Shipwrecks

An excellent book is available:  Kangaroo Island Shipwrecks : an Account of the Ships and Cutters Wrecked Around Kangaroo Island by Gifford Desmond Chapman. The rugged, surf-bound and precipitous coastline of Kangaroo Island has claimed many ships and lives, particularly during the early part of the 1800s. In the latter years more lighthouses were constructed, so shipping can navigate with greater safety. Over ninety vessels have foundered on the island.

Ship Duncow, near Cape du Couedic, Kangaroo Island, the vessel was abandoned on 25 May 1897 and was found several days later, safely riding at anchor. The cape is located on the western tip of Kangaroo Island and is named after the French naval officer Charles Louis du Couedic, the Seigneur de Kergoualer (1740-1780). The "Duncow" was laden with mining timber from NW America bound for Port Pirie. The tug "Yatala" rescued the crew but later replaced them when it was safe." 

1897, State Library of South Australia.

1853, Nov 25   Osmanli  Latmax: -35.97 Lonmax: 137.63 D'Estrées Bay  5 crew 40 passengers all survived  Osmanli Shipwreck 

1856, June 29  Goulburn (barge)  off Christmas Cove  Three deaths  Goulburn shipwreck 

1860, May 22nd  Fides  off Snug Cove  10 drowned, 5 survived  Fides Shipwreck 

1874, August 8  Fairfield off Cape Cassini. All hands saved. Fairfield Shipwreck

1877, May 14  Emily Smith  Latmax: -36.01 Lonmax: 136.68 near Cape du Couedic  16 passengers, 10 crew, 4 survived  Emily Smith Shipwreck 

1884, April 14  Mimosa  Stokes Bay  All hands saved  Mimosa shipwreck 

1885, June 16th  Mars  off Western Cove  4 drowned, 14 survived  Mars Shipwreck 

1889, Jan 26  Maldon Lewis  onto rocks off Point Morrison  all survived, ship was able to sail to Pt Adelaide  Maldon Lewis on rocks 

1890, June 14  You Yangs  nr Pelorus Island, Latmax: -36.07 Lonmax: 137.46  21 crew, no fatalities  You Yangs Shipwreck 

1899, April 24th  Loch Sloy  Brothers Rocks, Maupertius Bay   30 drowned, 4 survivors  Loch Sloy Shipwreck 

1905, September  Loch Vennachar  off West Bay  all hands (27) drowned  Loch Vennachar Shipwreck 

1906, November 18  Montebello  1 km west of Stunsailboom River  No deaths, 40 hands saved  Montebello Shipwreck 

1915, July 26  Vera  near Cape du Couedic jetty  The master and two crew members escaped the wreck  Vera Shipwreck 

1917, February 2  Kona  off Cape St Alban's  All survived, cargo of timber lost  Kona Shipwreck 

See also accounts of SA shipwrecks not necessarily on K.I.

30 August 1934


Admella 1859


16 July 1936


1856 Port Elliot Five Wrecks In Nine Months Showed Insecurity Of Harbor. Commodore. the Josephine L'Oizeau; Goulbourn; Swordfish and the Lapwing.


4 August 1932


1859, that the Admella was wrecked near Cape Northumberland with a loss of 85 lives. 


28 February 1935


1855 Nashwauk Port Noarlunga 


4 October 1934


1888 Star of Greece Port Willunga 


17 October 1935


1838 Fanny


12 March 1936


1857 Guichen Bay (Robe)  Phaeton in February, the Sultana in April, and the Konig Willem in June


24 January 1935


1856 off Lake Bonney (Robe) Naroon or  Vroon ??


12 September 1935


1853 Osmanli 


9 April 1936


1837  South Australia, Solway, and John Pirie driven ashore At Encounter Bay