Hurricane Wreck

The Hurricane was a three-masted iron ship of 1,198 tons, built in Glasgow in 1853, on a length of 214.9 feet, a breadth of 30.7 feet and a depth of 20.0 feet. The vessel was owned by W. & J. Lockett and registered in Liverpool.

On it final voyage it was carrying 19 passengers with 27 crew and 2000 tons of cargo (UID 53) General cargo, bottled beer, canary seed, earthenwares, chemicals, malt, salt, rum, hardware, blankets, whiskey, slates, marble, fish, glassware, saddlery, plated ware, tracts and books, hoop iron, iron wire and more.

On April 22, 1869 it entered Port Phillip Heads and the crew felt a slight bump, the carpenter sounded the pumps, which meant no water had entered. After checking at Queenscliff to be cleared by the health officer it then proceeded up the South Channel. At this time water was noticed to be entering through the hawse holes (not common for this boat). The pilot decided to head to Capel Sound and anchor and pump the water out. By the time they rounded up the anchor the bow was underwater and it sank quickly. The 19 passengers and 27 crew escaped on the rigging boats. The B&W pic shows the sunken sailing ship at the entrance to Port Phillip Bay; passengers and crew are in life-boats with the paddle steamer to the right. Photo is courtesy of ‘State Library Victoria.

The wreck was discovered by divers in 1971, these days two of the three masts can be seen and the general shape of the boat, There is an abundance of sponges and invertebrates growing, it provides a small haven for local fish life such as morwong, ping perch, moonlighters and many more.

It sits in around 10 metres of water and provides and excellent introduction to wreck diving for newer divers.

Check out the video on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfGnIkAbUI8