot refused to take her out due to the stormy conditions.  The captain decided otherwise. Crew saved with the gallant assistance of the crew of Government schooner Empire. There was some critricism that “the post office had been most uncooperative in passing on from Queencliff via Geelong news of the wreck.... had the news reached Melbourbne earlier a steam tug would have been sent.’
[LR],[LG],[LV - reported lost 1861],[WPH],[LPH]
On 4 September 1853, under Captain Elliot, inward bound from Sydney, stranded eight miles east of Point Henry, Port Phillip. She was later refloated. [LC],[WPP]

Augustus. Barque. Built 1814. Hulked.  [LPA]
A vessel of this name was involved in collision, Yarra River, 19 January 1841. [WPP]

Auriga. Barque, iron, 476 tons.  Built 1869.  Hulked 1914.  Blown up outside Port Phillip Heads. Scuttled outside  Port Phillip Heads, 5 February 1930. [LV],[NSF]

Australia. RMS Steamer, steel,  6901/3702 tons. (Sister Himalaya). Built at Greenock, 1892, for the P. & O. Steam Navigation Company, and considered one of the top class vessels in the England - Australia trade; when lost she held the speed record from England to Australia, and was ‘one of the most luxurious vessels afloat’. Lbd 465.7 x 52.2 x 34.7 ft. Captain Cole. Wrecked on the eastern side of Port Phillip Heads, due to pilot error, 21 June 1904. Hit Corsair Rock at 15 knots which ground off her plate rivetheads and opened a five metre split alongside her keel. The passengers and some of the crew were taken off in rescue craft sent out from Queenscliff. She lay balanced on her middle in a groove she had cut in the surface of the rock, and with a slight list to starboard. To repair the split was impracticable; to refloat her was impossible. The underwriters removed vast quantities of valuable cargo, cut a huge gap in her side, and in five weeks of fine weather four divers, under the direction of George Beckett, Australia’s most famous diver of the period, recovered more than 100 cases and packages of goods, mostly consigned to Melbourne firms. Then, under the threat of dirty weather they decided to put the vessel and what remained of her cargo up for auction; the succesful bidder was a raather surprised draper, a Mr. J.G. Aikman, who bought the vessel for a mere £290 and the remaining cargo for  £60. Beckett removed the ship’s phosphor bronze propeller which brought £1,000, and muntz metal in the cargo valued at £750. The weather held and a strange assortment of cargo was hauled to the upper deck and shipped off to Melbourne. There were, for example 10 crates of enamelware, a big case of Boosey’s brass band instruments, tons of bar metal, Irish whisky, Indian tea, and cases of drapery and haberdashery. Most was put up for auction in the sheds at Port Melbourne and salvage from the Australia was peddled in every town in Victoria, and many interstate. Eventually the bow section broke off and slid into deep water, and plunderers set the remaining section alight. The burnt out shell of the ship still contained hundreds of pounds worth of brass and copper. Beckett methodically stripped the engine room and when he had finished the draper showed a profit of more than £180,000, a vast sum for those days. A few days after the huge salvage sale, a mysterious fire gutted the ship, burning for five days. Suspicion was directed to Queenscliff fishermen who had apparently been helping themselves to whatever they could find. Two years passed before the wreck broke up, and the remains were finally blasted away in 1911.
@ What little remains to be seen are located over a wide area some 300 metres west of Rock Beacon, in 5 to 7 metres. Her huge propeller, engines and boilers remain. Diving is particularly difficult and dangerous, and posible only at slack tide.
[LG], [LV - lost 20 June],[LR],[#NH],[AS6],[#WPH - 20 July 1904],[NWR],[LAH - lost 20 June],[WB],[DG]

Australian. Ship. Involved in collission with the sunken steamer Black Swan, Hobsons Bay, 27 August 1867. [WPP]
Also listed:
Australia. Vessel type not listed. Involved in collision with the sunken Black Swan, Williamstown, Port Phillip, 1868. [LV]

B. Norris. (B.Noris). American ship, wood, 1200 tons. Reg. New York. Destroyed by fire whilst at anchor in Hobsons Bay, Port Phillip, 24 February 1859. She was towed away from shipping by the tugs Hercules and Lioness and finally scuttled close to the St.Kilda bank. [LV],[WPP],[LAH]

Barbara. Schooner, 16 tons. Built Exeter, River Tamar, Tasmania, 1841; reg. Melbourne 1846. Engaged in the lime trade. Dragged her anchors in a gale and went ashore at White Cliffs (Rye), a total loss, 6 August 1852. [WPP],[LV]
In LG and LR, Loney lists a schooner of this name as having stranded near Point Nepean in 1853; and LPA indicates she was wrecked at Point Nepean 1853. Unless another ‘Barbara’ exists, the possible error stems from the diary of Geelong historian Percy Holden. Loney notes that no other details have substantiated this entry.Williams and Searle, [WPH], list a stranding of schooner Barbara at Point Nepean, 1853 but ‘no details concerning the accident seem to be available’.

Barrier. Steel steamship, 2036 tons. Built 1889. Owned by Adelaide Steamsship Company. Visited Australia, (Geelong in 1904).  Sold to Japanese interests in 1914. [LC], [LV]
In 1897, involved in collision with  steamer Despatch,  Port Phillip Bay, 1897.

Bass Trader. Motor vessel.
On 30 August 1964, damaged by fie. [WPP]
In 1972, collided with PC Wyuna  in foggy conditions off Port Phillip Heads. No one was injured and both vessels suffered only minor damage. [LO]

Batman. Steamer, hopper barge, iron, 338 tons. Built 1883. Scuttled in ships graveyard, Bass Strait, off Port Phillip heads, 20 May 1935. [NSF],[LV]
In 1906, involved in collision with Flora, Yarra River, Melbourne.. [LV - tug]
On 10 July 1915, under Captain Charman, involved in collision with Awaroa (qv), Yarra River, Melbourne. The Batman was to blame. [WPP],[LV - occurred 1913]
On 27 August 1915, collided with SS Casino off Point Gellibrand, Victoria. Both repaired. [LO],[WPP]

Bee. Ship, 1104 tons. Arrived Point Henry, near Geelong, Port Phillip, out of Birkenhead, UK, in 1857, with 400 emigrants on board. The trip had cost ten lives due to scarlet fever. She was purchased in 1860 by the Black Ball Line and renamed Hope (qv), calling at Melbourne several times before being sold in 1867. [LC]

Belle Brandon. Lighter. Sank Appleton Dock, Melbourne, February 1950. [WPP]

Bellinger. Steamship, 225 tons. In 1892, involved in collision with  the iron barque Presto, Port Phillip Bay, 20 April 1892. The Bellinger sank; no record of her being refloated. [WPP],[LV]
On 7 Octpber 1885, stranded  near Anglesea, Victoria, 1885. [LO],[DD - name as Bellringer]

Beltana. Motor vessel. Built Dundee, 1937; reg. Melboure. Lbd 357.2 x 48.7 x 24 ft. Inward bound, struck Corsair Rock, Point Nepean, 16 September 1963. After being towed free she was beached off Dromana, and again refloated a few days later. She was found to be so badly damaged that she was only good for scrap. [LR],[LV],[WPP],[WPH - screw steamer]
On 19 April 1952, stranded off Portsea, Port Phillip.

Ben Bolt. Cutter, 8.4 tons. # 41485.Built Schnapper point (Mornington), Port Phillip, 1854. Lbd 33 x 12 x 4.3 ft. Captain Richard Leggett. Ashore in a gale, wrecked, near Frankston, Port Philip,  September 1874. Leggett was one of the greatest trading skippers of the 19th  century, and for twelve years ran the Ben Bolt between Melbourne and Queenscliff.  He was an especially competent at salvage work, and worked on the Amazon, (1863), Light of the Age (1868), and Eliza Ramsden (1875).   [LV], [LO],[#LSS],[LPA - name Ben Holt],[WPP]

Ben Nevis. Brig, collier, 357 tons. # 27756. Built Sunderland, England, 1859; reg. Newcastle, NSW, 1868. Msster-owner Captain Griffith Evans. Deeply laden with coal from Newcastle, struck Point Nepean, Port Phillip Heads, 20 May 1870. Refloated on a rising tide but with a damaged rudder, was beached at Queenscliff, repaired, and towed to Melbourne by the tug Mystery. No lives lost. [WPH],[LR],[LG]

Beverwyk 19.  Steel dredge. Built 1912. Scuttled in ship’s graveyard, Bass Strait, off Port Phillip Heads, 7 May 1963. [LV],[NSF]

Binburr. (Binburra). Steamship. Involved in collision with steamer Lutona (Lutana), Yarra River, Melbourne, 22 Septeember 1953. [LV],[WPP]

Birch Grove. Barque, 543, Melbourne, 1850. Converted into lighter at Melbourne, 1888. [ASR]

Black Bess. Liftboat. Used by Whelan the Wrecker to salvage cargo and fittings from SS Orungal, 1940. [LO]

Black Boy. (Blackboy). Iron screw steamer, 66 tons. # 19598. Built  at Greenock, Scotland, 1857; reg. Melbourne 1875. Lbd 81.5 x 15 x 7.9 ft.   Served as a tug at Lakes Entrance and Melbourne, was in the lime trade to Waratah Bay. Captain William Willey. Was assisting in the salvage from George Roper on Point Lonsdale reef, Port Phillip Heads, when she bumped heavily against the barque, and then sank, 8 July 1883. [LO],[LH],[LPA - built Melbourne, 1867],[WPH]
In 1880, involved in salvage of cargo from the ship Eric the Red, damaged in a gale. [LE]
@ The overturned hull lies east of the George Roper, just off the southern tip of Mushroom Rock, Lonsdale reef, in 7 m.

Black Eagle. Wooden paddle steamer,  41 tons. Built at South Shields, Engalnd 1852. Lbd 87.5 x 17.1 x 9.7 ft. Captain Fitzgibbon. Running between St Kilda and Brighton, she was returning to St Kilda with one hundred passengers when she sank near the St.Kilda pier, 26 December 1884. No lives lost.  She was later raised and towed to Williamstown where she was dismantled. Her remains were sunk on the seaward side of the Breakwater Pier. [LV],[WPP]
In 1857, involved in collision with vessel Victoria, at Footscray, Melbourne, 1857.
In June 1866, involved in collision with vessel Barwon, Yarra River, Port Phillip.
In 1875, involved in collision with dredge Wombat, Yarra River, Melbourne.
On 25 April, involved in collision with steamer Queenscliff ,Yarra River, Melbourne.

Black Hawk. Schooner, 44 tons. Built Melbourne, 1865. Wrecked, 1887. [ASR]
On 31 October 1871, stranded at Point Wilson, Port Phillip. A steam tug was sent to asist but she refloated on the next tide. [LC],[WPP]

Black Swan. Iron screw steamer, 275/207 tons. # 32181. Built at Piasley, Scotland, 1853; reg. Melbourne 1867.  Captain W.H. Saunders. Inward bound from Warrnambool to Melbourne, run down and sunk by the paddle steamer Luna off Williamstown, Port Phillip, 16 July 1867. The master of the Luna, Captain Webb, was held to blame at the subsequent inquiry. The Black Swan was later on 4 June 1868, and repaired at Williamstown, and sold to the A.S.N. Company of Sydney. [LLB],[LV],[#WPP],[DG]
In 1868, her wreckage was struck by the vessels Tasman, Swordfish and Australia [LV]
On 27 August 1867, her wreckage was struck by the ship Australian. [WPP]

Blackwall. Wooden sloop, then lighter, 21 tons. # 41484. Built 1854. On 24 February 1890, collided with the lighter Bride at Newport, Yarra River, Melbourne. The vessel sank, drowning the lighterman. She was raised, and finally broken up in 1905. [WPP],[LV]
Loney states that she collided with the tug Sprightly, 1890. This contradicts Williams, who states that the tug Sprightly was towing the lighter Bride at the time.

Blandina Dudley. Ship. Captain Denny. Inward bound from Cardiff, struck Lonsdale Rock, Port Phillip heads, 22 January 1864. The vessel was under the pilot at the time. Taking water, she made Melbourbe with the crew working the pumps all the time. Her cargo of fine Welssh coal was unloaed directly into the bunkers of the steamer Great Britain, waiting to make her homeward passage. Whilst the Blandina Dudley was on the slip, the master and the caprenter were injured in two separate accidents. [WPH],[LV],[LR]

Blythe Star. Twin-screw motor vessel, 305/138 tons. # 177206. Built at Prince of Wales Bay, Hobart, 1945; reg. Melbourne 6/1949. Captain Francis McCudden. Sailed from Ulverstone for Melbourne with a cargo of timber and canned peas; engine room exploded, and setting fire to the vessel, 17 May 1959. The epxlosion killed the second enginner. The ten remaining crew made Burnie in the ship's boat. Meanwhile, the smoke had been seen by the crew of the Union Steamship Company's Kumalla, which pulled alongside and attempted to take the burning vessel in tow.  By now the weather had deteriorated, with heavy rain and strong winds that fanned the flames, the swell preventing hoses from being deployed successfully.  The pilot launch Miowera also turned up, but was equally powerless. The hull drifted about until it burned to the waterline and sank. The reason for the explosion was never explained. [TS2},[WPP],[LV]
On 5 June 1951, stranded at Leven Heads while outward bound, but floated off undamaged at high tide the following day.
On 8 May 1953, fire broke out while tied up at South Wharf, Melbourne; much of her superstructure, including the crew accommodation, was destroyed. Did not re-enter service until March 1957.
As a replacement, the owners purchased the steel motor vessel Tandik, which was in turn renamed Blythe Star and was, in 1973, to be responsible for further loss of life off the Tasman Peninsula.

Bombala. Steamship, 3539 tons. Built at Sunderland, 1904. Lbd 348 x 44.2 x 25.6 ft. 'One of the fastest vessels trading on the Australian coast'. Transfered to British ownership in 1930.
On 25 February 1914, involved in collision with steamer Coogee, Yarra River, Melbourne. [LV],[WPP],[LSS]
On 7 December 1919, left Townsville for Sydney and that evening struck Salamander Reef. Although in a precarious position and threatening to break in two, she was refloated and repaired in Mort's Dock, Sydney.  [DG]
In 1927, involved in rescue - see SS Riverina, 1927. [LG]

Bonnie. Launch. Pounded to pieces against a concrete wall at Port Melbourne during a gale, 14 December 1933. [WPP]

Boomerang. Pilot schooner, 99 tons. Took up duty as a pilot vessel in December 1852, Captain Caught, but ‘was not a complete success ... was more at anchor inside than on the outside station’. [NH indicates brigantine, started the cruising pilot service on 29 January 1853],[LPH]
In 1853, attended wreck of the Earl of Charlemont.
On 1 June 1853, attempted rescue, however two boats from the pilot vessel were swamped, the crew narrowly escaping with their lives  - see ship Sea. lost Port Phillip heads.. [LG],[LPH]
In 1854, involved in rescue - see brig Columbine. [LO],[DD]
On 11 July 1863, stranded in West Channel, Port Phillip. [WPP]
In 1866, ashore near the stranded SS Barwon, Queenscliff, Port Philli, whilst engaged in salvage operations on the steamer; later refloated. [LR]

Boujah Maiden. Two masted wooden schooner, 16 tons. Built Darling Harbour, NSW, 1839; reg. Melbourne 18 October 1848, then Geelong. Originally a cutter, 27 tons displacement. Lbd 34.5 x 12.1 x 5.4 ft. Master-owner Robert Watson until 1851. Wrecked in a storm off Indented Head, Port Phillip, 25 January.1862. [LV],[LPA],[WPP],[AS1],[LC]
In 1841, assisted in refloating the pilot cutter Ranger, ashore on Swan Island, Port Phillip. [LR]
On 26 November 1849, stranded in Corio Bay, near Bird Rock.
On 26 November 1849, stranded in a storm on the Gippsland coast, Victoria, off Point Lillias. No loss of life. Refloated six days later.  [AS1] I know of no Point Lillias. Could it be Cape Liptrap?
On 2 September 1851, capsized off Point Henry, Port Phillip. Her master, who was unable to swim, was drowned, two saved.

Bourke. Steel hopper, 345 tons. Scuttled ships graveyard, off Port Phillip heads, Bass Strait, 23 September 1935. [NSF]

Bride. Lighter. Was being towed by the tug Sprighly when she collided with the lighter Blackwall in the Yarra River, Melbourne, 24 February 1890. [WPP]

Britannia. Steamship, 3413 tons. Collided with pilot schooner Mavis, off Port Phillip Heads, 6 May 1896. Only the schooner recieved damage which was slight. [LR]

Briton. Ship, lighter, 452 tons. # 48416. Built as the New Great Britain; name changed when rebuilt at Invercargill, 1864. Lbd 140 x 28.6 x 18 ft.  In a gale, sank near Point Henry, Port Phillip, whilst moored, 31 January 1890. Broken up some time later. [WPP],[LV],[LC]

Buninyong. Steamship, 2076 tons.  (Sister Gabo). Built Barrow-in-Furness, UK, 1883.  Lbd 279.9 x 38.1 x 20.2 ft. Howard Smith Company. A popular passenger vessel between Melbourne and Sydney for many years before being converted to carry cargo.  Dismantled and scuttled in the ships graveyard, off Port Phillip heads, Bass Strait, 13 February, 1926.
[LV],[LSS],[WL],[NSF - name Bunningyong],[DG]

Bunyip. Dredge 317 tons.  Built 1879.  Scuttled in Bass Strait, 1927. [LV]

Bunyip. Hulk, 73 tons.  Built 1891.  Originally a wooden steamship. Scuttled in ships graveyard, off Barwon Heads, Bass Strait, 13 April 1955. [LV],[NSF]

Bunyip. Lighter. # 80454. Built at Renfrew, Scotland, 1879; reg. Melbourne 1936. Lbd 160.5 x 28.3 x 11.3 ft. Whilst loaded with wool and moored alongside the Adelaide Star, she broke adrift in rough seas and wrecked against Princes Pier, Port Melbourne, breaking her back, 20 November 1954. [LV],[WPP]

Burke. Hopper barge, 345 tons. Built South Australia; reg. Melbourne 1889. Lbd 128 x 30 x 9.5 ft. Owned by Melbourne Harbour Trust. Dismantled and scuttled in Bass Strait, 1935. [LV]

Burrumbeet. Steel steamship, 2420 tons. Built Wallsend, 1884. Lbd 300 x 40.1 x 19.7 ft. Owned by Huddart Parker Ltd. A smart looking steamer, she may more than 250 visits to Corio Bay between 1890 and 1915.  [LSS],[LC]
On 6 April 1896, involved in collision with yacht Cacique,  Port Phillip Bay. [LV],[WPP]

Cacique. Yacht. On 6 April 1896, involved in collision with steamer Burrumbeet,  Port Phillip Bay, 1896. [LV],[WPP]

Campana. Iron lighter, 711 tons.  Built 1875.  Scuttled in ships graveyard, off Port Phillip Heads, Bass Strait, 30 July 1929. [LV],[NSF]

Campbell. Norwegian whaling steamer, 235 tons. Built 1911. Lbd 98.3 x 19.1 x 11.4 ft. Captain Olsen. Wrecked on the Corsair Rock, Port Phillip Heads, due to a strong current which threw her off course, 14 June 1914. Accompanied by her sister ship, Sorrel, the Campbell was on a voyage from Sydney to Albany when engine trouble forced her to set a course for Melbourne. Crew of nine all reached safety, with some landing at Queencliff by the pilot steamer Alvina.
[LG], [LV - 135 tons],[LR states 35 tons],[WPH]

Camperdown. Troopship, 993 tons. Captain Denny.  Inward bound from Cork to Melbourne with 10 officers and 321 troops, stranded on Swan Spit, Port Phillip, 17 October 1854. Refloated next day. [LR],[LV],[WPP],[WPH]

Cape Leeuwin. Steamship. Renamed Pilbarra when badly damaged by fire, Yarra River, Melbourne, 11 September 1903. [LV]

Cape Verde. Ship, 1711 tons. Captain Mitchell. Rammed and sunk by the Iolanthe in Hobsons Bay, Port Phillip, 23 June 1889. An attempt was made to salvage the Cape Verde. Four pontoons were built and towed out to the wreck to be sunk alongside and connected under the ship’s keel with heavy wires.  Each pontoon was calculated to have a lifting capacity of 500 tons when pumped. After several minor problems, all was ready and a tow rope was passed from a tug to the bollards on the forecastle head; but the first strain tore them out of the ship.  Further attempts were abandoned and she was removed by dynamite six years later.  The tug Pilot was damaged working at the wreck, and sunk in March 1893. [LV],[WPP],[LV]

Caradale. Steel screw steamer, 1881 tons. Built 1921. Rammed and sank the steamer Kakariki off the Gellibrand  Pile Light, Port Phillip, 29 January 1937. Five lives lost on the Kakariki as she sank within minutes. The Kakariki was to blame. [WPP]

Carlisle. Steamer. Stranded at Rosebud, Port Phillip, 1 August 1936. [WPP]

Caroline. Cutter, 18 tons. # 36968. Built South Australia, 1852; reg. Melbourne. Lbd 37.5 x 13.5 x 4.5 ft. Master-owner frederick Keay. Foundered in Hobsons Bay, Port Phillip, 9 May 1881. She was never raised and became a total loss. [WPP],[LV]

Caroline. Schooner, 63 tons. Built Melbourne, 1845. Broken up at Williamstown, 1896. [ASR]

Carron Park. Steamship. Involved in collision with steamer Ormiston, Yarra River, Melbourne, 5 September 1951. [LV],[WPP]

Casablanca. Iron lighter, 547 tons.  Built 1912.  Scuttled in ships graveyard, off Port Phillip, Bass Strait, 16 February 1950. [LV],[NSF]

Cassipore. Ship, 834 tons. Captain Dundas. From Geelong for Calcutta, stranded on Prince George Shoal near Portarlington, Port Phillip, 3 December 1850. Ballast was transfered to the schooner Shamrock, and the ship was refloated five days later with the assistance of the Government schooner Empire. [LC]

Catherine. Involved in collision, Port Phillip, 1877. [LV]

Cerberus. HMAS, Coast defence ship, iron, 3480 tons.  Built at Jarrow-on-Tyne, 1869. Lbd 225 x 45 x 15.5 ft. Purchased by the Government for the defence of Port Phillip, arrived Hobsons Bay 9 April 1871 after a slow and dangerous voyage from England; remained on active service until 1911. The first warship to dispense with sail; commonly called a Monitor or Turret ship for she had two 10-inch guns on twin rotating turrets. It could be said that she is the only surviving monitor in the world but her dilapidated and dangerous condition belies the point. There was talk of restoring her, but she is now too far gone; her heavy turrets will collapse any day. Renamed Playpus, used as a floating magazine during World War I, and then as a depot ship for the ‘J’ class submarines at Geelong.  On 14 May 1924, left Corio Bay under tow for Willimastown Dockyard where she was partly dismantled; filled with concrete and scuttled at Black Rock, Port Phillip, as a breakwater, 1926. [LV], [#LH],[LC],[#IL]
In 1881, involved in laaying mines when one of her boats detonated a mine, killing five seamen. [LPH]
In 1883, involved in collision with Edina, (probably Port Phillip). [LV]
In 1920, as HMAS Platypus, searched in vain for the missing schooner Amelia J., 1920. [LG]
Note: Not to be confused with the South Australian government’s gunboat Protector, which was renamed Cerberus in 1921.
@  At one time a quite interesting dive as it was possible to penetrate her hull in two places. Only two hundred metres from shore, Sandringham Council have now forbidden all diving as the structure has collapsed with more destruction imminent.
~ Upper structure visible from shore.

Ceres. Steamer, 86 tons. Built Melbourne, 1875. Lbd 90.1 x 16.3 x 6.7 ft. Spent her early years in the Spencer Gulf passenger trade, before arriving at Geelong in May 1916 towing the barque John Murray. Served in Corio Bay for a number of years as a tug. Broken up in 1934. [LC]

Ceylon. P. & O. Mail steamer. Stranded in Port Phillip, July 1875. [WPP]

Chakarata. Vessel type not recorded. Stranded at Williamstown, Port Phillip, 1957. [WPP]

Challenge. Schooner. Involved in collision with schooner John McDouall Stewart, Port Phillip Bay, February 1875. [LV],[WPP]

Challenger. Brigantine, 300 tons. # 43403. Built St. Johns, New Brunswick; launched 6 June 1863; reg. Melbourne 1865. Captain Pleace. Struck amidships by the Avoca about five miles north of Portarlington, Port Phillip, 1870. The brigantine was almost cut in two. The marine inquiry blamed Captain Peace. He later drowned during salvage operations on the W. B. Godfrey near Lorne in 1891. [LV],[WPP]

Charles Duckett. Involved in collision with vessel Warrigal, Port Phillip, 1913. [LV]

Cheviot. Iron screw steamer, 1226/764 tons. # 63648. Built Newcastle, 1870; reg. Melbourne 1876. Lbd 230.2 x 32.2 x 17.5 ft. Captain Richardson. From Melbourne to Sydney, cleared Port Phillip Heads in very rough conditions,  but lost her propeller soon after and was soon driven ashore, wrecked, 19 October 1887. Assistance arrived from the soldiers at the barracks near the Quarantine Station, and from the crew of the Queenscliff lifeboat. A line was fired over the doomed steamer and seventeen passengers and crew were landed; all the passengers on the aft section were brought ashore. In all, twenty four passengers and crew were saved out of a total of fifty-nine. The SS Edina proceeded to the scene and returned to Melbourne with 24 survivors and seven bodies. [LG],[LR],[NH],[LV],[ASR],[WPH],[DG],[DD]
@ Little remains of the Cheviot except a few iron plates and beams. Rough seas make this site dangerous in most conditions. She lies one and half kilometres east of Point. Explisives were used on the site in the 1960s.  [NWR],[LAH]
On 17 December 1967, Prime Minister Harold Holt was lost at Cheviot Beach whilst swimming. His body was never recovered.

Childe Harold. Sloop, 18 tons. Ashore at the back of Point Gellibrand, Port Phillip, 19 September 1841. She was carrying lime from the kilns near Port Phillip Heads to Melbourne.
In March 1838, whilst in the charge of Pilot Tobin, was seized by bushrangers off the Werribee River, Port Phillip, With the government revenue cutter Ranger in chase, went ashore near tghe Heads. The bushrangers escaped and the vessel refloated.
[LV],[WPP].[LPH]

Chili. Brig, 200 tons. Stranded on a sandbar four miles off Dromana, Port Phillip, March 1836. Half the number of 1600 sheep on board perished in the hot weather and overcrowding whilst crossing Bass Strait from Tasmania. Those that survived the trip were landed in boats after the stranding. It is not certain if the vessel was a total loss.  [LV],[WPP]

China. Steamship, 1037 tons. Built 1855. Lbd 279 x 36.4 x 30.3 ft. Bullion boxes from the SS Avoca, from Sydney, were transfered to the SS China in Melbourne, however the theft of the gold was not discovered until the ship reached Colombo, 1877. [LSS]

Chingtu. Type not recorded. Involved in collision with  barge, Yarra River, Melbourne, 1896. Involved in collision with vessel Arawatha, Victorian waters, 1898. [LV]

Cicada. Ketch, 34 tons. # 57578. Built at Huon, Tasmania, 1877 as the Gertrude; reg. Melbourne 1888, 1918. Was a well known trader in Port Phillip since 1888. Renamed in 1918. Lbd 67.3 x 18 x 5.2 ft. Wrecked in heavy weather at Safety Beach, near Dromana, Port Phillip, 9 August 1922.  [WPP],[LV]

City of Melbourne. Three-masted wooden ship, 1828/1397 tons. # 44652. Built at Newcastle (Miramichi Bay), New Brunswick, USA, 1853 as the Black Warrior. Lbd 217.3 x 40.8 x 24.1 ft. Owned by the Black Ball Line. Captain Jones. Badly damaged by fire, Victorian Railway Pier, Williamstown, Port Phillip, 26 January 1868. She was cut adrift, masts cut away, and six shots fired from a battery on the breakwater put on the seabed. About a month later the remains of her hull were raised and towed up the Yarra to be rebuilt as a lighter. In July 1889, she went ashore at Cowie’s Creek near Geelong, but after three months floated off and drifted across to Point Henry where she was moored as a convenient landing stage for passengers from the Edina visiting the popular Point Henry Tea Gardens.  However in January 1890, the hulk sank at its moorings and was eventually, after five years, blown up.
[LV],[AS6],[MR],[WPP],[NMC@],[LC],[NSC@],[LAH],[ASR]
In 1880, as a coal hulk, struck by SS Edina near the mouth of the Yarra, Melbourne.
Note: Several authors list both this fully rigged ship and the 180 ton steamer of the same name lost off King Island, as both being previously named Black Warrior. One reference is incorrect.

