Dive Rating : Open Water Experienced
Boat Dive
Launch site : Queenscliff / Sorrento
Lat : 38 17.680 S
Long : 144 40.430 E
The
Eliza Ramsden is considered the most spectacular wreck dive in Port Phillip
Bay. The vessel sits upright on the seabed in 12 – 18 metres of water
with the ship’s bow pointing towards Police Point, Queenscliff.
The bow of the old clipper is virtually intact and is a spectacular feature of this wreck. The hull and some of the decking along the side of the vessel is still in place. Much of the port side decking has collapsed, probably as a result of explosives used to clear the site in the early 1960’s. Deck supports called stanchions can be seen running along the centre of the vessel and are now covered with seaweed. An old donkey boiler can be seen near the bow and was probably used to supply steam for winches.
There are still some small artefacts in the bow of the ship, however they are often covered over by gravel, shells and sand. Some of the larger and more interesting relics from the Eliza Ramsden have been salvaged. For instance the ship’s anchor is on display at Queenscliff’s foreshore reserve.
Common reef fish around the wreck include blue devils, old wives, boar fish, wrasse and cuttlefish.
Overall length of the wreck site is approximately 27m(154ft) x 10m(33ft).
As the wreck is in the main shipping channel, it is necessary to buoy at the site and keep the dive boat motoring in the area. Before diving, divers must check shipping activity by contacting the Point Lonsdale lighthouse on VHF Channel 12. Diving must be done at slack water due to strong tidal currants. Launch from Queenscliff pier. Proceed from Queenscliff until the Pine Tree transit comes into view. The site gives a good sharp peak on an echo sounder rising from 18m to 12m.
The Eliza Ramsden was only one year old when it ran aground on corsair rock, Point Nepean Reef. In its short career, it had made only one complete voyage from England to Melbourne, on to Boston and back to England. The Eliza Ramsden was owned by prominent Melbourne resident the reverend Samuel Ramsden and named after his wife.
Although there are no photos or illustrations of the vessel, it was said to be the finest ship in the port Melbourne and cost £10,000 to build.
Today the wreck of the Eliza Ramsden lies in the south channel and is considered to be one of the most spectacular wreck dives in Victoria. Although the ship has been exposed to corrosion and erosion by the sea for 126 years, it was blasted by explosives to clear its masts from the main shipping channel, parts of the ship are well preserved.
Another attraction for divers is the large number of reef fish, which live around the wreck, making it a popular dive for underwater photographers.
The Eliza Ramsden was built in Glasgow, Scotland. Samuel Ramsden gave the builders strict instructions that no expense was to be spared in the constructing a first class vessel.
The ship was one of the early vessels to be constructed from iron. It was a three masted barque and had a round stern and a figurehead of a woman at the bow. As the Eliza Ramsden had only one deck, it was probably built to carry cargo.
The ship had a gross tonnage of 415 tons. It measured 151.6ft (46.3m) in length, 27ft (8.23m)in breadth and 15ft (4.5m)in the hold.
The Eliza Ramsden had just delivered a load of cargo to Hobson’s bay and was making its way to Newcastle to be loaded with ballast. Captain Steuart, who was in charge of the vessel, was an experienced sailor, although this was the first time he had sailed Port Phillip Bay. On board the ship were 14 crew including the young Tom Pearce who was later to survive the tragic Loch Ard disaster.
The Eliza Ramsden left
Port Melbourne on the 24th July 1875 and made its way out toward the heads.
Captain Steuart burned a blue light to attract the attention of a pilot
boat to guide the ship out through the heads to pick up the son of Samuel
Ramsden who wanted to be taken to Queenscliff. No pilot boat arrived and
the ship proceeded to sail out through the heads alone. As he ship appeared
to be away from land and sailing well, the captain went below. Suddenly,
the Eliza Ramsden struck hard against Corsair rock. The ebb tide swung the
ship around on its side where it wedged firmly on the reef. The ship’s
lifeboats were made ready just in case the vessel broke up. The sails were
taken in and blue lights and rockets were fired to signal for assistance.
A lifeboat left Queenscliff at 9.00pm as it pulled up alongside the Eliza Ramsden, the superintendent observed the damage to the vessel. Concerned that the boat was sufficiently damaged and would drift off the reef and sink, he ordered the crew and captain to board their lifeboats and abandon ship.
Early next morning Captain Steuart arranged with the master of the Warhawk tug to return to the Eliza Ramsden to see if the ship could be towed off the reef at flood tide. As they made their way out to Point Nepean reef, local fishermen who said the boat had already floated of the reef and was floating toward south channel stopped them. The fishermen had boarded the vessel to try to steer it toward Queenscliff but had not been successful as the ship’s rudder was severely damaged.
By the time the tug reached the Eliza Ramsden, it was too late. The vessel had taken water and had settled on the sea floor at 13 fathoms with only its top gallant masts above the water.
As a warning to other vessels, day and night lights were fixed to the masts although, they were eventually replaced by a wreck buoy to mark the site. As shipping increased, the Eliza Ramsden became a navigational hazard and in the 1960’s its masts were blown up with explosives.
At the marine inquiry, Captain Steuart was found guilty of negligence while navigating his vessel through port Phillip heads. In view of his long service and good character, his Master’s licence was only suspended for six months. The wreck of the Eliza Ramsden was auctioned at the Melbourne shipping exchange. The bidding reached £500 before it eased off. Captain Steuart offered £1000 and the auctioneer reluctantly sold him the barque for that amount.