The Booya
The Booya was three masted Scooner built in 1917. It sank in Darwin Harbour during devastating Cyclone Tracy on Christmas Eve in 1974, taking the lives of all five people on board. Tied up at Fort Hill Wharf on Christmas Eve 1974, the Booya headed out to seek safer anchorage as the massive cyclone approached. She was not seen for 29 years, her location a mystery.
The intact wreck was located in October 2003 in 22 meters of water by Sasha Mueller and Susie Lack operators of Coral Divers Darwin an IANTD dive shop. Of note Sasha and Suzie were the first to dive the “Darwin Princess” one year later not far from the “Booya”
Archaeological evidence suggests it may have tried to aid the ferry Darwin Princess before both foundered after a collision.Both Vessels were found not far from each other. Five lives were lost on the Booya, Captain Terence Westwood, crewmen Graham Dearden, Gerald Thompson, Gregory Westerman, and passenger Ruth Vincent.