Hebe Reef facts for kids

Hebe Reef is a rocky area in the ocean, about 5 kilometers northwest of where the Tamar River meets the sea. It's a bit like a hidden underwater mountain! You can only see parts of it when the tide is very low. Most of the time, it's completely covered by water. This makes it very dangerous for ships. Many ships have accidentally crashed into its rocks because it's hard to spot.

How Hebe Reef Got Its Name

Hebe Reef is named after the very first ship that hit it, called the Hebe. The Hebe was a large sailing ship, built in India in 1804. It weighed about 250 tons.

In March 1808, the ship left Madras, India, heading for Sydney. But on June 15, the crew decided to turn into George Town, Tasmania. Back then, George Town was known as Port Dalrymple.

Unfortunately, the Hebe crashed into the reef. This happened because the sailors didn't know the area well, and the weather was very bad. Almost everyone on board survived, except for one person. Most of the ship's equipment and goods were saved and later sold in Sydney. Since that day, the reef has been known as Hebe Reef.

Ships That Hit Hebe Reef

Hebe Reef has been a tricky spot for many ships over the years. A total of five ships have been wrecked on its hidden rocks. Here is a list of the ships and when they crashed: