Shipwrecks and sea rescue: Shipwrecks 1863-1873

• Introduction
• 1802-1850
• 1851-1858
• 1859-1862
• 1863-1873
• 1874-1880
• 1881-1889
• 1890-1899
• 1900-1907
• 1908-1918
• 1919-1930
• 1931-1945
• 1946-
• River Murray

Chronological list of shipwrecks continued

1863

11 July steamer Marion went ashore near Cape Spencer at the foot of Yorke Peninsula. Crew and passengers landed safely and were subsequently rescued by S.S. Lubra. 14 January schooner Agenora drifted ashore in calm conditions at Port Willunga and broke up. The cutter Breeze was driven south by a storm in Gulf St Vincent and wrecked in Pelican Lagoon, Kangaroo Island, 5 July.

1864

On 27 March the brig Freak, en route from Adelaide to Sydney with a cargo that included flour and wheat, ran ashore at Cape Jervis and was totally wrecked. No lives were lost. The brigantine Vanquish was also wrecked at Cape Jervis in December. No lives were lost and most of the cargo was salvaged. Schooner Atholl  of 215 tons broke her moorings during a storm at Port Elliot, and grounded on the rocks. The crew, some of the cargo and ship's sails were landed safely.

1865

13 March schooner Agnes, bound for Melbourne with a cargo of wheat from Yankalilla was wrecked on Margaret Brock Reef at Cape Jaffa. Driven by storm from Cape Willoughby, only one crew member survived. 6 May iron barque 535 tons San Miguel left Port Adelaide for Wallaroo to load ore. She ran onto Tipara Reef. The tug Eleanor tried to rescue her, but a storm prevented salvage. 14 May wooden barque Troas ran ashore and broke up near the northern end of Lake Bonney (S.E.). Her ballast of mud shifted in heavy seas causing the loss. All crew reached safety - there were no passengers. 25 July the government cutter Blanche dragged her anchor and was driven ashore at Port Wallaroo.

1866

Schooner Omeo disappeared off Yorke Peninsula in late July. Parts of the wreck were picked up off Corny Point. Cutter Fire Fly arrived at Anxious Bay 20 October, loaded with wool from Flinders Island. She parted her anchors during a storm and was driven ashore and broke up.  48 bales of wool were recovered. Schooner Trader was forced ashore at Port Willunga 6 September. An attempt to salvage her was made, but she became a total loss. 11 November brigantine Letty ran ashore at Red Cliffs, Port Augusta. She was refloated but was considered too badly damaged to repair, and was broken up. 29 ton schooner Thistle was lost at Cape Jervis, 3 July.

1867

Barque Zanoni 338 tons discharged a cargo of sugar from Mauritius at Port Adelaide in February. She then loaded with wheat at Port Wakefield. Shortly after sailing she was struck by a violent storm and rolled over. The crew escaped and were rescued later that day. The wreck was not located and identified until 1983. It is protected under the Historic Shipwrecks Act. (See SA Department of Environment: Maritime Heritage)

Cutter Agneta with a crew of two disappeared near Sultana Creek, Edithburg on 9 July.

1870

4 April brig Flying Cloud en route to Melbourne from Adelaide with a cargo of sugar, went onto a reef off Cape Banks, in a heavy fog. The ship quickly broke up, and pieces of it were found as far east as Portland. There was no loss of life. 16 April cutter Lady Ferguson carrying wheat from Myponga to Adelaide sank on arrival. 12 April Juno sank at Port Wallaroo. Cutter Ben Morowie sank at Port Wallaroo, 27 June. Mailboat Electric sank at Glenelg 22 September.

1871

Cutter Walter & John was lost off Whiting Point, 5 km from Torrens Island in September.

1872

25 May iron screw steamer Black Diamond was stranded on Walrus Rock south of Wallaroo. The vessel had previously run onto Wilberta Reef between Wallaroo and Moonta. Cutter Dolphin sank in Boston Bay, Port Lincoln in August. 

1873

10 February schooner Kangaroo grounded on a reef near Cape Elizabeth, Yorke Peninsula and was a total loss. 20 June iron brig Prince of Wales, with a cargo of wheat blew ashore during a gale at MacDonnell Bay. She was grounded on the reef. No loss of life. 29 June the government schooner Flinders was wrecked at Port MacDonnell, after springing a leak. 20 July cutter Secret was wrecked north of Point Bolingbroke, Eyre Peninsula. 11 December iron sailing ship Iron King struck Troubridge Shoal. All passengers were landed safely, as was most of the cargo. All fittings were stripped and auctioned and the hull abandoned.