August 2025 IANTD Divers in conjunction with the MAAV and PDS place anodes on iron wreck for preservation. City of Launceston is one of the most preserved wrecks world wide .The SS City of Launceston was a 368-ton iron steamship that sank in Port Phillip Bay on November 19, 1865. Today, the remarkably intact shipwreck lies upright in 21 to 22 meters of water off the coast of Point Lonsdale. It requires an official permit to dive.
The ship was built in 1863 and operated on the Bass Strait run as a forerunner to modern passenger ferries. It sank in just 45 minutes after being accidentally rammed by the incoming 500-tonne steamer SS Penola. While all passengers and crew successfully evacuated to the Penola, the City of Launceston went down with all its cargo and personal effects.
In 1980, the wreck was rediscovered by a group of wreck hunters including IANTD’s Barry Heard. Due to the pristine preservation of the hull and the undisturbed artefacts still trapped inside, it holds massive archaeological and historical significance. In fact, it became the very first shipwreck protected under Victoria's Historic Shipwrecks Act.
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on July 13 2026 19:59:14 ·
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August 2025 IANTD Divers in conjunction with the MAAV and PDS place anodes on iron wreck for preservation. City of Launceston is one of the most preserved wrecks world wide .The SS City of Launceston was a 368-ton iron steamship that sank in Port Phillip Bay on November 19, 1865. Today, the remarkably intact shipwreck lies upright in 21 to 22 meters of water off the coast of Point Lonsdale. It requires an official permit to dive. 