ALLIANCE. 1861 Schooner Left Fitzroy River on 25 May never to be seen again.

BLUE BELL. SS 11 Feb 1877 South Keppel Rocks. Steamer & crew Wrecked presumed located at South Keppel Rocks. Loney 1982: Struck the south end of Keppel's Rock on the night of 11 February 1877 while carrying 76 tons of coal from Brisbane to Rockhampton. In calm seas the captain, his wife, 2 children and the crew of 6 reached safety but the steamer could not be saved.

BRITONS QUEEN. 21 Mar 1866 Masthead Reef/Polmaise Reef Schooner 2 Masts Possibly wreck of Britons Queen; inspected by QM staff; regular coasting schooner during 1850s and 1860s; cargo = hides/tallow; 7 passengers. Loney (1982): 14 passengers and crew landed safely on Masthead Island, then proceeded to Rockhampton. 2 mast schooner.

CAPRICORN. 7 October 1870 Gatecombe Head (near Gladstone) Cutter Wrecked near Gatecombe Head.

COOMA. 6 Jul 1922 (1926?) North Reef Steamer Screw Salvaged but abandoned after several failed attempts to refloat the vessel; subsequently caught fire. "On July 7th 1926 the 3839 ton passenger steamer Cooma ran aground on North Reef, near Rockhampton and sent out an S.O.S call. The S.S.Burwah responded to her call and rescued her crew of 84 and 200 passengers. After several unsuccessful salvage attempts and a fire which gutted her she was abandoned. She now lies broken up and scattered over the reef in 4 metres of water. All that is left today is a boiler on the beach and a few beams and machinery parts in the coral." (Source 2)

COSMOPOLITE. 15 Oct 1866 Masthead Reef/Polmaise Reef Brig Source:: Inspected by QM staff, probably Cosmopolite; carrying ballast; salvaged; no lives lost. Loney 1982: bound from Sydney to Gladstone with cattle, went ashore Masthead Reef and became a total wreck.

DARCY PRATT. 21 Jan 1893 Polmaise Reef, near Cape Capricorn Barquentine On a voyage to NZ with cargo of bone/bone dust from Rkh; not salvaged.

DEUTSCHLAND. 22 Jul 1883 Polmaise Reef Barque Carrying gen cargo for Rkh; salvaged; wreck inspected by QM, shallow site. Loney 1982: bound for Rocky from London with cast iron screw piles for the Port Alma Wharf, this German barque ran onto (Masthead?) Reef on 22 July and eventually became a total loss.

DOELWYCH. 21 April 1854 Kenn's Reef, 250 miles north of Port Curtis Dutch vessel commanded by Capt Zeeman. Lost of Kenn's Reef along with other Dutch vessel HESTER. Crew got away in boats but were never seen again.

DUKE OF YORK. 13 Aug 1837 Rock Cod Shoal/Morgan Rock? Barque Ran ashore on a bank off Port Curtis and became a total wreck. The crew took to boats and with the exception of two men, were speared by Aborigines when a landing was made on the mainland in search of water, reached Moreton Bay (Loney 1982:14).

EASTMINSTER. 17 Feb 1888 Vicinity of Capricorn-Bunker Islands Ship Last seen after departing Maryborough bound for Newcastle; presumed lost during cyclone; wreckage reported on a coral reef approx. 100 miles E of Rkh; no lives lost, not salvaged. Loney 1982: Emigrant ship left port after ignoring a warning from the pilot, headed out to sea in a rising gale. Not seen again.

GEORGE THORNTON. 18 Dec 1887 off Round Hill Barquentine Carrying a cargo of timber from Bundaberg to Normanton, she was found to be leaking after leaving the Burnett River. When pumps could not cope she was abandoned near Round Hill. The SS LUCINDA hove to in sight of the ship, the crew returned to their ship and from there were taken aboard the steamer and landed at Keppel Bay. An inquiry later found that the ship was overloaded and that carelessness had also been displayed during earlier voyages by allowing her to remain at anchor for nearly 2 months with her copper sheathing about 2 feet below water - long enough for worms to penetrate her topsides and possibly her bow ports, one of which was leaking when she was towed through Burnett Heads. Also the vessel had not been slipped and examined for 2 years.

GIL BLAS 20 July 1865 Baffle Creek Brig While leaving Baffle Creek for Sydney, GIL BLAS ran ashore on the bar and became a total wreck after she broke her back.. Her cargo of hides and tallow, sails and other movable gear were recovered. GLANWORTH. SS 26 Jan 1896 Settlement Point (Facing Island) Steamer Screw Struck rocks 800' off Settlement Pt while entering Nth Channel (Gladstone); passengers and crew landed safely at Gatcombe Hd. Loney 1982: Cargo and fittings were salvaged before she broke up. Lying in 5-8m of water.

HANNAH BROOMFIELD. 30 Apr 1872 Vicinity of Capricorn Reef (Broomfield Reef?) Barquentine Refloated from Broomfield Reef; wrecked in NZ in 1880. Loney 1982: HANNAH BLOOMFIELD wrecked on northern edge of Capricorn Reef. Most of her cargo and gear was recovered.

HESTER. 21 April 1854 Kenn's Reef, 250 miles north of Port Curtis Dutch vessel commanded by Capt Victor. Lost of Kenn's Reef along with other Dutch vessel DOELWYCH. Crew got away in boats and arrived safely in Gladstone.

JANE LOCKHART. 11 (17?) Dec 1868 Lady Musgrave Island/Heron Island Schooner 2 Masts Source:: Departed from Syd with general cargo for Broadsound; Ran aground on Lady Musgrave Is; maybe on Heron Is or One Tree Is. Loney 1982: Lost on a reef off Heron Island on the night of 17 December 1868. The crew took to the boat and safely reached the Pilot Station at Keppel Island.

JENNY LIND. 3 Oct 1862 Seal Rocks (South Passage, Gladstone) Barquentine Refloated; cargo = grain/produce mostly salvaged and sold.

JENNY LIND. 2 Feb 1857 Somewhere along shore of Bustard Bay Schooner Forced ashore at Bustard Bay during a heavy gale. After she struck the mainmast was cut away and this preventing her rolling onto her beam ends. Crew all reach the shore and camped on the beach for 10 days until the gale subsided. Then, they took the 2 boats and set out for Port Curtis, which was reached in 2 days.

LADY DARLING. 26 Mar 1866 Jenny Lind Creek Bar .Cutter went ashore on the Jenny Lind Creek bar and soon broke up.

LIVE YANKEE. 18 Jan 1868 Jenny Lind Creek bar Cutter The tiny cutter LIVE YANKEE was crossing the bar at Jenny Lind Creek on 18 January when heavy seas forced her onto the bar. One man was washed overboard and drowned while the cutter became a total wreck.

LODA. 19 Feb 1866 Cape Capricorn Barque Damaged during cyclone near Bampton Shoals and adrift; crew abandoned ship near Wreck Reef and set off for Hervey Bay; vessel on fire last sighted 15 miles E of Lady Elliot Is; remains ashore at Cape Capricorn; salvaged. Loney 1982: Commanded by Captain Wade.

LOMBARD. After 7 April 1867 Enroute Gladstone to New Zealand Barque Loaded with cattle. A week after departure from Gladstone, bodies of dead cattle were sighted near Indian Head, then pieces of timber bearing some of the letters of the ships name floated ashore near Port Macquarie. Early in June, part of her stern came ashore.

LONE STAR. 10 September 1870 Wreck Reef Schooner Within an hour after striking Wreck Reef, she became a total wreck. The crew from the whaling station on Bird Island helped salvage her gear then on the 27th the captain and 3 members of the crew set out for Keppel Bay.

LOUISA LAMONT. 22 Feb 1888 Lamont Reef/Wistari Reef? Schooner? Vessel salvaged and refloated; subsequently lost in Bass Strait March 1901.

MARY ELLEN. 1 Jan 1911 off Cape Capricorn Schooner Foundered between Cape Capricorn and Sandy Cape; built from the remnants of "ONO' when broken up.

MISSIE. 12 Jun 1866 Between Brisbane and Gladstone Brig After leaving Brisbane, the MISSIE was found to be leaking. For several days the crew tried to keep her afloat but on the 12th June heavy squalls carried away the mainmast and damaged the pumps. While preparing to abandon her, the SS SALAMANDA was sighted, which took aboard the crew and proceeded to Gladstone.

MOONTA. 8 March 1899 Gatecombe Head Schooner Struck rocks at Gatecombe Head and soon broke up.

NAUTILUS. 1928 Near Gladstone Barge In 1999, the Royal Australian Navy were conducting mine locating exercises in the Gladstone area when they discovered the wreck of the Nautilus a few hours boat ride to the east of the city. The Nautilus sank whilst being towed to Brisbane for scrapping in 1928 and its whereabouts was known by only a few trawler fishermen until some remarkable photos, taken of her by the navy’s sonar equipment, were published by the local paper. The wreck now lies in about 27 metres of water, perfectly upright and largely intact, with a very healthy collection of pelagic species surrounding her. The Nautilus was a barge of about 300 ton, and is about 160 feet long, penetration is possible. Reported by dive operators - see www.diveoz.com.au. Lies in 22-27m of water.

NORNA. 15 Jun 1914 near Masthead Island Schooner 2 Masts.

PACIFIC. 7 Mar 1903 Fitzroy Reef/Llwellyn Reef Steamer Screw Specifically designed for transporting timber; Vessel wrecked on Llwellyn Reef.

