City of Sydney
A passenger steamer wrecked on the rocks at Green Cape in fog in 1862, the first major wreck in what became known as Disaster Bay.
The story
The City of Sydney was the first screw-powered vessel ordered by the Australasian Steam Navigation Company. She was running from Melbourne to Sydney with about 100 passengers.
In fog at night, the first officer believed the ship was safely three miles off the bay, but Captain Moodie ordered her further east. She struck breakers and ran broadside onto the rocks at City Rock, Green Cape.
The passengers are described as calm during the evacuation. Two crew were washed overboard when falling masts struck the final lifeboat. The wreck lies in about 22 metres of water and has been located.
Where the records differ:
The national database page gives the year only. A New South Wales record gives 6 November 1862.
Archive photographs for this wreck are being gathered and will be added here.
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More wrecks on this coast
Ellen Simpson
A coal vessel lost near Cape Howe in a gale in May 1866. Nine of her eleven crew died, and two officers survived.
30 May 1886SS Ly-ee-Moon
A paddle steamer that struck the rocks under the Green Cape lighthouse in 1886. Seventy-one of the 86 people aboard died.
13 February 1911SS New Guinea
An interstate steamer that ran onto the rocks near Green Cape Lighthouse in fog in 1911. All 28 aboard reached Eden by lifeboat.
20 December 1837The Schah
A Hobart to Sydney schooner lost in a gale on the coast near Mallacoota in 1837, and the second oldest identified wreck in Victorian coastal waters.