City of Melbourne. Lighter, 1397, Melbourne, 1853. Broken up at Melbourne, 1889. [ASR]

City of Khartoum. Steamship, frieghter. Was being berthed by the tug Terawhiti when the tug sank after colliding with the freighter, Williamstown, Port Phillip, 1950. [LV],[WPP]

City of Launceston. Steamship, 278 tons. Built 1853. Lbd 197.2 x 24.2 x 11.7 ft. Owned by the launceston and Melbourne Steam Navigation Co. Captain Thom (regular master, Captain Woods, was ill). Sank in Hobsons Bay, Port Phillip, having been run down by SS Penola, 19 November 1865. Passengers and crew transfered to the Penola. Efforts to raise her failed. At the inquiry, the City of Launceston was held to blame. [LV],[#WPP],[DG - built 1862],[DG]
@ A protected zone exists around the wreck so diving is prohibited. The site has been extensively  surveyed.

Clan Campbell. Steamship. Stranded Point Cook, Port Phillip, 9 April 1913. [WPP]

Claude Hamilton. Steamer. [LV]
In 1871, involved in rescue - see schooner Hector, lost Port Phillip.
In 1879, involved in collision with Eden, Victoria waters.

Cleopatra. Schooner. Involved in collision with steamer Alexandra, Hobsons Bay, 30 November 1868. [WPP],[LV]

Cleopatra. Steamer, 200 tons. Converted to lighter. Involved in the salvage of the barque George Roper off Port Phillip Heads, 1883.  [LO]

Columbia. (Columbian) American ship, 500 tons. Burnt at Williamstown, Port Phillip, 26 April 1854. The captain discovered the fire in the after hold, but his crew had deserted for the goldfields during the night. Assistance wa given but she was towed to the beach and scuttled. Total loss. The crew were blamed for setting the vessel alight, obviously through some grievance toward the master or owners. [LV],[WPP - Columbian, towed to Sandridge beach]

Colusa. Involved in collision with Taramung, Yarra River, Melbourne, 1890. [LV]

Conside. Iron screw steamer, 368/259 tons. Built South Shields, UK, 1847 or 1848. Lbd 105.5 x 26.9 x 16.6 ft. Captain Appleby. From Sydney to Melbourne with 180 passengers, ran on to the Lonsdale Reef, Port Phillip Heads, midnight 14 September 1852. Inward bound from Sydney with 180 passengers, was apparently misled by lights on the schooner Portland, wrecked a few hours earlier. Immediately she struck, nineteen passengers panicked, rushed into one of the lifeboats, released only the stem fall and were thrown into the sea. Only five regained the ship. Next, a small group looted the cabin and passengers’ luggage but Captain Appleby, the officers and some passengers succeeded in destroying the wines and spirits. The second officer left the vessel to obtain help and early next morning SS Maitland rescued the survivors. After hanging to the rock for two days with her bow in deep water inside the reef, the vessel, went to pieces. [LO],[LR],[LV],[WPH],[LAH],[LPH]

Coogee. Steel screw steamship, 767/286 tons. # 93722 tons.  Built Sunderland, 1887 as the Lancashire Witch; reg. Melbourne 1888. Lbd 225 x 32.2 x 13.5 ft.  Initially employed between the Isle of Man and Liverpool. Popular vesssel on the Melbourne-Launceston service. Requisitioned by RAN during WW1. Eventually dismantled and scuttled in the ships graveyard, off Port Phillip heads, Bass Strait, 1928. Traded around the Australian coast for many years, being involved in a number of incidents, the most famous being her collision with the barque Fortunato Figari on Christmas Day 1903. The steel bowsprit of the barque swept the deck of the steamer, killing he lookout and the captain. In the confusion, and thinking that the steamer was about to sink, the Coogee’s officers and some of the crew climbed aboard the barque. A steward and a passenger took command and after some resemblance of order was restored, a line was fastened to the barque who took the steamer in tow. It was soon found however that the Coogee could still get up steam and she made Melbourne on her own account. The Coogee was found to be at fault. She was replaced on the Bass Strait run in 1904 by the Loongana, having done 1022 crossings.
[LV],[LSS].[LSW],[LC],NSF],[WL],[WPH],[WB],[DG],[DA]
In 1889, involved in collision with vessel Excelsior, Victorian waters.
In 1889, involved in collision with vessel Griper, Yarra River, Melbourne.
In 1891, involved in collision with vessel Pilot, Yarra River, Melbourne.
On 25 December, under Captain Carrington, collided with barque Fortunato Figari south of Cape Schanck, Victoria, 1903. Captain Carrington and the helmsman were killed, but both ships eventually reached Melbourne. [LG],[NH]
On 12 February 1914, grounded off the Hopetoun Channel, near Geelong, having given way to SS Moorabool. It took several weeks to refloat her.[WPP]
On 25 February 1914, involved in collision with steamer Bombala, Yarra River, Melbourne. [WPP]
On 27 March 1914, from Melbourne to Geelong, collided with the steamship Uganda which was lying in Corio Bay. There was little damage.
In 1918, involved in mine sweeping of Bass Strait.
@ The wreck, with bow and stern largely intact, lies on a sandy bottom in 34 m.

Cooma. Steamship. Involved in collision with steamer Oonah entrance to Yarra River, Melbourne, 19 August 1925. Lost North reef, Queensland, July 1926. [LV],[WPP]

Coomonderry. Steamer/schooner, 147 tons. Built 1886. Lbd 110.2 x 20.1 x 7.6 ft. Ran for thirty- four years on the NSW north coast under steam before being converted to sail in 1920. She ran in Victoria for twenty-five years before being sold to Fijian interests. Wrecked on a reef, Fiji, 1945. [LSS],[LC]
Involved in collision with Lutana, Port Phillip Bay, 1935. [LV]

Coorong. Iron steamer, 304 tons. Built Glasgow, 1862.  Traded around the south eastern coast of Australia until bulked in 1911.
In 1868, involved in rescue - see schooner Black Watch.
In September 1873, stranded on Mud Island, Port Phillip. [WPP]
In 1882, stranded at  Curdie’s Inlet, Victoria. [LO],[LPA - 391 tons]

Corio. Involved in collision with  Rothley ,Corio Bay, 1937. [LV]

Corsair. Pilot cutter, wood, 84/51 tons. # 48409. Built Cowes, Isle of Wight, England, 1832; reg. Melbourne 1864. Lbd 63.6 x 18.9 x 9.6 ft. Arrived from England 6 June 1853 for pilot duties at Port Phillip Heads, assiting the Boomerang. Wrecked on Nepean Reef, Port Phillip Heads, 24 May 1874. Five pilots were aboard. All saved. The steamer Warhawk, in attendance to the dismasted ship Loch Ard, was despatched but her services could not be used as the seas were breaking over the Corsair. The vessel was a total wreck but much of her gear was taken off.  [LR],[NH],[WPH],[LPH]
In May 1854, ran down by the ship Flavius, Port Phillip Heads, 1854. Damage reported as minor. [LR],[WPP]
In December 1963, driven from her anchorage during a gale, Port Phillip. [LPH]
In 1864, August, ran into the vessel Spray at The Rip, Port Phillip Heads. [LR]
In 1866, saved the only survivor from the capsized schooner Tamar maid, Port Phillip Heads. [LR]
Also listed:
Corsair. Brigantine, 111 tons. Built 1835; reg Melbourne. Lost 1874. [ASR]

Cossipore. Ship. Stranded on Prince Georges Bank, Port Phillip, 6 December 1852. [WPP]

Courier. Steel screw steamship, 728 tons.  Built 1887.  Built on the Tyne, England, 1887. Lbd 230.8 x 30 x 12.6. Arrived from England 1893. A fast screw steamer originally designed as a naval despatch boat, she saw many years of service in Port Phillip Bay.  Dismantled and scuttled in the ships graveyard, off Port Phillip heads, Bass Strait, 29 March 1928. [LV],[LH],[#LC],[WB]
In 1894, involved in collision with SS Edina, Corio Bay.
In 1894, involved in collision with vessel Hubbock, Yarra River.
On 16 November 1926, beached at Geelong due to bad weather. Soon refloated. [WPP]
@ Regarded as an excellent dive, but as she lies in 42 m, only for the experienced diver. The bow remains intact, the middle collapsed with twin boilers visible, and the stern largely intact.

Courtfield. Steamer. Stranded SouthChannel, Port Phillip, 19 February 1910. [WPP]

Cousins. Schooner, 17 tons. # 31748. Built at Supply Creek on the Tamar, Tasmania, 1850; reg. Melbourne in 1873. Lbd 41.1 x 12.8 x 5.2 ft. Reported to have sunk in a storm, Hobsons Bay, Port Phillip. July 1873. [LV],[WPP]

Craigburn. Four masted barque, 1997 tons. Built 1884. Lbd 289.7 x 42.2 x 23.9 ft. Captain Kerr. Ashore, wrecked, off the Sorrento (Victoria) back beach, 8 May 1891. She had been towed through Port Phillip Heads by the tug Rescue when the towline parted, leaving the barque helpless on a lee shore. Then commenced a string of poor decisions by her captain which led to her demise, specifically for refusing to accept assistance from the Rescue, and the tug Eagle, for a £500 fee. A boat carrying twelve people capsuzed drowning five, and later the mate, drunk, also drowned, despite eefforts by the Queencliffe lifeboat crew.
@ Scattered wreckage lies near the Rye Back Beach in 6-8 m.
[LG],[LV],[#NH],[#WPH],[LAH],[LPH],[DD],[WB]

Cynara. Auxiliary yacht. Was visiting the wreck of the steamer Kakariki when she ran aground on a reef near the Gellibrand Pile Light, 31 January 1937. [WPP]

D. McLennan. Dredge, 424 tons.  Built 1912.  Scuttled in the ships graveyard, off Port Philip heads, Bass Strait, 1949. [LV],[NSF]

Darega. Probably steamship. Her passage inward to Port Phillip resulted in the stranding of the steamship Wangara which was attempting to avoid the vessel in the main channel. [WPH]

Dart. Ketch, 18 tons. Built Melbourne,1876. Lost near Queenscliff, Port Phillip, 1887. [LV],LPA],[ASR]
Also listed:
Dart. Ketch. On 10 July 1887, reported stranded Swan Point, Port Phillip. [WPP]

Dauntless. Ketch, 22 tons. Sank on the north side of the Hopetoun Channel, Geelong, 1927. Blown up early in 1928. [LV]

Davercourt. Involved in collision with vessel Helena, Port Phillip Bay, 1873 [LV]

David. Cutter, 25/17 tons. Was berthed at the Old Pier, Sandridge, Port Phillip, when caught in a gale; severely buffeted against the wharf, and sank, 17 April 1863. [WPP],[LV - lost in South Channel, Port Phillip]

David. Schooner, 80 tons. Captain Hills. Left Hobart for Geelong with four passengers and a cargo of timber, wrecked on Point Lonsdale reef, Port Phillip Heads, 14 April 1850. All saved.
[LR],[LO],[AS1],[WPH - lost 15 April],[LPH],[LPH - 25 tons]

Deebank. Steamer. Stranded at Werribee, Port Philip, 9 November 1936. [WPP]

Defender. Ketch, 71/67 tons. Built 1895. Lbd 82.5 x 22 x 6.7 ft.
In August 1927, under Captain N. Brunn, a fire took hold in sacks of lime. Under rather heroic action of the crew, many of whom were subsequently burnt, the fire was extinguished and the vessel and most of the cargo saved. [LC]
On 21 May 1936, stranded at Indented Head, Port Phillip. Later refloated with assistance from SS Minah.. [LC],[WPP]

Devonshire. Schooner. Involved in collision, Yarra River, 19 January 1841. [WPP],[LV],[LC]

Diamond. Paddle steamer. Stranded in the Yarra, Victoria, 6 July 1847. [WPP]

Diana. Lighter. Assisted in the salvage of cargo from barque Victory, Port Phillip, 1850. [LR]

Diligence. Schooner. Involved in collision with barque Avon Dhu, Port Phillip Bay, 6 August 1857. [LV],[WPP]

Dilkerra. (Dilkera). Steamer, collier, 1674 tons. Rammed and sank when the steamer Wyrallah newrly cut her in half at Port Phillip Heads, 8 April 1924. [LG],[LLB]

Dispatch. Paddle steamer, 117 tons. Built Milang, 1877 for service on the Murray River. Lbd 111.6 x 18.5 x 6.3 ft. To Port Phillip in 1888, gave service in Corio Bay as the Bellarine,  and in the Gippsland Lakes. Broken up in 1913. [LC]

Dominion. Barque, wood, 1124 tons.  Built Quebec, 1875 and bulked in 1902. Lbd 199.9 x 37.1 x 24.4 ft.  Intended to complete the breakwater at Indented Head, Port Phillip, but set on fire by vandals and destroyed, 1926. [LV][LM indicates scuttled at Indented head, 1925],[IL]
@Metal ribs and hull timbers in three metres are all that remain.

Don. Two-masted schooner, 57 tons. # 32247. Built Don River, Tasmania, 1864; reg. Melbourne, 1871. Lbd 72.2 x 17.4 x 7.2 ft. Captain J. Anthon. Outward bound from Melbourne to Tasmania in ballast, drifted on to the Point Lonsdale reef, Port Phillip Heads, during a calm, 2 July 1875. Crew saved. It was thought she could be saved but the tide lifted her higher onto the reef and she eventually broke up.  [LO],[LR],[LPA],[WPH]

Dove. Vessel type not listed. Stranded and abandoned West Channel, Port Phillip 29 May 1852. Also, ashore on a sandbank when on a passage to Hobart. Salvaged by the master and crew of HM schooner Empire, with only minor damage. [WPP]
Also listed:
Dove. Schooner, 190 tons. Built 1849. Operated in eastern Victorian waters. Wrecked 1865.  [LPA],[LPW - wooden brig]

Dovercourt. Vessel type not recorded. Involved in collision with barque Helens, Port Phillip, 27 November 1873. [WPP]

Drumlaurig. Involved in collision with Despatch, Hobsons Bay, Port Phillip, 1881. [LV]
On 6 March 1893, stranded at Geelong whilst under tow to the tug Rescue. [LC],[WPP]

Duguay Trouin. Steel barque, 2557 tons. Built Bordeaux, 1902. French owned. Lbd 283.5 x 43.9 x 22.7 ft. Under tow to the tug Racer, went on to a sand bar when the tow line broke departinmg Geelong, 30 Septeember 1917. She was not freed for several days. [LC]

Dumfries. Ship, 498 tons. Captain thompson. Aground on the Swan Spit, Port Phillip, 17 December 1840. Floated free on the tide, and resumed her voyage to Melbourne. Perhaps the first shipping incident at Port Phillip heads. [LR],[WPP],[LPH]

Dunedin. Barque, 208 tons. # 26373. Built Harrington, Maine, USA, 1851 as the vessel S.W.Nash. . Lbd 170 x 30.0 x 19.3 ft. Purchased for use as an intercolonial trader, and reg. Melbourne 1858. Captain Cleland. Having arrived from Otago, was at anchor and ready to sail when driven ashore in a gale, wrecked, at Sandridge, (Port Melbourne),  16 December 1863. [LV],[WPP - lbd 104.3 x 25.7 x 11.3 ft]

Dunloe. Lighter, 674 tons.  Built 1909.  Scuttled in the ships graveyard, off Port Philip heads, Bass Strait, 2 July 1947. [LV],[NSF - built 1870]

Duntroon. Motor vessel, steel, 10346 tons. Built 1935. Sold to Singapore interests in 1960. Loaded with troops, struck the minesweeper HMAS Goorangai in Port Phillip with the loss of all hands on the minesweeper, a total of twenty-four, 20 November 1940. The Duntroon did not stop and search for survivors with her searchlights. [LR],[LV],[LSW]
On 23 October 1950, damaged by fire in Yarra, Melbourne. [WPP]

E.J.Fairne. (E.J.Fairnie). Tug. Lost at Geelong, Port Phillip, 21 August 1953. She had been assisting to berth the vessel Melbourne Star when she rolled in a swell and sank promptly within three minutes. She was later refloated.  [LV],[WPP],[LC]
The author can remember as a young fellow being taken down to the shore at Geelong to watch the salvage of the vessel. We saw absolutely nothing, but at least it was a day out from boarding school.

Eagle. Cutter, 22 tons. # 43316. Built Sydney 1840; reg. Melbourne 1874, and 1882. Lbd 45.8 x 14.3 x 6.9 ft. Wrecked in rough weather when she grounded near Rosebud, Port Phillip, 1883. Her register was closed but she was later sld to a storekeeper at Rye who succeeded in salvaging her. However she came ashore at Rye in 1884, this time for good. [WPP],[LV]

Eagle. Schooner, 26 tons. Ashore near Point Lonsdale, Port Phillip Heads, February 1841. [LO],[LPH],[LR indicates date 1840, refloated]
Also listed:
Eagle. Schooner. Ashore in a gale near Port Phillip Heads, about 20 September 1849. [AS1]
Loney lists a schooner of this name, built 1818, wrecked in New Zealand waters, 1850. [LPA]

Eagle. Steel steamer,  tug, 229 tons. Built 1890.  Lbd 125.4 x 22.6 x 12.8 ft. Broken up 1960. [LPA],[LWP]
In 1891, assisted the steamship Bancoora, Victoria. [DD]
In 1894, assisted the stranded barque Kinross, Port Phillip. [LC]
In 1896, assisted in refloating the steamship Rockton, Port Phillip. [LC]
In April 1898, attempted to refloat the stranded steamer Edina, on Gellibrand Reef, Port Phillip. [WPP]
In 1902, towed free the steamship Paroo near Point Lonsdale. [LR]
In 1902, attended the derelict ship Port Patrick off Wilsons Promontory, but was beaten to salvage rights by the tug Champion. [NH]
In 1903,   attempted, in vain, to salvage the bulk oil carrier Petriana.
In 1908, towed the barque Hinemoa free at Lorne, Victoria.
In 1924, assisted SS Casino when ashore off Point Hawdon near the Grey River, Victoria.
In 1929, assisted SS Kaituna after a collision with SS Selje off Cape Otway.
In 1934, assisted SS Milora, stranded off Port Phillip Heads. [LR]

Echo. Ketch, 55 tons. Reported stranded near port Phillip Heads for a short time, 1855. [LR],[LV]

Eddystone. Steamship, 2042 tons. Built 1886. Wrecked on the north coast of Western Austraalia, 1894. [LSS]
In 1893, involved in collision with dredge  John Nimmo, Corio Bay. [LV],[LC]

Edina. Iron steamer, 380/223 tons.  # 11136.Built Glasgow, 1854: reg. Melbourne 1863. Lbd 171 x 23-6 x 12-7 ft. Initially rigged with three masts and a funnel between the main and mizzen. One of Australia’s most famous steamers. Ran for a time in the North Sea trade, and because of her speed, was a blockade runner during the Crimean War where she experienced the first of her many collisions when she rammed a Russian ship.In 1863 ran bales of cotten out of Galveston, Texas during the American Civil War, at the time rigged as a three-masted steamer. In 1865 came to Australia and ran from Portland to Melbourne, then to New Zealand when gold was discovered there. In 1880 ran on the Melbourne-Geelong passenger and freight service, with an altered rig of only one mast. She had many further collisions and ‘incidents’ during her long life, and became known as a ‘collision specialist’. economic conditions forced her from service in 1938. Owned by Warrnambool Steam Packet Co. Ltd when she ran the coast to Warrnambool and Portland, but better known later in the bay trade.
[WL],[LV,[LG], [LO],[#LSS],[LLB],[#LC],[WPH - 322/239 tons],[#DG]
Lawson states that at the time of writing (1927) she was the oldest operating steamer in the world. The oldest steamer afloat is stated to be the famous Great Britain, lying as a hulk in the Falkland Islands.
On 18 April 1863, she was at anchor in Portland Bay when a squall sprang up and forced her ashore where she lay for two days, battered by heavy seas, before being refloated and taken to Melbourne for repairs. [LSS]
On 30 April 1869, when entering Port Phillip Heads on a voyage from Warrnambool to Melbourne with a number of passengers and a full cargo, struck a submerged object and began taking water. The pumps were set to work until she reached Williamstown where she was run ashore.  [LR],[WPH],[LPH]
On 18 June 1869, stranded at Point Gellibrand, Port Phillip. [WPP]
In 1870, during a gale at Warrnambool, the steamer Dandenong drifted close to the Edina and finally swung broadside on to her bow, damaging the Edina’s figurehead, which was replaced when she was overhauled during 1872-73.
In 1880 - collided with the coal hulk City of Melbourne near the mouth of the Yarra River, Melbourne, suffering only minor damage
In 1883, involved in collision with vessel Cerberus, Victorian waters.
In 1883, assisted in salvage of cargo from stranded steamer rodondo, Point Lonsdale. [LR]
In 1887, assisted in rescue - see SS Cheviot, 1887.
On 6 March 1893, stranded at Geelong. [WPP]
In 1894, involved in collision with steamer Courier, Corio Bay. [LC]
In 1898, ashore at point Gellibrand, Port Phillip. [LC]
On the evening of 27 April 1898, she struck SS Manawatu near Williamstown.  The Manawatu, badly damaged in the bows, sank soon after, while the Edina was run ashore on Point Gellibrand with a gaping hole in her side. The tugs Geebung, and Eagle, attempted to get her off without success, but she managed to get off apparently without assistance. [WPP],[LC]
In 1899, she rammed and sank her rival, the Excelsior, in Hobsons Bay, Port Phillip. Holed on the port side near the funnel, the Excelsior sank in five fathoms forty-five minutes later, after all passengers had been transferred to the Edina.  The Excelsior was raised seven months later. [WPP]
On 9 July 1924, stranded at Point Gellibrand, Port Phillip. [WPP]
In 1931, July, she rammed the tug Hovell in Hobsons Bay; this being the last of her collisions before ]
On 16 September 1932, stranded at Portarlington, Port Phillip. [WPP]
In 1934, involved in collision with vessel Ormiston, Yarra River, Melbourne.

Edith Haviland. Brig. Involved in collision with steamer Blackbird, Port Phillip, September 1873. [LV],[WPP]

Edward. Brig, 270 tons. # 119235. Built 1874; reg. Hobart. Lbd 121.3 x 26.8 x 12.3 ft. Captain Tait. Defective anchors and cables led to the wrecking about 500 metres off Beacon Rock, near Point Nepean, Victoria, 29 September 1912. Crew of eight saved. The tug Nyora refused to assist due to the dangerouss reefs surrounding the brig, the later going to pieces the following day.
[LR],[LG],[LV],[WPH]

Edward. Cutter. Captain Charles Gray. Left Dromana with firewood; foundered off Point Richards, Corio Bay, Port Phillip, having sprung a leak, night of 11 January 1881. Tragically, the captain lost his ten year old son, and a crewman, but survived himself. [LC],[LV]

Elfin. Involved in collision with Ozone, Hobsons Bay, Port Phillip, 1889. [LV]

Elingamite. Involved in collision with  Despatch, Yarra River, Melbourne, 1891. [LV]
Probably steamship, 2585 tons. Built 1887. Huddart Parker Limited. On  a voyage from Sydeny to Auckland, wrecked off Three Kings Islands, New Zealand, 9 November 1902.

Eliza Ann. Barque. While outward bound from Melbourne to Calcutta, ashore near Port Phillip Heads, but floated free soon after, 19 December 1856. [LR],[WPP - date 24 July 1856]

Eliza Ramsden. Three-masted iron barque, 415/395 tons. # 64793. Built Whiteinch, Lanark, UK, 1874; reg. Melbourne 1874. Lbd 151.6 x 27 x 15 ft. Captain Stewart. Sank in about thirteen fathoms on the edge of the South Channel off Portsea, Port Phillip Bay, 24 July 1875. She left Melbourne outward bound to Newcastle, with a crew of 13; passing through The Rip without the aid of a pilot, she struck the Corsair Rock. The Queenscliff lifeboat hurried to the scene and soon rescued the crew while the steamer tug War Hawk stood by. Meanwhile, Captain Richard Leggett of the cutter Ben Bolt, boarded the vessel and remained with her when she floated free with the rising tide. With two others, he attempted to steer her for the South Channel, but as the rudder was damaged and she was filling with water, they could not control her and she sank inside the bay. One of the crewmen was Tom Pearce, soon to earn fame as the hero of the Loch Ard disaster in 1878.
[LG],[LV],[LR],[WPH],[WB],[NWP],[NSC],[LAH],[DA]
@ The wrecksite is popular with recreational scuba divers, regularly visited by charter boat operators our of Portsea and Sorrento; lying upright in 7 metres to the top of the bow, and 22 metres to the stern which has broken up. It appears (according to Williams and Searle) that explosives had been used on the vessel as she was ‘in the way of vessels using the channel’.

Eliza. Clipper ship, 1378 tons. From Liverpool. Captain Patching. Destroyed by fire in Hobsons Bay, Port Phillip, as she prepared to leave port for Guam with sand ballast, sheep and hay, 1 March 1870. The famous clipper Thermopyae was anchored close by, too close for her master Captain Kimball, who had his beautiful vessel towed further out into the bay. The Eliza was difficult to scuttle and as she burned from stem to stern, ‘she looked like a floating volcano.’  [LV],[#WPP],[LAH]

Elizabeth. Cutter. Manned by two men she left Schnapper Point with a cargo of sheoak on 27 August 1864 and disappeared. Wreckage was found at Point Cook and Williamstown. Three crew lost their lives. [LV],[WPP]

Elizabeth. Schooner, 62 tons. Built Melbourne, 1851. Broken up Melbourne, 1894. [ASR]

Elizabeth. Schooner. Damaged in a storm that battered many vessels at Geelong, 20 July 1854. [WPP]

Elizabeth. Wooden schooner, 90 tons. Built Dundee, Scotland, 1848; reg. Melbourne, 1854. Lbd 66.3 x 17.1 x 9.5 ft. Captain Keenan. Bound from Port Fairy to Melbourne, struck Point Lonsdale reef, Port Phillip Heads in a squall, wrecked, 22 April 1860. No lives lost. [LO],[LR],[WPH]

Ellen & Mary. Schooner, 25 tons. # 32169. Built Emu Bay, Tasmania, 1849; reg. Melbourne 1862. Lbd 50.5 x 13 x 6 ft.  Lost in a storm, Hobsons Bay, Port Phillip, 20 July.1876.
[LV],[LPA],[WPP]

Ellen. Barque, 352 tons. Inward bound to Geelong from Sydney, ran ashore on th pope’s Eye Shoal just inside Port Phillip Heads, but was later refloated, 1 January 1843. [LR],[LPH]

Ellen. Wooden lighter. # 31692. Built Williamstown, Victoria, 1865, out of the lighter Norna; reg. Melbourne 1867. Lbd 83.5 x 24 x 8.2 ft. Carrying a large deck load of timber, sank near Williamstown, Port Phillip, while being towed to Sandridge, 11 September 1877. [WPP],[LV]

Ellesmere. Barque. Was at anchor near entrance to Port Phillip when struck by the pilot schooner Rip and badly damaged, 1864. [LR]

Emilia. Ketch. Damaged in a storm that battered many vessels at Geelong, 20 July 1854. [WPP]

Emily. Brig, collier, 296 tons. # 58020. Built Shoreham, Sussex, UK, 1868; reg. Melbourne 1874. Lbd 119.9 x 27 x 14.7 ft. Captain McDougall. From Newcastle, struck a reef while entering Port Phillip, 10 September 1877. She was taking water, so beached near Queenscliff , raised, repaired, and towed to Melbourne by the tugs Albatross and Rescue. [LR],[WPH]

Emily. Schooner, 20 tons. # 41445. Built at the convict settlement of Port Arthur, Tasmania; reg. Melbourne. Lbd 39.4 x 11.3 x 5.5 ft. Aground, wrecked  near Indented Head, Port Phillip, July.1870. [LV],[WPP],[LC]

Empire Strength. Involved in collision with Iron Monarch, Port Phillip Bay, 1943. [LV]

Empire. Government schooner. Captain Nicholson (later Harbour Master at Geelong). Worked as a pilot tender and assisted at wrecks at Port Phillip Heads, also maintenance of buoys and beacons, and carrying of stores. Employed in the (Port Phillip) pilot service from 1854.
[LO],[NH],[LPH]
On 3 December 1850, assisted in refloating the ship Cassipore, Port Phillip. [LC]
In 1852, involved in salvage - see Dove, lost Port Phillip, 1852.
In 1853, assisted ship Sacramento. [LO]
In 1856, attended stranded ship Laurence Frost.
In 1857, assisted refloating the barque Patriotness, Port Phillip. [LR]
In 1861, rescued crew of the American barque Asa Packer, Port Phillip Heads, their gallant actions coming to the notice of Parliament, whereby each man was awarded £5. [LR]

Empire. Schooner, 55 tons. Built St.Johns, New Brunswick; reg. Melbourne 1892. Lbd 72.6 x 21.1 x 5.6 ft. Wrecked during rough weather near St Leonards, Port Phillip, 5 February 1894. [WPP],[LV],[ASR],[LC]
 

Empress of the Sea. (Empress of the Seas). Ship, 2200/1647 tons. Built Boston, USA, 1853. Lbd 240 x 43 x 27 ft. Owned by the Black Ball Line. Captain ‘Bully’ Bragg. Burnt off Queenscliff, 19 December 1861. Bound for England with passengers and gold worth £80,000. As the masts fell, the passengers, crew and gold were taken off in the ship’s boats aided by the pilot schooner Rip. The captain was in Geelong discharging ten of the crew for incompetence while the rest of the crew seathed with discontnet, and threating not to take the ship to sea. Her cables were slipped and she went ashore eastward of Point Nepean and scuttled. The crew were suspected of arson but nothing could be proved.
[LR],[LV],[AS6],[WPH],[LAH],[LPH],[WB]
On 4 November 1868, touched the reef at Port Phillip Heads. [WPP]
@ Little remains on the site in 5-7 m, some 700 m from Nepean Bay inside Port Phillip. A commemorative plinth has been place on the site by divers from the Maritime Archaeology Unit of Heritage Victoria.

Empress. Involved in collision with vessel Vesta, Hobsons Bay, Port Phillip, 1864 [LV]

Endeavour. Salvage vessel. Assisted sunken lighter Jules Marie, Port Phillip, 1910. [WPP]

Enterprise. Launched Hobart Town, 1832. Owned by Messrs Brown & Mawl. In 1834 she was purchased by John Pascoe Fawkner who used her to cross Bass Strait, and was the first vessel up the Yarra river, where he selected land and negotiated purchase with the local aborigines, this establishing the original site of the city of Melbourne. He left Georgetown, Tasmania on 27 July 1835, and sailed into the Yarra on 29 August. She could have been wrecked at Warrnambool around 1857.   [#LSS],[MM]
This extremely historic vessel is not to be confused with the schooner of the same name wrecked at Warrnambool in 1850. MacKenzie is so confused.

Eolinn. Lighter. In a storm which battered shipping at Geelong, was driven against the Yarra Street Pier, and ran foul of the schooners Valentine, Hellicar and Highlander, 20 July 1854.

Erica. Steamship, 3000 ton. Seriously damaged by fire but eventually repaired, Port Phillip, 12 July 1935. [LV],[WPP]

Eugowra. Steamship, 584 tons. Built 1948. Stranded at St.Leonards, Port Phillip, 5 May 1955. Refloated. Sold to the Pacific Islands Shipping Company in June 1969, and renamed Kieta. At last rekoning was trading in the south-west Pacific. [WPP],[LC]

Euro. Steamer, steel tug, 257 tons.  Built at Dundee, 1897.  Lbd 130 x 22.5 x 12.2 ft.  Scuttled in the ships graveyard, off Port Philip heads, Bass Strait, 10 June 1948. [LV],[LH],[NSF]

Euroa. Vessel type not recorded. Burnt at Yarraville, Melbourne, 10 December 1957. [WPP]

Eva. Type not listed. Involved in collision with vessel Hero, West Channel, 1876.  Involved in collision with vessel General Pell, outside Port Phillip Heads, 1877. [LV]
Could be the paddle steamer or the schooner.

Evergreen. Schooner.  Foundered, lost in Hobsons Bay, Port Phillip, 21 July 1878. [LV],[WPP]

Excelsior. Bay screw steamer, steel, 350/172 tons. # 86326. Built at Southampton, 1882; reg. Melbourne 1882. Came out in 66 days, commencing the Melbourne-Geelong run on 15 January 1883. Owned by Huddart Parker & Co.Very popular vessel. Broken up in 1919, at which time her engines were put into the hulk Malaita (qv), owned by Burns, Philp, and lying at Geelong. Register finally closed 1943.
[WPP- lbd 186.6 x 21.1 x 10.7 ft.], [LSS - lbd 117.6 x 16.9 x 6.3 ft],[LC]
On 9 January 1897, involved in collision with ketch Lulu, Hopetoun Channel, Port Phillip. [LV],[WPP]
In 1889, involved in collision with Coogee, Victorian waters. [LV]
In 1890, involved in collision with  Flora, Yarra River, Melbourne. [LV]
On 11 January 1897, under Captain Moore,  ran down and sank the ketch Lu Lu in the Hopetoun Channel, Port Phillip. [LV],[LC]
In 1898, assisted in the salvage and refloating of the schooner Omega, Port Phillip. [WPP]
On 11 July 1899, rammed by SS Edina in Hobsons Bay, Port Phillip.Holed on the port side near the funnel, the Excelsior sank in five fathoms forty-five minutes later, after all passengers had been transferred to the Edina.  The Excelsior was raised seven months later, February 1900. [LV],[WPP],[LC]

Express. Steamship, 199 tons. Built 1853. Lbd 123.4 x 18 x 9.8 ft. Sold to New Zealand interests in 1860.  Wrecked in NZ waters, 1877. [LC]
Also listed:
Express. Steamer, 136 tons. Was the first of the Huddart Parker vessels to trade between Melbourne and Geelong. [NH]
On 28 June 1864, involved in a collision with the steamer Vesta, Hobsons Bay, Port Phillip. [WPP]
Express. Freed the stranded barque Sea Nymph, Corio Bay, 1868. [LC]

Falcon. Vessel type not recorded. Involved in collision with  vessel Sprightly, Hobsons Bay, Port Phillip, 1918. [LV]

Faugh-A-Ballaugh. Barque. Captain Wilson. Wrecked near Indented head, Port Phillip, having parted her cables in a squall, 6 August 1852. Unable to refloat her, she was dismantled where she lay. [WPP]

Favourite. Barque, 198 tons. Captain Mortimer. Inward bound from California with 17 passengers, ashore at Swan Island, Port Phillip, 22 January 1851. She was later refloated. [LR],[WPP],[LPH]

Fawkner. Steam hopper barge, 388/169 tons. Built 1883; reg. Melbourne. Owned by the Melbourne Harbour trust Co. In the 1880s, she had been attached to the Victorian Navy as an auxiliary unit, and was fitted with gun mountings. Sank after a collision with the steamer Karoola in the Yarra River, Melbourne, 24 September 1913. The Fawkner ended up with her bow submerged. When a diver was inspecting the damage the following day, the Fawkner rolled underwater, striking the diver’s helmet. The pump operator was thrown into the river, and it was only fortunate that the diver escaped drowning. Scuttled in Bass Strait, 1935. [LV],[WPP], [ASR]
Loney [LV] lists a vessel of this name, type not recorded, but possibly the 388 ton hopper,  involved in several incidents:
In 1894, involved in collision with vessel Pickhuben, Yarra River, Melbourne.
In 1907, involved in collision with vessel Otter, Victorian waters.
In 1913, involved in collision with vessel Karoola, Yarra River, Melbourne.

Flavius. Ship. Ran down the cutter Corsair, Port Phillip Heads, May 1854. The damage was reported as minor. [LV],[LR],[WPP]

Fleetwing. Steamer, 31 tons. Built 1874; broken up 1894. Involved in the salvage of the barque George Roper off Port Phillip Heads, 1883.  [LO]

Flinders. Cutter, 35 tons. Reported wrecked at Dromana, in Port Phillip, 1860. [LV],[WPP]

Flinders. Steamer, iron, 948 tons. Built at Glasgow, 1878. Lbd 227.1 x 28.3 x 20.1 ft.
In 1889, involved in collision with vessel Waitemata, Port Phillip Bay. [LV]
In 1892, involved in collision with  lighter, Port Phillip Bay. [LV]
In 1893, involved in collision with  lighter, Hobsons Bay, Port Phillip. [LV]
In 1898, was stuck by SS Casino when the Casino attempted to pass, causing light structural damage. [LO],[LSS]

Flora. A vessel of this name was:
In 1890, involved in collision with vessel Excelsior, Yarra River, Melbourne. [LV]
In 1906, involved in collision with vessel Batman, Yarra River, Melbourne. [LV]

Flying Fish. Involved in collision with Souvenir, Yarra River, 1849. [LV],[WPP]

Foig-a-Ballagh. Ship, 127 tons. Built 11825. Captain Wilson. Inward bound to Melbourne with a cargo of coal, parted her cables whilst at anchor in the West Channel, off Indented Head, Port Phillip, while waiting for a pilot, drove aground, wrecked, close to the wreck of the Clarence and became a total loss, 6 August 1852. [LV],[LC]

Formosa. Iron twin screw steamer, 205/173 tons. Built at Rutherglen, Scotland, 1868, then rigged as a three masted schooner for the voyage out to Australia. Registered Glassgow. Lbd 137.7 x 22.2 x 8.4 ft. Captain Ballardi (Ballardie).On her maiden voyage, ran ashore, wrecked,  3 km east of Point Nepean,  5 February 1869.  The vessel was very difficult to manage and missed stays on several occasions. She broke in two soon after striking but her crew of ten and a passenger reached the shore safely.
@ She now lies in seven metres in a deep gutter. The remains of her steam engines and a condenser are visible. Relics recovered include portholes, lead pipe, beer and stout bottles.
[LG],[AS6],[NWR],[LV],[NSC],[WPH],[DD],[WB]

Formose. Ship, 824 tons. Captain W. Durand. Bound for Hong Kong, struck the screw steamer Royal Shepherd near he Upper Light Vessel, West Channel, Port Phillip Heads, 1 September 1858. Both vessels extensively damaged but did not sink and no lives were lost.  [LV],[WPH]

Forward. Lighter, 202 tons. Reg. Melbourne, 1847. Broken up Melbourne, 1888. [ASR]

Francis Henty. Cable layer. Scuttled at Sandringham, Port Phillip, as part of a breakwater. [IL]
@  Scattered wreckage close to the groyne at Sandringham Yacht Club.

Franklin. Iron steamer. Built at Glasgow, 1880; owned by the Adelaide  Steamship Co. Captain Carrington. Involved in collision with the steamer (ex-tug) Pharos, Yarra River, Melbourne, 14 July 1887. The tug sank but was later raised. [WPP],[LV]

Frisk. Brig, 181 tons. Built at Whitby, England, 1835.  Captain James Sinclair. From Liverpool, wrecked on a reef off Point Nepean, Port Phillip Heads, 28 May 1853. The crew took to the rigging until she commenced to break up and they were forced to swim for the shore; she carried no passengers. Six reached safety but the captain and two others were lost in the surf, and a further two died from exposure on the brig. See also brig Marmion which did the same an hour earlier. [LG],[LR],[LV],[WPH - 220 tons],[LPH - lost Point Lonsdale]

Frowning Beauty. Barque, 365 tons. Built Whitby, about 1845. Lbd 100.5 x 24.5 x 18.1 ft. Regular trader between Melbourne and Newcastle. Captain James Dalton. Stranded between Port Melbourne and St Kilda when driven out of control by a gale, 28 July 1876. Efforts to refloat her proved futile and she was eventually abandoned and broken up. [LV],[WPP]

Gambier. Iron steamship, passenger vessel, 1557/1029 tons. Built Dunbarton, Scotland, 1874 as the Ocean.  Lbd 280.1 x 31.9 x 23.9 ft. Owned by Wm Howard Smith & Sons Ltd. Captain Bell. Struck by the collier Easby and sank, 28 August 1891. Twenty-one lives lost from the Gambier. This is the worst collision in the bay’s history and the Court of Inquiry into the disaster found both captains guilty of misconduct and their certificates were suspended for several months. Inward bound from Sydney, the Gambier was entering Port Phillip Heads soon after midnight at 7 knots whn, near the popes Eye Shoal, she was struck at right angles by the Easby travelling at 10 knots. The collier penetrated more than a third into the Gambier, near the funnel, sinking her within minutes. Most of those who lost thier lives, mainly women, did so when a lifeboat capsized. [LV],[ASR],[WPH],[DG].[WB]
On 24 June 1891, from Newcastle to Geelong, ran ashore between Clifton Springs and Drysdale in misty rain. Later refloated. [LC]
@ As explosives were used to flatten the wreck, the site is frequently covered in sand. Divers however have recovered relics. [LAH]

Gange. Austrian barque, iron, 1071 tons. Built Lussinoiccolo, 1885.  Lbd 152 x 30.1 x 16.8 ft. Captain Ivaneich. Inward bound for Melbourne with twenty passengers and crew, ashore on the Point Lonsdale Reef, Port Phillip Heads, 23 July 1887. The pilot schooner Mavis had chased her and fired off dynamite bombs and rockets in an effort to warm her off the reef. The vessel went to pieces a week later. The captain and family went on to Melbourne by the tug Albatros. All crew saved. [LR],[LO],[LV],[LAH],[LPH],[WB],[DA],[IL]
@ The wreck lies close to the Black Boy, withhull broken in two and well flattened in its exposed location. Large blocks of concrete mark the site.

Gazelle. Auxiliary fishing ketch,19 gross. # 57564. Built Hobart, 1875; reg. Hobart 4/1876. Lbd 50.0 x 13.7 x 4.6 ft. Sank in Port Phillip Bay, July 1966. [TS2]

Geebung. Tug. Attempted to refloat the stranded steamer Edina, on Gellibrand Reef, Port Phillip, April 1898. [WPP]
A vessel of this name, lissted as ‘houseboat, ex tug’, sank in the Yarra, Melbourne 1962. [WPP]

Geelong. Steamship, 239 tons. From Melbourne to Geelong, stranded at Point Wilson, near Arthur the Great Shoal,  Port Phillip, 5 March 1885. [LC],[WPP]

Gellibrand & Hesse. Schooner. Believed lost Port Phillip, December, 1837. [LV]

Gem. Schooner, 80 tons.
In 1856, involved in rescue - see brig Struan, 1856. [LG]
On 6 June 1864, stranded in the Symonds Channel; managed to get off but in a leaky condition. [WPP]
On 22 July 1864, from Warrnambool with grain, collided with the trans Bass Strait steamer Southern Cross in the Yarra, Melbourne. The schooner sank, but was later raised and repaired. [WPP]

General Pell. Steamship. Involved in collision with schooner Eva, outside Port Phillip Heads, 30 March 1877. The steamship had mistaken the schooner for the pilot and had approached too close. [LV]

George Roper. Four-masted barque, 2033 tons. Built Liverpool, 1882. Ran on to a reef at Port Phillip Heads, 4 July 1883. Inward bound to Melbourne, ran into fog while entering the Heads in tow of the paddle steamer Williams. The tug struck the Point Lonsdale Reef and was so seriously damaged that she was forced to release the tow line and make for Queenscliff, leaving the barque helpless in the fog, with the result that she herself ran on to the reef. The Queenscliff lifeboat was immediately called to her assistance, and SS Dawn, from Portland, also stood by. Tugs were sent from Melbourne to tow the vessel off, but they were unsuccessful, and all hope of saving the ship was abandoned. Steamers, Albatross, Black Boy, and Cleopatra, and schooner Agnes, removed portion of the cargo including a quantity of dynamite. SS Pharos amd SS Fleetwing were also involved after the Black Boy was everly damaged, the later being replaced by the steamer Spray. Most of the cargo was salvaged before the barque went to pieces during a gale on 26 August.
[#LR],[LO],[AS6],[LV],[WPH],[DD],[WB],[NWR],[NSC],[LAH],[DA],[IL]
@ The site is popular with divers, wreckage scattered over a wide area in only five metres, about 400 metres from the lighthouse. Railway tracks are stacked in what was the hull, and broken crockery litters the site; large winch, and metal rudder.

George Thompson. Three-masted wooden clipper ship, 1128 tons. Built Aberdeen, Scotland, 1865; reg. Aberdeen 1865. Lbd 209 x 36.2 x 22.4 ft. Owned by Aberdeen Line. Captain Mills.  Stranded but later refloated, Point Nepean, Port Phillip Heads, 14 November 1882. Hit Corsair Rock inward bound, stuck fast, abandoned, but the crew returned when she floated free on the tide. She limped into Port Phillip and anchored opposite the Quarantine Station, the only thing keping her afloat being her timber cargo. The tug Albatross towed her on to Melbourne. [#LR], [LV], [LG],[WPH]

George Tobin. Pilot launch. Overwhelmed in The Rip, Port Phillip Heads, 1991. [LO]

George. Schooner. Stranded West Channel, Port Phillip, 24 January 1862. [WPP]

Gertrude. Ketch, 35 tons. Stranded near Swan Point, Port Phillip, 6 June 1892. Her cargo had shifted, throwing her on her beam ends. Her fate is not recorded. [LR]
See also ketch Cicada, renamed Gertrude in 1918, wrecked near Dromana, Port Phillip, 9 August 1922.

Gil Blas. Ship. As she entered the Rip (Port Phillip Heads), an enormous sea swept down on her unexpectedly, washing four men to their deaths and causing considerable damage. [LR]

Gipsy . Involved in collision with Aphrasia, Yarra River, Melbourne,12 October 1852. [LV],[WPP]

Giraffe. Involved in collision with paddle steamer Warhawk, Yarra River, Melbourne, 29 October 1875. [LV],[WPP]

Glaneuse. French barque, iron, 481 tons. Built La Seyne, France, 1870. Lbd 152.6 x 26.6 x 17 ft.  Captain Gorse. Whilst waiting for the pilot, ran into a channel between the mainland and a reef near Point Lonsdale, wrecked, 2 October 1886. No signals of distress were fired, and the lighthouse keeper did not immediately realise the vessel was ashore, but later he quickly alerted the Queenscliff lifeboat and the tug, Avon. Several disturbances occurred among the crew, who had pillaged portion of the cargo of wine, brandy - and sardines.  A wire rope was run from the high sand hills to the barque and fastened to the mizzen mast, and by this means all the cargo was eventually landed. All crew escaped.
[#LR],[LO],[LV],[WPH],[LAH],[LPH],[WB],[DA],[IL]
@  Twisted metal and wood may be found between the shallow rocks for some 100 metres out from the beach, 100 west of Point Lonsdale lighthouse; subject to silting

Glenshee. Barque. From Geelong to Newcastle, stranded at Point Richards, Port Phillip, 18 August 1873. The steamer Despatch tried to reach her but the surronding water was too shallow. The barque eventually freed herself. [LC],[WPP]

Gold Hunter. Lighter. Sank in Yarra River, Melbourne, 1889. [LV]

Golden Crown. Wooden paddle steamer, 208 tons. Built Auckland 1870; reg. Melbourne. The plates, frames, engines and boilers were made in England, for assembled in Auckland, NZ. The vessel carrying the plates and frames was wrecked, so the design was altered to construct her of timber. Length 200 ft. Traded on the River Thames, New Zealand, from 1870 to 1874, when purchased for the Port Phillip excursion trade. Broken up, Melbourne, 1892.
In December 1876, collided with paddle steamer Williams off Queenscliff, Port Phillip. [LR],[LV indicates 1877],[ASR]

Goorangai. HMAS, minesweeper, steamer, 223 tons. Built 1919 as a trawler. Lbd 117 x 22.1 x 11.7 ft. Requisitioned from commercial trawler operators by the RAN. Captain D. McGregor. While traversing Port Phillip from Queencliff to Portsea, she was struck amidships by the outward bound MV Duntroon, and sank within a minute with the loss of all hands - three officers and twenty-one sailors, 20 November 1940. The Duntroon was loaded with troops, and unable to stop and switch on searchlights to search for survivors. The wreck was demolished by an explosive charge in January 1941.  [LV],[LR],[LSW],[ASR]
@ What little remains is of little interest to wreck divers, with heavily overgrown wreckage in eighteen metres, however the fish life is generally prolific. She lies in the South Channel which means prohibited anchoring. As only six bodies were recovewred, the Goorangi must be respected as a military grave. [NWR],[LAH],[WB]

Goudie. Small tug. Saved the larger tug Swiftness from going ashore, Port Phillip, May 1955. [WPP]

Governor Arthur. Wooden paddle steamer, 24 tons. Designed and framed in England, imported to Hobart where assembled in 1832. Reg. Melbourne 11/1848. Lbd 65-6 x 10-11 x 6 ft. Paddlewheels 10 ft dia. Caught fire at her moorings at Melbourne and after several attempts to scuttle her had failed, she settled down stem first, 23 December 1841. She was raised a week later, her engines removed and used in a new steamer, the Diamond. Her hull was used as a lighter. Then, some years later, she was given a thorough overhaul, re-rigged as a schooner, and re- registered in Melbourne on 29 November 1848. She was eventually broken up at Port Chalmers, NZ, and her register closed 31 December 1872.
[AS1],[LV],[WPP]
In 1850, assisted in the salvage of cargo from the barque victory, Port Phillip Heads. [LR]

Governor Hotham. Lighter. Involved in collision with steamer Rob Roy, Hobsons Bay, Port Phillip, June or July, 1872. [LV],[WPP]

Governor La Trobe. Cutter. Built 1840. Wrecked in Port Phillip Bay 1862.   [LPA],[LC]

Graham. Involved in collision with Montoro, Yarra River, Melbourne, 1911. [LV]

Grange. Barque, 301 tons. Built at Troon, Scotland, 1840.Captain Alexander. Struck an outcrop of the Henty Reef off Apollo Bay, Victoria, wrecked, 25 March 1858. The captain attempted to back the barque through a gplp in the reef, but after driving astern for considerable distance she struck aft on a rock and remained fast. The crew launched a boat, rowed 400 yards to the beach and were able to ascertain their position from the small group of settlers who had hurried to the scene. Heavy seas battered the vessel for a week, carrying away portion of the decking and masts and precipitating much wreckage on the beach. The tug Lioness, and SS Moegaera attended the wreck. The remains lay on a reef and beach for about twenty years, exposed at low tide, but the sea and sand have now completely removed all traces. [LO],[LSS],[LV],[LAH],[DD],[IL]
@ Scattered remains betwen Hayley Reef and the shore, Marengo, Victoria.
~ In 1968, scuba diver Geoff Anderson recovered a caronade from the seabed near the wrecksite. It is on display at Apollo Bay. The gun could be of Dutch origin, cast between 1740 and 1780.

Great Britain. Iron screw steamer, 2982 tons gross. Built 1842 by the Great Western Steamship Company on a design by the renown engineer I.K. Brunel and initially designed as a screw steamer. Lbd 322 x 51 x 32 ft. When completed she was ‘ the most beautiful ship afloat’. Operated initially on the Atlantic run, the first iron vessel to do so. In 1882 she was converted to a sailing ship, and was eventually hulked in Port Stanley, Falkland Islands, 1927.  [WL],[LPH],[#DG]
In September 1846, ran ashore in Dundrum Bay, Ireland and lay there all winter until towed off. Sold to Bright Bros. & Co, and after a rig change, ran in the Melbourne-London trade for twnety- one years. Captain Gray was her master for most of the time - he disappeared at sea.
In 1854, having been detained at the Quarantine station for amonth, she steamed up Port Phillip under the popular Captain Gray, who was rather jubilant at being on the move once again, and fired the ship's guns to celebrate. As this was the time of the "Russian scare", rumour spread quickly to Melbourne that the Russians wre coming. Captain Gray was cautioned to be more considerate next time.
On 21 September 1860, in the final hours of a voyage out from England, collided with SS Oscar west of Port Phillip Heads. Both ships suffered considerable superficial damage but were not in any real danger. [LO]
~ The hulk of the Great Britain was towed to England for restoration in Bristol, where she may be seen.

Greyhound. Steamer, 77 tons. Lost at Port Phillip Heads, 1944.

Griper. Dredge, 124 tons. Built 1850. Broken up 1901. Lbd 84.8 x 20.8 x 10.6 ft. [LSS]
In 1889, involved in collision with SS Coogee, Yarra River, Melbourne. [LV]

Guiana, lighter, 172, Melbourne, 1838. Broken up Melbourne, 1888.  [ASR]

Gulf of Toranto. Steamship. Stranded at Altona, Port Phillip, 2 April 1900. [WPP]

Habitant. Wooden ship, 1618 tons. Built Nova Scotia, 1855. Lbd 225 x 42.7 x 24 ft. Captain W.R. Potter. Under American charter, on her third visit to Melbourne, was gutted by fire whilst lying at South Wharf unloading cargo including 28,000 cases of kerosene, 8 June 1894. The captain has just enough time to save his wife and children before she became an inferno. The vessel Jenny Harkness, loaded with 30,000 case of kerosene was more only five feet behind the stricken Habitant. She was moved very quickly. The charred shell of the Habitant was towed to Williamstown where she was turned into a floating dock, serving in this capacity for sixty years. In 1959 she was being taken to Fishermens Bend to be broken up but sank , and was finally blown apart with explosives.
[LV],[WPP],[ML],[LAH - built 1885]

Halfway Tree. Brig. Ashore near point Cook, Port Phillip, 12 December 1874. Later refloated. [LC]

Hargreaves. Schooner, 196 tons. From Auckland with sixteen passengers, ashore near Point Henry, Port Phillip, 21 October 1853. [LC],[WPP]

Harlequin. Schooner, 60 tons.  Burnt in the Yarra River, Melbourne, 1857. She had caught fire in the New Docck and was towed up to the Falls and scuttled. Later refloated, repaired. [LV],[WPP]

Harriet. Schooner, 29 tons. Built Tasmania, 1857. Lost at Duck Ponds near Geelong, 1862. [LV],[LC]

Hawk. Ketch, 84 tons. Launched New Zealand, 1880. Employed in the (Port Phillip) pilot service between 1887 and 1907, then into the timber trade between Melbourne and Tasmanian ports. In 1936 moved to Adelaide, then into the Pacific trade in 1965. In January 1980 she paid a brief visit to Melbourne. Was, in 1981, regarded as on of the oldest trading vessels in the world, and if still afloat, probably the oldest. [LC],[LV],[LPH]
Vessel type not recorded, but probably the famous ketch. . ‘In trouble’ during a gale, off Queencliff, Port Phillip, 23 June 1890. [LR]
In October 1933, caught in a squall and disamsted off Cape Schanck. [LV]

Hector. Schooner, 115 tons. Captain Harrison. From Melbourne to Tasmaniaa, sank in the West Channel, Port Phillip, not far from Queenscliff, 20 June 1871. The tug Resolute and the steamer Claude Hamiltton went to her assistance and took off the crew. Several attempts were made to refloat her by the tug Titan but were not successful.  [LV],[WPP - lost 29 June, some doubt to whether she was raised or not]

Helena. Involved in collision with Davercourt, Port Phillip Bay, 1873 [LV]

Hellens. Barque. Involved in collsion with vessel Dovercourt, Port Phillip, 27 November 1873. [WPP]

Hellespont. Steamer. Took crew back to Melbourne from stricken schooner Will O’ The Wisp, Port Phillip, 1853. [LR]

Hellicar. Schooner. Struck by the lighter Eolinn during a storm that battered many vessels at Geelong, 20 July 1854. [WPP]

Henrietta. Grand Banks schooner. Reported lost at Point Cook, Port Phillip, about 29 September 1940, however later refloated. [LC],[WPP]

Henry Meakin. Steel steam hopper, 348 tons. Built 1900. Lbd 139.9 x 28.1 x 10.1 ft. Originally from Durban and named Peter Paterson,  arrived in Port Phillip 23 November 1906. One of the last two commercial vessel registered at Geelong.After an overhaul, went into business under the name Henry Meakin. Beached and demolished at Walsh’s Jetty, Geelong, 1946. [LSS],[LC]

Henry. Brig. Stranded at Geelong, Victoia, 10 January 1843. Probably refloated. [WPP]

Henry. Ketch. Built on the Hawkesbury River, NSW, 1852; reg. Melbourne 1854. From Geelong with bales of wool, capsized in bad weather near Point Cook, Port Phillip, 22 December 1871. No loss of life. The tug Titan assisted in raising the vessel, however when coming up the bay she sank within a mile of th Point Gellibrand lightship. She was raised again, towed to port and repaired. [WPP]

Herald of the Morning. Clipper ship, 1291 tons. Built St. Johns, Newfoundland, 1855. Captain G.J. Rudolph. Totally destroyed by fire, Hobson’s Bay, Port Phillip, 16 November 1859. The tugs Lioness and Sophia managed to tow her to a beach and grounded. [LV],[WPP],[LAH]

Hercules. Paddle steamer. Involved in a colliion with the steamer Dandenong, Port Phillip, June 1871. [WPP],[LV]

Hercules. Tug. Attended the Swedish barque Leopold, destroyed by fire at Williamstown, Port Phillip, 1859. [LV]
On 29 January 1855, involved in collision with steamer Vesta, Port Phillip Heads. [LV],[WPP]
In 1859, assisted burning ship B.Norris, Port Phillip.
In 1860, assisted burning ship Phoenix, Port Phillip.