PIONEER. 10 (12?) Mar 1866 Masthead Reef or Polmaise Reef Schooner 2 Masts Unidentified #1 site (Polmaise Reef) inspected by QM staff - possibly PIONEER wreck site; regular coasting schooner during 1860s; cargo = timber; no lives lost. Loney 1982: Struck an outcrop of Masthead Reef on 12th March, an anchor was dropped but she dragged along the rocks until stopped by a large rock which pierced her bottom and held her upright. The crew launched a boat and sailed to Keppel Bay.

POLMAISE. 2 Feb 1873 Polmaise Reef. Barque Outward bound from Rkh. for London with general cargo; salvaged. Site inspected by QM staff; shallow site. Loney 1982: struck reef off Masthead Island and remained fast on falling tide. The master and most of the passengers left in the pinnace to obtain assistance, leaving the mate in charge. Loney claims wrecked on 2 January, not 2 February?

PRINCE REGENT. 20 Aug 1869 South Trees Point/Gladstone Barque Possibly built as royal yacht; used in late 1840s and early 1850s as a whaling vessel out of Hobart. Maritime History Society of Gladstone has material from wreck on display. Loney 1982: While loading cattle at Gladstone, she drifted ashore and could not be refloated.

PROGRESS. Late May 1900 Polmaise Reef Ketch Cargo included explosives, lost of Polmaise Reef.

PROTECTOR. 1943 Near Gladstone, but towed to Heron Island to be used as a breakwater Ship - Port defence vessel The Protector was built in 1884 at Newcastle-on-Tyne. She was 960 tonnes, 57 metres long and had a crew of 90 men. She carried 5 six inch guns and one eight inch gun. She was built for the South Australian Govt and used for protection of ports and shipping in the gulf waters. In 1911 she was used as a training ship, and also did service in New Guinea in 1914. In 1921 she was renamed CERBERUS and used as a tender at Western Port in Victoria. In 1924 she was renamed back to Protector and retired from navy service. In 1931 she was again renamed, this time to SIDNEY, tonnage was not 564 gross, owner was Victorian Lighteridge P/L, reg. in Melbourne. The U.S. Army bought her in 1943 and was in service at New Guinea. While she was under tow to her new destination she was holed by a tug and abandoned on a beach near Gladstone. She was eventually refloated and towed to Heron Island where she now serves as a breakwater.

REBECCA. 19 July 1863 Baffle Creek Schooner While crossing the bar at Baffle Creek, when the wind fell away she drifted ashore. After spending several days salvaging cargo, the master and crew set out overland for Maryborough. On the way they were attacked and robbed by Aborigines but no one was injured.

SABLE CHIEF. 17 Dec 1856 "Sable Chief Rocks Reef, Facing Island" Barquentine Crew saved bales of wool. No lives lost. Total wreck .

SUSANNAH. After 17 Sept 1865 Last seen off Keppel Bay Schooner Last seen off Keppel Bay on 17th September 1865 just prior to the onset of severe gales.

TAMBAROORA. SS 22 Jul 1879 Polmaise Reef, near Masthead Island Steamer Screw Carrying cargo of grain/produce; salvaged; no lives lost. Site inspected by QM staff; shallow site. Loney 1982: claims it was lost on Masthead Island in Capricorn Group on 22 July 1879. The wreck was purchased for 140 pounds and hopes were high that she could be refloated until examination showed her to be breaking up underwater. See also www.diveoz.com.au: The iron steamer SS Tambooroora was wrecked on Polmaise reef near Masthead Island in 1879. She lies in shallow water about 100metres from the reef and her stern post comes very close to the surface, a hazard to boats trying to find the wreck. The wreck is mostly flattened but her boilers, rudder and propeller still remain making it a nice change from the reef dives in the area. Within 50metres of the Tambooroora lies the unidentified remains of a timber wreck and within half a mile lie two other wrecks of historical significance, including the wreck of the ''Polmaise'', which the reef is named after, all four ships are declared historic shipwrecks.

TERRIGAL. Aug 1887 Near Gladstone Ketch Registered in Sydney.

TIMANDRA. 23 Oct 1858 Timandra Bank (Keppel Bay) Barque 105 crew.

TOM TOUGH. 1856 Gulf of Carpentaria Unknown. Tom Tough. Unknown type. Lost in the Gulf of Carpentaria after stranding and being condemned, 1856. She was employed as a tender for an exploring expedition.

UNKNOWN. Sept 1887 Rodds Bay Ketch Unknown ketch seen to founder near Rodds Bay on late September 1887.

WILLING LASS. 5 Jul 1868 Masthead Reef or Polmaise Reef Brigantine (Barquentine?) Source:: Inspected by QM staff, possibly Willing Lass wreck site, #1 site Polmaise Reef; no lives lost; carrying ballast; shallow site. Loney 1982: Struck by a squall during a voyage from Rockhampton to Richmond River. A course was set to steer her ashore when the wind dropped leaving her helpless to drift onto the reef where rising seas soon destroyed her.

WISTARI. 14 Sep 1887 One Tree Island/Wistari Reef? Barque Built as the 'LOOK AT HOME'; not salvaged.