Ōwhiro Bay Shipwrecks

Ken Scadden

First published in Ngā Ākau ki te Tonga Southern Bays number 2 2006

From ashore men were seen clinging to various parts of the deck fittings and rigging. The rescuers braved the terrible surf and brought ashore, bleeding and unconscious, some of the crew who had been washed overboard as the vessel broke apart.

Constable Baker of Island Bay went out in a boat to try and save some of the crew but the boat overturned and he was lucky not to have drowned.

Another policeman, Constable Hammond of Taranaki Street, tried to reach some of the crew with a lifebelt but he was washed back onto the rocks and was rescued by local fishermen.

Three men in a small boat battled gallantly for an hour trying to get to the stricken men. A larger boat manned by local fishermen picked up a man who had swum out with a line and rescued one seaman off a rock. In all, from a crew of twelve, eight survived.

The magistrate of the Court of Inquiry found that it was doubtful if any of the crew would have survived without the efforts of the fishermen of Island Bay, members of the Island Bay Surf Club and the policemen.

The following people were honoured with the presentation of the Royal Humane Society Medal for their role in the rescue of the crew:

Hugo Lupi, A Humphreys, P S Isbister, S Volpicello, S Greco, E Connor, R Alfano, C Mazzola, A G Tait, R Persico, and Constables F A Baker, C F Petherwick and W S Hammond.

Tui Steamer

Sunk on 26th October 1848 at Barretts Reef, there were no recorded deaths.

This Dunedin-built iron steamer had its bottom ripped out en route from Wellington to Foxton, and now lies 500m north of Barrett Reef at the entrance to Wellington Harbour. Depth is about 12m, on a sand bottom.

Subraon

The ship sunk on 26th October 1848 at Breaker Bay there was no loss of life.

The remnants of this wooden ship at the south end of Breaker Bay. It lies in 2-3m of water on a sand and rock bottom. The ship was taking passengers to Sydney, fleeing Wellington after a series of strong quakes. The passengers and crew landed safely but the ship was well and truly scuttled. Not much remains of the wreck.

Grasmere Barque

The ship sunk in 1895 at Cape Terawhiti, there was no loss of life.

John Bell Schooner

The ship sunk in 1896 at Cape Terawhiti, there was no loss of life.

Kate Schooner

The ship sunk in 1845 at Cape Terawhiti, there was no loss of life.

Maria Barque

The ship sunk in 1851 at Cape Terawhiti, 26 people died.

Maria was wrecked near Cape Terawhiti on Wellington’s rugged south-western coast. This provided more ammunition for locals who were trying to convince the government of the need for a lighthouse.

Woollahra Barque

The ship sunk on 14 July 1907 at Cape Terawhiti, 2 people died.

This 61m iron barque is one of Wellington's more complete wrecks about 30m offshore in a small bay, inshore of the Karori Rock light. The ship's captain and another seaman died when it ran aground on rocks at midnight while sailing to Sydney.

Halcione Barque

Late on the night of 8th January 1896, the barque, 90 days out from London with a cargo of general merchandise, struck on the rocks in Fitzroy Bay, near Wellington Heads, and quickly became a total loss. The weather was bad at the time, the wind changing to the south and blowing hard, with rain. The Halcione was close to land on the eastern side when she was struck by a squall and ran on to the rocks. Thankfully, there was no loss of life.

Matilda Cutter

On 6 May 1848 the cutter, from Manawatu, with a cargo of wheat, was caught in a south-east gale which arose suddenly in the evening, and was driven ashore in Fitzroy Bay, near Wellington Heads. The bodies of the two men comprising the crew were washed ashore near Pencarrow Head and interred there.

F69 Frigate

On 13 November 2005 the F69 Frigate formerly known as the frigate HMNZS Wellington was bought by the Sink F69 Charitable Trust for $1 and sunk 400m off Houghton Bay as a dive site and artificial reef. The wreck has since broken into three pieces but is still popular with divers. As it was a controlled sinking, no people died.

Deinda

On 3 Feburary 1992 the 14m yacht Deinda ran aground early one morning when it mistook Lyall Bay for the Wellington Harbour entrance. Its three crew were rescued by surf lifesavers out training in canoes, resulting in no fatalities.

