SS BONNIE DUNDEE (1879)
Swansea, New South Wales
Steamship
VESSEL DETAILS
Launched:
1877, Dundee, Scotland
Sank:
1879, collision
Length:
39.7 metres (130’)
Beam:
6 metres (19’)
Displacement:
121 tons
Speed:
Unknown
Crew:
21
Passengers:
3
WARNING: Wrecks should not be penetrated without proper training & equipment!
NOTE: All wrecks and related artifacts older than 75 years in Australian waters are protected by the Australian Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976. Nothing can be taken!
INFORMATION
On a calm Autumn evening, SS Barrabool was underway from Newcastle to Melbourne when she collided with the north bound SS Bonnie Dundee.
Whilst Barrabool only suffered a gash above the waterline ON her portside, the Bonnie Dundee was cut in two and sank within minutes.
All but five were able to jump safely onto the Barrabool, however, four women and the cabin boy perished.
The captain later recognised the cabin boy’s remains and clothing when in a large shark was caught near Sydney some weeks later.
The subsequent inquiry found that the five lives lost could have been saved, but it appears the crew were more interested in saving themselves.
It was also found that the Bonnie Dundee breached the Navigation Act by not holding its course and crossing the Barrabool’s course twice.
Sadly, the collision was completely avoidable.
The captain and his chief officer were found to be grossly negligent. Both were charged with manslaughter, but were ultimately acquitted.
Bonnie Dundee lies in two pieces on sand, five kilometres (3 mi) off Caves Beach near Moon Island, at a depth of 35 metres (115’).
The bow section sits up and the boiler, engine and stern post are quite evident at the stern. The rest of the wreck is mainly the port side of the hull.
The wreck is teeming with bullseyes, promfrets and other fish and there are dozens of Port Jackson sharks freely swimming around the bottom near the wreck.
Copyright © 2025 Steve Sinclair
DIVE DETAILS
Scuba:
Advanced Diver
Snorkelling:
No, too deep
Access:
Boat only (30 minutes)
Depth:
30 – 35 metres (100-115’)
Visibility:
10 – 25 metres (30-80’)
Water temperature:
18 – 23°C (64-73°F)
Seasonal:
No, can dive anytime
OTHER GREAT DIVES WHILE IN THE AREA
Swansea Channel Drift, Swansea Bridge, The Arch, The Temple, SS Shamrock and many more.
2026 GREAT AUSTRALIAN DIVE CHALLENGE
Dive Registration
There is no preferred dive services provider for this dive, to register this dive for validation, go to: www.50greatdives.com.
DIVE TRAVEL SERVICES
LOCATION
State or Territory:
New South Wales
Nearest City:
Sydney
Nearest Regional City:
Newcastle
HOW TO GET THERE
Air:
Nearest International Airport:
Sydney
Nearest Domestic/Regional Airport:
Newcastle
Road:
Sydney to Newcastle:
Just over 2 hours (170 km/105 mi) via M1
Bus:
From Sydney
Train:
From Sydney
