“Lost Steamer SS Glenelg”
By Martin Tozer/ Southern Ocean Explorers)
The Glenelg first traded under the British flag until entering service in 1880 on the Australian coastal run between Adelaide, Hobart and Sydney. It had a variety of owners over the next 20 odd years, spending most of that time around the east coast of Australia, until purchased in 1898 from the Union Steamship company by G. Carpenter of Lakes Entrance, C. H. Jackson of Bruthen and J.B. Ellerker, shipping agent of Melbourne. Then the Glenelg was put on the Melbourne Gippsland run for the next two years.
The SS Glenelg – The Final Voyage
On its final voyage the Glenelg was returning to Melbourne with 30 tons of general cargo from Bairnsdale comprising hides, wattle bark, tallow, wool and sundries; eight tons of general cargo from Metung and five tons of electric light poles from Cuninghame (Lakes Entrance). In addition to this cargo, it had on board 15 passengers and a crew of 16 under the Command of Captain English.
After taking on the last of its cargo at Lakes Entrance, the Glenelg left around nightfall. The Sea grew rougher as the night progressed, until early the next morning a thump was heard and soon after water was discovered pouring into the vessel.
Efforts by the crew to bail the Glenelg were unsuccessful and the captain ordered abandon ship. A life boat was launched with only 3 crew in it. The lifeboat tried to get back to the ship to pick up the other passengers and crew as the other lifeboat had the remaining 31 on board. The lifeboat with 3 weren’t able to make it back and the second lifeboat was never to be seen again. The boat with the 3 crew members was at sea for a further 3 days before being washed ashore at Marlo.
The SS Glenelg lay hidden beneath the dark waters of Bass Strait for 109 years. On June 28, 2009, after extensive historical research and hydrographic scanning, the Southern Ocean Exploration (SOE) team successfully located the wreck.
Since the discovery, the SOE team has completed a detailed site plan documenting the wreck’s condition on the seafloor. The discovery also provided much-needed closure for the community, eventually bringing together descendants of the victims for a special Glenelg Reunion to honor those lost at sea.This is now a protected Wreck.
IANTD dived the wreck in 2009 with a group of divers documenting the wreck.A wreath was also laid over the Wreck site.