Nambucca Steamer

The steamer wrecked on 16 January 1905 on Nambucca Rock. There are no recorded deaths.

The wreck of this wooden steamer lies near a lone rock, now named Nambucca Rock, 1km west of Sinclair Head. About 600m from shore in 11m of water it suits boat dives, but take care in the tidal currents.

Cyrus

On 7 March 1874, at Ōwhiro Bay, two and half miles to the eastward of Sinclair Head. Master careless in navigation of his vessel. His certificate suspended for twelve months. But as he endeavoured to do his duty, was always at his post sober and steady, Court recommended that first mate's certificate be granted to him during period of suspension of his certificate as master. Unfortunately, five people died.

Magic Steamer

On 1 May 1931 four men drowned trying to recover this iron steamer after it was blown on to rocks on the western side of Ōwhiro Bay. Only scattered pieces remain.

Progress Iron Steamer

On the night of 30 April 1931, the steamer broke her tail shaft, which was found to be rusted through. when approaching Wellington Heads near Ōwhiro Bay, enroute to Nelson in fine weather and anchored. A southerly gale blew up and at noon on 1 May, the Progress was blowen onto the rocks while un-maneuverable. The Progress declined assistance from ‘Opawa’ ‘Arahura’. The tug ‘Toia’ approached but steamed away also. There were four fatalities

Wellington

Wellington sunk on 7 March 1869 at Ōwhiro Bay, there were no recorded deaths 

Yung Pen

On 12 December 1982 this Taiwanese fishing boat sank on the western side of Ōwhiro Bay after hitting rocks. The wreck lies just 20 metres offshore in 7m of water. There were no recorded fatalities

HMNZS South Sea

On 19 December 1942 the Royal New Zealand Navy minesweeping, steel steamer sank after colliding with SS Wahine while on patrol in Wellington Harbour as a navy minesweeper. The wreck is almost intact, and sits upright on the ocean floor 1.5km northeast of Pt Halswell, in 12-20m of water. There are no recorded deaths.

Joanna Schooner

In 1868 the the 26 tonne Joanna Schooner, built at Te Aro was wrecked at Sinclair Head. Fortunately after the crew escaped in a lifeboat there were no fatalities.

Tyne Barque

4 July 1845 the Tyne Barque commandeered by Captain Robertson encountered a violent gale with thick fog and poor visability they mistaking their position they struck Sinclair Head, otherwise known as Rima Ripa Rocks,  quickly flooding. Despite failed rescue attempts by settlers and soldiers after two days all 19 crew and 1 passenger were rescued safely with no deaths.

Wahine

On 10 April 1968 the SS Wahine is probably the most famous wreck in Wellington Harbour, and one of the worst maritime disasters. The SS Wahine sank in a huge storm when it was blown off course and struck Barrett Reef. The terrible storm hampered rescue attempts and 51 people were killed. The wreck was cut up and sold for scrap.

Grasmere Barque

The Grasmere Barque departed Newcastle, N.S.W. on 12 December 1895 to sail to Wellington with a cargo of coal.  It was totally wrecked off Cape Terawhiti early on Christmas morning. There were no recorded deaths.

Haversham Barque

In 17 June 1876 the Haversham Barque bound from Newcastle, N.S.W to Wellington with a cargo of coal struck Thoms Rock in the Cook Strait. No lives were lost. 

Oceania Barque

The 320 tonne Oceania Barque was carrying a cargo of salt, bark and flour when it wrecked on Thoms Rock on 3 June 1885. A strong, hard northerly gale so it turned back to sea to avoid it. After rounding Cape Terawhiti it struck Thoms rock heavily, turned round and headed to the south, and went down head foremost. All on board managed to save their lives resulting in no deaths.

Penguin

Penguin a Union Steam Ship Company passenger steamer Penguin left Picton for Wellington in fine weather. Conditions quickly deteriorated as the Penguin reached Cook Strait. As the weather closed in, familiar landmarks disappeared. Unable to see Pencarrow light, Captain Francis Naylor set a course to steer clear of danger. After changing course again to ride out the storm, the ship struck Thoms rock on 12 Febuary 1909 and began to sink in heavy seas. The ‘women and children first’ custom proved disastrous as the lifeboats quickly capsized. No children and only one woman survived, with 75 deceased.