Hercules.In 1877, a vessel of this name was involved in collision with the tug Sprightly, Hobsons Bay, Port Phillip. [LV]

Hero. Barque, possibly 374/338 tons. Built Sunderland, 1845. Burnt whilst anchored off Point Henry near Geelong, 13 February 1849. She had been loading wool for London. Following a hasty conference among the captains of the other ships at anchor nearby, it was decided to scuttle her. She sank in twenty-one feet of water, but was raised on 17 February 1849 and taken to Melbourne for repairs. [LV],[WPP],[AS1],[LC]
Charlwood [CWR] mentions Captain Gregurtha, vessel Hero, commenting on the lantern at Cape Otway, 1848.

Hero. Iron screw steamer, 985 tons. Built at Kingston-upon-Hull, 1861. Lb 224 x 25 ft. Brought to Australia by Gibbs, Bright & Co., and in 1865 chartered by the Queensland government to run mails to Batavia.  Bought by the Union Steam Ship Co. Between 1873 and 1880 ran between Sydney and Auckland, also Melbourne - Fiji.
Lawson states: Ended her days as a hulk in Melbourne.  [WL]
Gregory states: Disposed of in 1890 to a New Caledondia compaany, where she later became a hulk, and finally was stranded on the coast. [DG]

Hettie. Schooner, 100 tons. Wrecked on a sandbank half a mile off the present site of Brighton, Port Phillip, March 1836. The vessel had 500 sheep aboard; they were loaded into boats and carried ashore. The owners horse swan ashore unassisted. [LV],[WPP]

Highlander. Schooner. Struck by the lighter Eolinn during a storm that battered many vessels at Geelong, 20 July 1854. [WPP]
Also listed:
Highlander (Hilander)  Brigantine, 93 tons. Built 1850. Wrecked 1872.  [LPA]
In 1857, stranded at Apollo Bay, Victoria, 1857. [LO  - schooner]

Hilaria. Full rigged wooden ship, 1590 tons. Sister ship of the Habitant. Built Nova Scotia, 1886. Lbd 225 x 41.5 x 24.3 ft. Captain C.A. Allen. Totally destroyed by fire, Port Phillip, 9 July 1895. She carried more than 2000 cases of kerosene and 500 barrels of resin, and the immense volume of water poured into the holds caused her to take a list to port, with burning rigging overhanging the pier.  A firing party from H.M.S. Nelson fired a number of shots from a field gun placed on a barge, but when this failed she was blown up, sinking with a great gap in her side. A marine superintendant fell 30 ft into a hold whilst inspecting the ship, and later died of his injuries. The Hilaria was later raised and towed to Saltwater River where she was broken up. [LV],[MJ],[#WPP],[LAH - fireman died when he fell into the hold]

Hindoo. Vessel type not recorded. Stranded West Channel, Port Phillip, 5 March 1863. [WPP]

Holden. Tug. Barges being towed by the tug were involved in a collision with steamer Melbourne, Port Phillip, 22 December 1913.
[WPP],[LV - indicates collision was with the tug]

Holyhead. Four-masted barque, iron, 2260 tons. Built 1889. Lbd 294 x 42 x 24.5 ft. Captain Williams. Near the end of her maiden voyage, 74 days out from Liverpool, struck the Point Lonsdale reef, Port Phillip Heads, (close to where the George Roper ended her days in 1883), 12 February 1890. The lifeboat from Queenscliff ran alongside after a rough trip through the Rip, taking off all hands except the Chief Officer and Carpenter, as the ship showed no signs of breaking up.  The steamer Albatross aattended the wreck and took off some cargo. Thousands of sightseers visited the cliffs above the wreck over several weekends, and the Sunday Bay excursion steamers were packed with passengers from Melbourne and Geelong. As time went on and the removal of cargo lightened the ship; she began to bump heavily on the reef and after an unsuccessful attempt to tow the vessel off on 11 March, salvage operations were discontinued. and the wreck was sold to a syndicate. During the next three months a large quantity of cargo was recovered, but most of the profit was lost in attempts to get the ship off. In the middle of July a spell of heavy weather put an end to their hopes of refloating the vessel, and the engines and gear were landed at Queenscliff.
[#LR],[LO],[LV],LSS],[AS6],[#WPH],[DD],[NWR],[NSC],[LAH],[WB],[DA],[IL]
@  This is a popular dive, in seven metres maximum, 300 metres south from Lonsdale reef. A huge quantity of crockery was recovered by recreational divers in the 1970s, aften by primitive means as testified by the amount of broken crockery on the site.

Hood. HMS. Involved in collision with ferry Rosney, Hobsons Bay, Port Phillip, 24 March 1924. [LV],[WPP]

Hope. Ship. Damaged by fire, Port Phillip, 5 July 1863. [WPP]
Also listed:
Hope. Involved in collision with the vessel Rescue, Yarra River, Melbourne, 1877.  [LV]
Both these listings could refer to the 1104 immigrant ship Bee (qv), renamed Hope when purchased by the Black Ball Line in 1860, and is known to have called at Melbourne before being sold in 1867.

Hovell. Steam tug, 46 tons. # 153916. Built Holland, 1918; reg. Melbourne 1926. Lbd 61.7 x 14.8 x 7.7 ft. Broken up at Coode Island, Yarra River, 1961. [LSS],[WPP]
On 9 July 1928, struck amidships by the steamer Edina at the mouth of the Yarra River, Port Phillip. The Hovell sank within minutes. The captain was injured but no lives lost. The master of the tug was blamed. The Hovell was repaired and went back into service. [WPP],[LV - collision occured 1931]

Howard Smith. Tug. Involved in rescue - see River Burnett, Port Phillip, 1955.

Hubbock. Involved in collision with Courier, Yarra River1894. [LV]

Hugh Fortescue. Involved in collision with Nowra, Williamstown, Port Phillip, 1880. [LV]

Humbolt. American ship, 700 tons. Captain G.B. Cooke. Inward bound from New York, ashore near Point Lonsdale, when attempting to enter Port Phillip Bay without a pilot, 1 March l854. She was freed three days later. [LO],[LR],[WPH - arrived Melbourne three days later]

Hurricane. Three-masted iron ship, 1198/979 tons. Built on the Clyde, Scotland, 1853. Lbd 214.9 x 30.7 x 20 ft. One of the first large iron sailing ships built for the Australian trade during the gold rush, and one of the fastest clippers on the Australian run. Her maiden voyage from Glasgow to Melbourne with 256 passengers took eighty-seven days, and the return to London eighty-three days. In 1856 she was converted to an auxiliary screw vessel and continued in the Australian trade until lost. Under Captain D.H. Johnston (former master of the Lightning), inward bound from Liverpool with 2000 tons of general cargo and 19 passengers, grazed a rock entering Port Phillip, sank off Arthurs seat, 21 April 1869. Passengers and crew transfered to the tug Titan.
[LR],[LV],[AS6],[WPH],[LAH],[WB],[DA]
@ The wreck was relatively intact until the late 1960s, when it was blasted by Ports and Harbours engineers who considered it to be a navigational hazard, spreading wreckage over a wide area. Despite this, the stern of the ship still stands about three metres above the sand.

Hygeia. Paddle steamer, steel, 986 tons.  Built 1890.   Lbd 300 x 32 x 11.3 ft. A comfortable Port Phillip Bay steamer, could carry 1600 passengers at speeds up to 20 knots, with promenade decks, saloons, dining rooms, bars and a barber’s shop.  Dismantled and sunk in the ships graveyard, south of  Port Philip heads, Bass Strait, off Barwon Heads, June 1932. [LV],[LH],[LC],[NSF],[LPH],[DG]
In 1894, involved in collision with tug Sprightly, Hobsons Bay, Port Phillip. [LV]
On 8 December 1911, involved in collision with a cutter, Port Phillip Bay. [LV],[WPP]
On 22 December 1911, stranded at Sorrento, Port Phillip. [WPP]
On 25 August 1931, stranded at Rosebud, Port Phillip, when a hulk. [WPP]

Ijauqui. Vessel type not indicated. Ashore on rocks in stormy conditions just east of Point Nepean, wrecked, 14 December 1863. One life lost. [LR],[WPH]

Invincible. Barque. Involved in collision with steamer Pluto, Port Phillip Heads, 31 December 1855. [LR],[LV]

Iquique (Ijauqui). Barque, 500 tons. From Bordeaux. Destroyed in a gale a short distance east from Point Nepean, Victoria, 14 December 1863. One crew member was killed when the mainmast shattered.  [LG], [LV],[LPH]

Iron Monarch. Steamship. Involved in collision with vessel Empire Strength, Port Phillip Bay, 1943. [LV]

Isa. Schooner, 50 tons. Master William Veale. From Geelong to Melbourne, grounded, heeled over, and sank in Corio Bay having been overloaded, 4 June 1871. The master was charged with wilful negligence, but the charge was not sustained. She was later refloated. [WPP],[LV],[LC]

Isabella Watson. Ship, wood, 514/434 tons. Built 1840. Lbd 118.4 x 25.5 x 18.4 ft. Captain Fullerton.  Inward bound from London with 50 passengers, struck a sunken reef off Point Nepean, probably Corsair Rock, losing her rudder and then capsizing, in a violent squall, 21 March 1852. Nine died when the missen mast fell across a shipsboat and overturned it. Pilot Tobin swam out to the weeck with a line and about sixty passenges and crew were landed. A further eight landed by ship’s boats, including two saved from the ill-fated boat. Attended by the steamer Aphrasia.  [LR],[LG],[NH],[LV],[WPH],[LPH]

Isabella. Cutter. Ashore, wrecked, near Point Lonsdale, Port Phillip Heads, 9 January 1841. All passengers and crew taken on to Melbourne aboard the cutter Sisters. [LO], [LR]

Isabella. Schooner. Whilst lying at the Customs Wharf, Geelong, was battered by a storm which drove her against the wharf, punching a hole in her stern, 20 July 1854. She was apparently repaired. [WPP],[LC]

Isabella. Wooden colonial schooner, 36 tons. # 53952. Built at Sandridge (Port Melbourne), 1864; reg. Melbourne 1865. Lbd  64.3 x 19.1 x 4.9 ft. Ashore in a squall, wrecked, on Point Nepean, Port Phillip Heads,  4 January 1876. [LG],[LR],[WPH]
On 11 June 1866, a vessel of this name was involved in a collision with the steamer Barwon, Hobsons Bay, Port Phillip. [LV],[WPP]

Isabelle. Cutter, 2o tons. Wrecked Port Phillip heads, 1841.  [LPH]

Ismalia. Steamer. Owned by British India Steam Navigation Co. Involved in collision with SS Ormuz, Port Phillip Heads, 11 December 1900. Both ships were damaged, and proceeded to Melbourne for repairs. No lives lost. The Ismalia was inward bound, and the collision occured in the middle of the Rip, on a clear night with an ebb tide running. The tewo ships had observed each other well before the collision, the contact being die to an underestimation of the strength of the tide. [LR],[WPH]

Italia. Cutter Involved in collision with paddle steamer Mystery, Yarra River, July 1873. [LV],[WPP]

Ivy Florence. Ketch, 19 tons. Lost in Port Phillip, no date recorded. [LV]
In 1918, involved in collision with Leura, Port Phillip Bay, 1918. [LV]

J.W. Alexander. Wooden screw tug, 62/33 tons. # 125194. Built Sydney, 1909; reg. Melbourne 1924. Lbd 78.2 x 18.5 x 10.7 ft. Captain McBain. With two empty barges in tow, rammed and sunk by the 3279 ton steamship Allara in the Hopetoun Channel, Corio Bay, 22 December 1936. No loss of life. So badly damaged that she was declared a total loss and broken up. [LV],[WPP],[LC],[ASR - lighter]
On 30 September, 1932, involved in a collision with the pilot launch Petrel at the entrance to the Yarra River, Port Phillip. [WPP]

J-Class submarines. HMAS. J1, J2, J3, J4, J5, J7. Built between 1915-1917.  Displacement, 1210 tons surfaced; 1820 tons submerged. (J7, 1760 tons submerged).  Lbd 274.7 x 23 x 14.  Com plement 44.  Six British built submarines were transfered to the Royal Australian Navy on 25 March 1919. They had served for a short time with the Royal Navy’s 11th Submarine Flotilla, and although they proved to be the fastest submarines of their time, they were unreliable. So they ended up in Australia! The six submarines departed Portsmouth on 9 April 1919, arriving in Sydney on 10 July where they underwent a very necessary refit.  By May 1922 all six submarines had been decommissioned. The J class submarines were certainly not destined for fame, although scuba divers certainly appreciate their existence.  Four of the submarines have been dived on, in an area known as the Ships’ Graveyard, several kilometres off Port Phillip Heads. [LH],[LV],[NWR],[NMC],[LC],[WB],[DA]
@ A general comment on diving the wrecks outside Port Phillip - they are deep and any attempt to penetrate must be accommpanied by expereince and deep diving skills, and the correct equipment. Recommendation is to dive with a dive charter operator who will have the required knowledge and backup to support a safe dive. Safety cannot be over emphasised. Deaths have occurred whilst diving these wrecks.
J1 submarine. Sold to the Melbourne Salvage Company on 26th February 1924.  After whatever stripping proved valuable, scuttled off Barwon Heads on 26th May 1926.
@ Found in 1985, and popularly refered to as the "New deep submarine, she lies upright in 38 m, with a slight list to port. The hull is attractively covered in marine growth. Torpedo tubes are visible. Penetration is possible but inadviseable.
J2 submarine. Sold to the Melbourne Salvage Company on 26th February 1924.After whatever stripping proved valuable, scuttled off Barwon Heads on 1 June 1926.
@ During scuttling, the sub broke apart giving rise to her popular name of the "Broken sub". She lies in 39 metres, the closed of the subs to the entrance to Port Phillip, and hence adjacent to the shipping lane. Penetration is possible at the break in the hull.
J3 submarine. Sold to Melbourne shipbreaker J. Hill in January 1926, and ended her days as a breakwater for the (now) yacht moorings near Swan Island, Port Phillip Bay. She is accessible by boat. Two bronze propellors are mounted on the foreshore at Queencliff.
@ Although partly exposed, it is an interesting dive or snorkel, particularly for the novice. There is no opening sufficient to allow penetration.
~ May be seen and walked upon, with care.
J4 submarine. Sold to the Melbourne Salvage Company on 26th February 1924. Sank at her moorings during a storm, Williamstown on 10 July 1924; subsequently raised and scuttled off Port Phillip Heads in 1927.
@ Popularly known as the "26 metre sub", although a depth of 30 m can be reached. Located in 1982, the wreck allows penetration, and the bow has borken off, apparently during her scuttling.
J5 submarine. Sold to the Melbourne Salvage Company on 26th February 1924. Scuttled off Queenscliff in Port Phillip Bay on 4 June 1926.
@ Popularly known as the "36 metre sub", or the "Yellow Subamrine" due to its covering in part by yellow zoanthids, she sits upright on a sandy bottom. Penetration is possible at several points, where, apparently, plates were removed prior to scuttling.
J6 submarine. Never made it out to Australia.  She was accidentally sunk in the North Sea by one of her own fleet.
J7 submarine. Sold to Morris and Watt of Melbourne and also ended her days behind the groyne at Sandringham yacht moorings.  Bought by the Sandringham Yacht Club to form a breakwater, but in scuttling her she slewed around and sank parallel to the prevailing winds. It is now surrounded by the mooring complex, but still accessible to divers. Silting is a major problem. [IL]
On 18 February 1921, submarine J4 ran into the stern of the schooner Omega at Princes Wharf, Hobart, piercing the hull about four feet above the waterline; repaired. There appears to have been no amage to the submarine. [TS2]

Jaffa. Steamer. During a strong northerly sea, sank alongside the Portarlington jetty, 1 July 1878. Refloated and returned to Melbourne for an overhaul. [LC]

James & Amelia. Ketch, 26 tons. # 31839. Built Balmain, Sydney, 1844. Lost ashore in Drysdale Bay, in Corio Bay, Port Phillip, 11 September 1872. [LV],[LPA],[WPP],[LC]
Also listed:
James & Amelia. Lighter. Used in the hasty removal of wool and other items from th stricken ship Lightning, on fire off Geelong, 31 Octoner 1869. [LC]

James Patterson. Tug, steel, 247 tons. Built 1902.  Served with the RAN during World War 1. James Patterson & Co. Powerful tug, often used for towing on Port Phillip. Broken up 1964. [LSW],[DG]
In 1903, attempted without success  to salvage the bulk oil carrier Petriana, 1903. [LG]
In 1917, assisted salvage of cargo from stricken steamer Cumberland near gabo Island. [LSW]
In 1919, towed the stricken HMAS Protector to safety after she suffered an engine breakdown off Wilsons Promontory. [LWP]
In 1920, assisted in refloating the stranded steamer Musgrave, Port Phillip, 1920. [LC]
In 1934, assisted SS Milora when stranded off Port Phillip Heads. [LR]

James T. Foord. Ship, 700 tons. Captain Hume.  Out from London 113 days with 256 immigrants, entered Port Phillip Heads without a pilot and went ashore in Symons Channel not far from the wrecked William Salthouse (1840), 30 April 1851. SS Maitland assisted in salvage of cargo. Refloated a few days later with little damage and made her way to Melbourne.  [LR],[LV],[WPH],[LPH]

James William. Motor fishing vessel, 23 tons, 35 ft. Built 1947; unregistered. Skipper-owner Owen Edward Shrive. Hit by a freak wave.east coast of King Island,13 August 1970. Later dismantled. In March 1948, ashore at Point Lonsdale, Port Phillip Heads. [DG]

Jane & Elizabeth. Schooner. Inward bound from Launceston to Melbourne, struck the Point Nepean Reef, and totally wrecked, 21 December 1856. All crew saved. [LR]

Janet. Brig, 188 tons. # 32211. Reg. Newcastle 1/1854 as the Rebecca, reg. Melbourne in 1858 and renamed Janet. Lbd 89.2 x 22.4 x 14.6 ft. Captain Jack. Bound from Melbourne to Newcastle, ashore, wrecked, on the east bank of Symonds (Simmonds) Channel, Port Phillip, 19 June 1861. [LV],[#WPP]

Janet. Brig, 188 tons. Captain Kabler. Inward bound from Newcastle, stuck fast on Corsair Rock, Nepean Reef, Port Phillip Heads, 28 February 1855. With conssiderable effort from the crew and four pilots, she was refloated and beached at Willimastown. A great deal of credit was given to the pilots as very few vessels had come off Corsair Rock. [LR],[WPH]

Jeannie Oswald. Involved in collision with Lady Darling, Hobsons Bay, Port Phillip, 1880. [LV]

Jerfalcon. Schooner, iron, 287 tons. Built at Glasgow, 1868. Lbd 128.5 x 25.3 x 12.8 ft. Hulked at Melbourne, 1905. [LSS]
In 1881, last to see the clipper Loch Maree. [LG],[LSS]

Jim. Cutter, 20 tons. Ashore in a gale, wrecked, on the bank at Point Richards near Portarlington, Port Phillip, 13 March 1872. She was loaded with onions at the time.  [LV],[WPP],[LC]

Joanna. Fore and aft schooner, 34 tons. Built Mount Eliza, Port Phillip, 1856. Lbd 45.5 x 14.6 x 6.7 ft. Master-owner John Locke. Struck the West Bank, Port Phillip, in a gale, 9  July 1857. Efforts to salvage her failed and she became a total loss. [LV], [LR indicates a schooner of this name stranded near Port Phillip Heads ‘for a brief period’, 1857],[WPP]

John Bull. Lighter. # 41479. Built at Mount Direction, Tamar River, tasmania, 1846; reg. Melbourne 1851. Origianlly rigged as a schooner. Foundered at Williamstown, Port Phillip, 9 May 1886. [WPP],[LV]

John Hunt. Schooner. Lost in Port Phillip, 1890. [LV]

John Kerr. Arrived in Melbourne under jury rig after being partially dismasted in a gale during a voyage to Melbourne, 1874. Laid up in Williamstown for many months waiting for new masts, yards and rigging to arrive from England. Also damaged in the same gale were the vessels Loch Ard, Dallum Tower  and Cambridgeshire.  [LV],[MM]

John McDouall Stewart. Schooner. Involved in collision with schooner Challenge, Port Phillip Bay, February 1875. [LV],[WPP]

John Nicholson. Schooner, 35 tons. Lost at Schnapper Point, Port Phillip, November.1862. [LV],[WPP]

John Nimmo. Steel steam dredge, 1209 tons.  Built 1887. Lbd 228.2 x 46.5 x 15.5 ft.  Scuttled in the ships graveyard, off Port Philip heads, Bass Strait, 10 August 1931 [LV],[LSS],[NSF]
In 1893, involved in collision with vessel Eddystone, Corio Bay; and in the same year and place, with vessel Melbourne. [LV]

John Stewart. Dredge. Sunk at Williamstown, 16 July 1932. [WPP]

John Trail. Steam launch. Built Williamstown, 1884, as the Victorian. Owned by Geelong Harbour Trust. Ran between Williamsstown and Port Melbourne. Later converted to a schooner. [LC]

Joliba. Barque. Was being repaired in dock at Willimastown when a fire on the hulk Sir William Molesworth placed her in great danger. The steamer Resolute, berthed nearby with steam up, made fast to her, literally dragging her from certain destruction, 8 October 1871. [LV]

Joseph Craig. Barque, 714 tons. Built 1878. Wrecked in New Zealand, 1914. [LC]
Also listed:
Joseph Craig. Barque, 694 tons. Captain Stewart.  Stranded but later refloated, Point Nepean, Port Phillip Heads, 18 November 1912. The tugs Alacrity and Nyora towed her free two days later, and she completed the voyage to Melbourne. [LR],[LV],[WPH]

Josephine. Schooner, 21 tons. Loaded with prodduce and firwood, foundered in Port Phillip, five miles below Point Gellibrand, in a gale, 23 April 1870. The two crew saved. [WPP],[LV]

Jules Marie. Barque, lighter, 271 tons. # 79251. Built Chantenay, France, 1868; reg, Melbourne 1882.  Lbd 107.6 x 26.6 x 13.3 ft.  Badly damaged during a storm, was broken up, 27 April 1910. She had been lying next to RMS Morea, broke away, and struck the stern of RMS Orvieto, putting a hole in the lighter’s bows, and hence sinking. The salvage boat Endeavour and two tugs assisted in moving her away from the mail steamer. The Jules Marie was broken up shortly after. [WPP],[LV]
On 4 July 1883, stranded in South Channel, Port Phillip. [WPP]

Julia. Brig. 176 tons. Captain Walters. Inward bound from Hobart, caught fire but was not too badly damaged before it was extinquished, at Port Phillip Heads, 6 September 1853.  [LV],[LR],[WPP - 300 tons, date 13 September, at anchor at Queencliff, scuttled, and thus saved; refloated and repaired]

Julia. Schooner. Stranded in West Channel, Port Phillip, 28 May 1861. [WPP]

Kakariki. Steamship, 887/417 tons. # 153913. Built Selby, 1926; reg. Melbourne 1926.  Lbd 190.2 x 31.4 x 12.9 ft. Rammed by SS Caradale, in Hobsons Bay, Port Phillip, 29 January 1937. The Kakariki sank almost immediately, drowning five of her crew. The Court of Marine Enquiry placed the blame on the collision on the Kakariki. After several salvage attempts, the vessel was broken up in the early 1940s. [LV],[WPP],[ASR],[LAH],[DA]
@ Large sections of plate, winches, and oxygen bottles litter the shallow site off Point Cook.

Kangaroo. Paddle steamer. Involved in collision with paddle steamer Murray, Yarra River, Melbourne, May 1874. [LV],[WPP]

Kannanook. Involved in collision with Glaucus, Port Phillip Bay, 1893. [LV]

Karoola. Steamer, steel twin-screw passenger liner, 7368 tons. Owned by McIlwraith McEacharn Line. McIlwraith, McEarcharn & Co. Requisitioned by the Admiralty at the outbreak of World War 1; operated as a hospital ship and make a number of voyages between England and Australia.
On 24 September 1913, both vessels were travelling downstream when the Karoola collided with the steamer Fawkner (qv), Yarra River, Melbourne. The Karoola was not damaged.
[WPP],[LV],[DG]

Karoon. Twin screw motor vessel. Built State Dockyards, Newcastle, NSW, 1951; reg. Hobart. Lbd 290 x 43 x 19.6 ft. Regular trader between Tasmania and Melbourne.
On 22 October 1953, involved in collision with vessel Wyuna, Yarra River, Melbourne. [LV]
On 8 September 1963, inward bound from Tasmania, stranded on Nepean Reef, Port Phillip Heads; refloated and returned to service. [LR],[LG],[WPH]

Kasugna Maru. Japanese steamer. Took the ‘coloured crew’ from the wrecked Petriana, Port Phillip, 1903, to Hing Kong amidst a scandal rsulting from the Government and local authorities refusing permission for the men to land. [WPH]

Kate Hooper. Ship, clipper, 1488 tons. Built Baltimore, USA, 1853. Lbd (approx) 205 x 39 x 24 ft. Having arrived from Hong Kong with ‘Chinese wares’, was destroyed by fire, while at anchor in Hobsons Bay, Port Phillip, 29 December 1862. The firee was reportedly started ‘by a Chinaman’ who had had a grievance with the captain, the latter being ashore at the time. The man of ethnic Asian background jumped overboard when the fire took hold, and drowned. The hulk was repaired and rebuilt, as a steamer, within seventeen months. [LV],[#WPP],[LPH]
Williams provides technical details of the vessel.

Katoomba. Triple-screw steamer, 8900 tons. Built 1913. On arrival in Australia, was the largest vessel, at lb 468 x 60 ft. McIlwraith, McEarcharn & Co. Requisitioned by the Admiralty at the outbreak of World War 1; operated as a troopship. First vessel to pass through the Dardenelles after the Armistace. [LV],[WPP],[DG]
On 9 July 1921, involved in collision with steamer Awaroa, Yarra River, Melbourne .

Kearsage. Ship. In Hobsons Bay, presumably anchored, during a gale, when a man was washed overboard and drowned, 6 October 1866. [WPP]

Keera.  Iron steamer, 230 tons. Built 1851. Hulked 1877. [LPA]
On 17 May 1853, stranded at Yarraville, Victoria. [WPP]
In 1860, saw the wreckage of the barque Macclesfield, 1860. [LG]

Kestrel. Involved in collision with Lady Elgin,  Hobsons Bay, Port Phillip, Port Phillip, 8 March 1853. [LV],[WPP]

King David. Full rigged ship, 2240 tons. Visited Australia on her maiden voyage, (Geelong being one port), in January 1895. Lost ten years later on Vancouver Islands. [LC]

Kinrosss. (Kinrosshire). Barque. Stranded at Hopetoun Channel, Port Phillip, 2 February 1894, due to pilot error. Towed free by the tug Eagle after lighters unloaded 3500 bags of wheat. [LC],[WPP - Kinrosshire]

Kirkclale. Involved in collision with  Waddon, Yarra River, Melbourne, 1910. [LV]

Kissavos. Tanker. Stranded Hobsons Bay, Port Phillip, 20 August 1964. [WPP]

Koh-I-Noor. Barque. Was being towed by the tug Rescue when she collided with the steamer  Rob Roy in the Yarra, Melbourne, 28 April 1876. The barque sank but was later raised. An inquiry found the collision ‘accidental’. [WPP],[LV]

Koonda. Involved in collision with  George M. Embiricos, Port Phillip Bay, 1943. [LV]

Kossuth. Schooner. Syranded on a shoal between Queencliff and Swan Spit, 28 February 1857. Soon refloated. [LR],[WPH]

Kreimhild. Barque, 746 tons. Norwegian owned. Outward bound for South Africa, stranded at Point Richards, Port Phillip, 8 February 1906. Later refloated. [LC],[WPP]

Lady Don. Schooner, 65 tons. Built Melbourne, 1865. Involved in collision with  Pilot schooner Proserpine, Port Phillip Heads, 1 August 1866. [LSS], [LV-1865]

Lady Elgin. Involved in collision with vessel Kestrel,  Hobsons Bay, Port Phillip, Port Phillip, 8 March 1853. [LV],[WPP]

Lady Loch. Screw steamer, 531/487 tons. Built Melbourne, 1886. Lbd 182.7 x 24.7 x 14.4 ft. Served as a Government lighthouse tender around Bass Strait for many years, and a