List of shipwrecks of Tasmania facts for kids

Shipwrecks of Tasmania are shipwrecks that have happened in and around the island of Tasmania, Australia. These events are a big part of Tasmania's history, showing how important the sea has always been to the island.

Tasmania's Sea History and Shipwrecks

Tasmania is an island, and for a long time after Europeans first arrived in 1642, people relied completely on the sea to connect with the rest of the world. Everything, from supplies to new settlers, came by ship until airplanes became common.

Why So Many Shipwrecks?

Tasmania's location is a big reason for its many shipwrecks. It sits in the path of strong winds called the roaring forties. These winds blow across the southern ocean and were used by sailors in the 18th and 19th centuries to travel faster from Europe to Australia. However, these same powerful winds also caused many ships to crash in huge storms.

The Tasmanian coastline itself is also very dangerous. It has sharp cliffs and hidden rocks underwater. Many bays that look like safe places to shelter have tricky entrances. Even today, strong storms can hit Tasmania, like the one in 1998 that sank five boats during the famous Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

More than 1,000 ships are believed to have been wrecked in Tasmanian waters. Many of these accidents led to people losing their lives, making the waters around the island a watery grave for them.

Famous Tasmanian Shipwrecks

Many ships have been lost in Tasmanian waters, some with great loss of life. Here are a few notable examples:

• 1797: Sydney Cove, a large sailing ship, was beached at Preservation Island after it started leaking. No one died in the wreck itself, but many were lost later while trying to reach Sydney or as castaways on the island. This is one of the oldest known wrecks in Australia.
• 1835: George III, a ship carrying convicts, crashed on rocks near Southport. A terrible 133 lives were lost.
• 1835: Neva, another convict ship, sank off King Island. This was an even greater tragedy, with 225 lives lost.
• 1845: Cataraqui, a large sailing ship, was wrecked on King Island. This was one of Australia's worst maritime disasters, with 400 lives lost.
• 1874: British Admiral, a steamship, hit a reef off King Island, and 79 lives were lost.
• 1904: Brier Holme, a sailing ship, sank off southwest Tasmania after hitting a reef. Its cargo of dynamite exploded, and 17 lives were lost.
• 1958: Willwatch, an auxiliary ketch, was lost in a gale off Tasmania's northwest coast. Despite distress calls, rescuers couldn't reach the ship in time, and all five crew members were lost.
• 1973: Blythe Star (2), a cargo ship, suddenly flipped over and sank off South West Cape, Tasmania. Seven of the 10 crew members survived for 11 days on a life raft before being found on the Tasman Peninsula. One person died on the raft and two on land. The ship was found by researchers almost 50 years later in 2023.
• 1975: Lake Illawarra, a large cargo ship, sank in the River Derwent after crashing into the Tasman Bridge. This accident caused part of the bridge to collapse and 12 lives were lost.
• 1990: Great Expectations, a yacht, disappeared near Cape Portland after a race. It's believed a giant wave swamped it, and all six people on board were lost.

Significant Wrecks Without Loss of Life

Not all shipwrecks resulted in lives being lost. Sometimes, quick thinking or luck meant everyone survived.

• 1853: Litherland, a whaling ship, hit rocks off Clarke Island but everyone was saved.
• 1866: Netherby, a ship carrying 504 people, was wrecked on King Island. Amazingly, all 504 people on board were saved!
• 1883: Tasman, a steamship, hit Hippolyte Rocks off the Tasman Peninsula and sank. The wreck was rediscovered around 2004 and is now a popular dive site.
• 1915: Nord, a cargo steamer, also struck Hippolyte Rocks off the Tasman Peninsula. This wreck is also a popular spot for divers today.
• 1929: TSS Kanowna, a large steamer, is one of Tasmania's biggest shipwrecks. It was found in 2005 in Bass Strait.

Legends and Stories

Over time, stories about shipwrecks can change. The wreck of the George III convict ship is a good example of how a story can be told differently through generations.

See also

• List of shipwrecks of Australia