The Nemesis disappeared with all hands in July 1904 and has not been found .She was last seen steaming south in heavy seas approx 25 miles from Sydney heads near Port Hacking . .Due to the distance to the wreck approximately 650 Nautical Miles from its last known location logistics will be the main issue to be resolved before a search is to be mounted .
The SS Nemesis was a 73-meter, coal-laden iron steamship that vanished in a violent winter storm on July 9, 1904, while traveling from Newcastle to Melbourne, resulting in the tragic deaths of all 32 crew members.The wreckage lay undisturbed at the bottom of the ocean for over a century until it was accidentally discovered in 2022 by a commercial survey company, Subc Marine, which was searching for lost shipping containers off the coast of Sydney.Key Details of the ShipwreckLocation: The wreck rests upright on a broad sand plain approximately 26 kilometres off the coast of Port Kembla, New South Wales.Depth: The vessel lies in deep waters, roughly 160 meters beneath the surface.Condition: While the main hull is remarkably intact, both the bow and stern sections show significant damage. Marine archaeologists and CSIRO researchers suggest the engine was overwhelmed by the storm, and the ship was likely hit by a massive wave that caused it to break apart and sink too quickly for lifeboats to be deployed.Artifacts: The discovery of the ship’s anchor and the distinct features matching historical sketches definitively confirmed the ship's identity.Community and HeritageThe discovery has provided closure to the families of the lost crew members, many of whom came from Australia, the UK, and Canada. Heritage NSW has since partnered with Curtin University to create digital 3D models of the site. You can read more about the ongoing maritime archaeology and related memorials on the NSW Environment and Heritage news page.