Dive standard : basic
Launch site : Portsea pier or Sorrento Boat Ramp
Chart no : Aus 158
Latitude : 38"19'42" south
Longitude : 144"44’41" east
Description : A steamship which sailed between Melbourne, King Island and Launcetown.
Newspaper reports at the time of the fire on
board the SS Wauchope give the impression that the ship was totally
destroyed. But there is still enough of the wreck on the seafloor to make
this an interesting and worthwhile dive. This site extends for 41.5 metres
in length. The wreck has an extensive growth of seaweed on and around it
and is home to a large population of fish including stingrays.
The SS Wauchope's boiler is the largest feature of the site. In the box area there is good definition of the hull shape and remains of wooden ribs protrude form the sand. The keelson can be seen extending along the length of the bow, from the deck framing to the boiler. Remains of the propeller shaft and blades can still be seen at the stern along with a small amount of coal. Wooden railing and decking and more of the ships ribs can also be observed at the stern.
Broken green champagne bottles and black glass whiskey bottle necks, together with concrete bags lie on the Sorrento side of the hull.
The boiler of the Wauchope is exposed at high and low water and can be seen from Sorrento boat ramp.
The SS Wauchope was originally built for the NSW coastal trade, but in 1910 it began to sail between Melbourne, King Island and Launceston. Like the few other ships that sailed that route, the SS Wauchope was the lifeline between the mainland and the rugged Bass Strait Island. Te SS Wauchope served as a passenger ships and delivered mail, food, machinery and other necessities to the small settlement.
In the early 1900's, shipping to King Island was limited because the harbours were small, shallow and narrow and approaches to the small jetties were tricky. The seas of the Bass Strait had a reputation for being unpredictable and discouraged all but the most determined seafarers.
The SS Wauchope was wrecked by fire as it was anchored off Portsea. At the time, the Seamen's Union was striking for better conditions and wages. The SS Wauchope was one of the few ships able to round up a loyalist crew (non-unionist) to work the vessel.
The Seamen's Union had in fact made a very substantial contribution to the war effort and had been the only union not to make a wages claim during that time. The strike dragged on for several months before it was resolved and claims by the Union were met
The SS Wauchope was built in northern NSW and was owned by King Island Steamers; a subsidiary of William Holyman and Sons.
It was a two masted wooden screw steamer with
one 22 inch stroke engine and a combined horsepower capable of ten and a
half knots. The SS Wauchope had a gross tonnage of 296 tons and measured
127ft (38.7m) in length, 25ft (7.6m) in width and 9.2ft (2.8m) in the hold.
The Hurricane had a gross tonnage of 1198 tons. It measured 214.9ft(65.4m) in length, 30.7ft(9.35m)in breadth. And had a depth of 20ft(6m).
On 1st August 1919, the SS Wauchope was anchored at Portsea for a compulsory quarantine stop of seven days. The ship was carrying a cargo of 250 tons including flour, sugar, maize, machinery, a car, drapery, benzine, oil and 28 cylinders of acetylene gas for the lighthouse on King Island. Five crew and 19 passengers were also on board. At 7pm that night, as may of the passengers were getting ready for bed, the crew and Captain were frantically trying to extinguish a fire in the fore hold of the ship.
The passengers were alerted and ordered to dress and pack their belongings. Meanwhile, the captain and crew used the ship's water pumps to try and stop the fire spreading. However, their task was made difficult because the benzine stored in the hold was fuelling the fire.
The captain ordered the crew to lower the two lifeboats for the passengers. As the fire was gaining the upper hand the Captain signalled two nearby steamers for assistance. The Hall Cain was the first on the scene and towed the passengers and their luggage to safety. A tug, the Plover which supplied the Quarantine Station with water came alongside the SS Wauchope and sprayed water on the flames and into the hold. Still the fire continued to rage
At 11.00pm the situation looked hopeless and the Captain and crew abandoned ship. Of concert to the Captain were the gas cylinders which were still stowed on board the ship. In the early hours of the morning the fire became more intense and caused the gas cylinders to explode. After each explosion a great ball of flame rose above the ship. The noise rattled windows at the Quarantine Station and could be heard in Queenscliff and Sorrento
The Court of
Marine Inquiry held an investigation into the wreck, but the cause of the
fire remained a mystery Some suspected that the fire was deliberately lit
as a protest against the on-union crew. However, this was never proven..