COOGEE

Location

Ships Graveyard, Outside Port Phillip Heads Area, Bass Strait

VHR Number

S142

Date lost

20/02/1928

Year of construction

1887

Official number

93722

Statement of Significance

The SS Coogee is historically significant for its working life in a variety of roles for nearly 40 years, serving as a Port Phillip excursion steamer, Bass Strait passenger ship, cable repair ship and as a minesweeper during World War I. It is recreationally significant as one of the wrecks in the Ships' Graveyard and is a spectacular advanced dive.

Physical Description

Construction Material Steel

Hull Details Rigged as a 3 mast schooner 61 deck (part steel) shade deck 44 ft Electric light4 bulkheads 7 Elliptical stern, clincher built 6

Propulsion Steam - Screw

Number of Masts 3

Length / Breadth / Depth 225.0 Feet / 0.0 / 0.0

History

Builder J. L. Thompson & Sons

Built Date 1887

Built Port / Country Sunderland / England

Registration Port / Country Melbourne / Australia

Details
Huddart Parker's steamship Coogee was purchased to operate in the Melbourne to Geelong trade. After a brief period on this run, it was placed in the Bass Strait passenger service, where in 1903, it was involved in a collision with the Italian barque Fortunato Figari. The sailing ship's bowsprit raked the Coogee's deck, flattening the mast, bridge and funnel. The captain and one of the crewmen who were on the bridge were killed. After repairs, the Coogee returned briefly to the Bass Strait passenger service before returning to the Melbourne - Geelong excursion route. The vessel was taken over by the RAN for use as a minesweeper during World War I. After the war it was chartered by the Telegraph Department to repair the Bass Strait cable. The Coogee returned to the Port Phillip excursion trade but was eventually laid up, and in 1927, was sold for scrap. The following year the hull was towed to sea and scuttled in the Ships' Graveyard.

Voyage Details

Date Lost 20/02/1928

Owner Huddart Parker Ltd. then Grant Allen, Melb. (1927)

Cause of Loss
Dismantled and scuttled

Further Details

Number of Passengers 0

Number of Crew Members 0

Physical Description
Construction Material	Steel
Hull Details	Rigged as a 3 mast schooner 61 deck (part steel) shade deck 44 ft Electric light4 bulkheads 7 Elliptical stern, clincher built 6
Propulsion	Steam - Screw
Number of Masts	3
Length / Breadth / Depth	225.0 Feet / 0.0 / 0.0

Builder	J. L. Thompson & Sons
Built Date	1887
Built Port / Country	Sunderland / England
Registration Port / Country	Melbourne / Australia
Details	Huddart Parker's steamship Coogee was purchased to operate in the Melbourne to Geelong trade. After a brief period on this run, it was placed in the Bass Strait passenger service, where in 1903, it was involved in a collision with the Italian barque Fortunato Figari. The sailing ship's bowsprit raked the Coogee's deck, flattening the mast, bridge and funnel. The captain and one of the crewmen who were on the bridge were killed. After repairs, the Coogee returned briefly to the Bass Strait passenger service before returning to the Melbourne - Geelong excursion route. The vessel was taken over by the RAN for use as a minesweeper during World War I. After the war it was chartered by the Telegraph Department to repair the Bass Strait cable. The Coogee returned to the Port Phillip excursion trade but was eventually laid up, and in 1927, was sold for scrap. The following year the hull was towed to sea and scuttled in the Ships' Graveyard.


Date Lost	20/02/1928
Owner	Huddart Parker Ltd. then Grant Allen, Melb. (1927)
Cause of Loss	Dismantled and scuttled

Number of Passengers	0
Number of Crew Members	0

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