SS Coogee (1841-1850)

For nearly 41 years, the SS Coogee served on various routes. It also had a number of collisions, but was repaired and returned to service. In 1928 the steamer came to the end of its useful life and became uneconomic to maintain it was then stripped of it's fittings considered valuable and taken out through Port Phillip Heads.

It was then sunk with explosives.

The wreck of the SS Coogee was rediscovered by a Geelong diver and the general area it was found in is known as the "Ships Graveyard". As many as 32 vessels have been found in this general area.

Ships Construction

The ship had an iron hull and four cemented bulkheads (watertight hull partitions) which made it less likely for the steamer to completely fill with water in the event oof the hull being breached in a collision. The steamer was propelled by a triple expansion engine capable of generating 250HP.

Its three cylinders had diameters of 23 inches, 37 inches and 60 inches and with a cylinder stroke length of 36 inches.

The SS Coogee was built in Sunderland UK by British boat builders J.L. Tompson and Sons and measured 225ft(68.5m) in length, 30.2ft(9.1m) in width and 13.5ft(7.1m) in depth. The ship had a gross tonnage of 762 tons.

A long and Eventful Career

The ship completed 961 round trips until it was involved in accident in the early hours of Christmas Day, 1903.

The SS Coogee was full with passengers, eager to reach Melbourne to celebrate Christmas Day with friends and relatives. At 2am , the ship ran into a thick fog and immediately reduced to half speed.

An hour later, the fog was so thick and dense that the engine was stopped . At 4am the SS Coogee restarted its engine and steamed ahead at half speed.

Through the fog , which had lifted a little, the ships second officer spotted the masts of a sailing ship: a four masted iron ship, the Fortuna Figaro was bound for Newcastle.

The SS Coogee was only a few lengths away from the Fortuna Figaro and both vessels were on a collision course. The captain who was on the the bridge, ordered the SS Coogee's engines to be stopped and the its helm to be turned hard to starboard however, there was little time.

The SS Coogee and the Fortuna Figaro collided and a great gash was ripped in the bow of the SS Coogee. As the larger sailing ship moved past it's jib boom swept along the SS Coogee from stern to stern carrying away everything in its way including deck houses, the bridge, lifeboats, ventilators, and the funnel.

The Captain and the man at the wheel wrer killed. Fortunately all passengers amd most of the crew were below deck, otherwise there would have been many more casualties.

Steam and smoke were pouring from the steamer and its whistle was blowing continuously creating and atmosphere of panic. The crew and passengers were taken on board the Fortuna Figaro.

Although water was pouring through the gash in the bow of the ship, the forward bulkhead was still intact and prevented water moving through the entire hull and sinking the steamer.

At daylight the crew returned to inspect the damage to the SS Coogee. Another steamer the Restorer, had arrived on the scene with a doctor to help other injured crew.

It immediately returned to Queenscliff to report the damage. The crew on the ship was able to raise enough steam for the ship to proceed under its own power and went ahead towing the sailing ship until both vessels were met by pilot boats from Queenscliff.

In the inquiry that followed, the ship was blamed for the incident. The chief Justice for Victoria said that the mate on duty should have reversed engines when he heard the fog horn of the other ship.

There are no details of what happened to the ship directly after the collision, but in 1910, it was refitted and recommenced sailing between Melbourne and Geelong.

However the ship continued to be involved in collisions and other unfortunate incidences. In February 1914. the ship ran aground on a sandbar and to took several days before the steam ship was successfully towed away.

That same month, the ship collided with another vessel, the Bombala, and was badly damaged. In March 1914, after being reconditioned and repaired, the ship had another collision with the SS Uganda, although this time there was no serious damage.

In 1917, the ship was withdrawn from Port Phillip Bay Service and after lying idle for 12 months was taken over by the Royal Australian Navy and used as a mine sweeper.

In 1921, the ship was chartered by the Telegraph Department and used to repair damage to the Bass Strait cable.

In 1928, the steamer was considered redundant and was scuttled outside the heads.

Check this wreck on the Shipwreck Map

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