Source: Government of Queensland
Issued: 25 Feb 2025
Underwater photo of the Gothenburg shipwreck
It has been 150 years since the steam ship Gothenburg tragically sunk off the coast of Queensland in blinding rain.
At the time, the Northern Territory was an outpost of South Australia, where prominent members of political and legal circles often travelled for business.
On 24 February 1875, on its usual route from Darwin to Adelaide, Gothenburg ran into the Great Barrier Reef at low tide in monsoonal rain, 16 miles too far east, and sunk over the next 24 hours.
Sadly, many prominent public figures were swept away or drowned trying to board the four lifeboats during the wrecking – including a former premier of South Australia, a French Vice-Consul, a judge and all women and children – with only 22 recorded survivors.
As many as 112 people perished, which represented one seventh of the total European population of Darwin.
The vessel had £43,000 of uninsured gold on board that was salvaged soon after news of its sinking broke.
The historic shipwreck is situated in a protected zone and managed by the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) under the Commonwealth Underwater Cultural Heritage Act 2018.
Principal Heritage Officer Celeste Jordan said the shipwreck was discovered in 1971 and is managed by DETSI as it remains in Queensland waters.
“The ripple effects of this tragedy were widespread and extremely significant.
“It is etched into Australia’s history as a significant maritime tragedy. Adelaide went into mourning with relief funds set up in Melbourne and Sydney. No family in Darwin or Adelaide was left untouched by Gothenburg’s sinking.
“We manage the shipwreck to ensure it is preserved and protected for generations to come. It is an offence to interfere with the remains.”
Department for Environment and Water SA Principal Maritime Heritage Officer, Mark Polzer, said that although Gothenburg did not wreck in South Australian waters, the vessel’s loss had a profound impact on the South Australian community.
“Among those that perished were residents of Adelaide, Port Adelaide, Woodville, Northfield, Gawler and Angaston,” Mr Polzer said.
“The South Australian Maritime Museum holds a commemorative turtle-shell plaque carved by South Australian survivor and rescuer James Fitzgerald in 1925 as a private act of remembrance of the tragedy.
“Immediately after the shipwreck, Fitzgerald, along with John Cleland and Robert Brazil, were presented with gold meals and gold watches for bravery by Governor Musgrave for the South Australian Government.
“He inscribed the names of the survivors on the shell, which is said to have been taken from a turtle killed for food while he and the other survivors waited on Holborne island for rescue. Fitzgerald gifted the plaque to the museum in 1932.”
To dive around the Gothenburg you will need a free permit which can be applied for through the Australasian Underwater Cultural Heritage Database.