What is there to do in Townsville? Just off the coast of Townsville is the ship wreck of "The City of Adelaide" which lies in the mud flats of Cockle Bay on Magnetic Island's.

The City of Adelaide was launched in 1863 as a passenger steam ship in Glasgow, Scotland. The ship was to be converted to a Barque for the use as a cargo transporter vessel. The vessel was gutted by fire in 1912 and in 1916 the burnt hulk was then run aground on Magnetic Island, in Cockle Bay just off Townsville. During World War two, during a R.A.A.F. training drill four people were accidentally killed when the aircraft struck the masts of the vessel.

Magnetic Island's most prominent shipwreck,

which lies in the mud off Cockle Bay.

 

"The City of Adelaide"

History

Commissioned for the Australasian Steam Navigation Company and built in Govan, Glasgow the ship was launched on 22 December 1863. SS City of Adelaide ran regular passenger services between a number of destinations including Melbourne, Sydney, Honolulu and San Francisco. After a refit in 1871 the ship continued operated for a further 14 years and retired from service in 1885. After a merger of the “Australasian Steam Navigation Company” with the “Queensland Steam Shipping Company,” in 1887, the City of Adelaide stayed in service with “Australasian United Steam Navigation Company.”

She was then sold in 1890 to W. A. Ritchie, of Sydney, then converted by removing her boilers and engines to a four masted barque. In 1895 the ship was sold to G J Robertson from Sydney. Then, in 1902 the ship was sold to Howard Smith Company in Townsville and used for a hulk and the storage of coal. The vessel caught fire in 1912 and burnt for a few days before the fire could be put out. The burnt hulk of the vessel was then purchased in 1915, by George Butler. Butler had the hull stripped, and an attempt was made to float the vessel to Picnic Bay where it would be scuttled to provide a breakwater for a jetty. However, as the vessel was being transported it ran aground off Cockle Bay.

During World War II the wreck of the vessel was used for target practice by bomber pilots from the nearby air strip at Garbutt.  October 22nd 1942, six R.A.A.F. Bristol Beaufort bombers from 100th Squadron while conducting a coordinated mock torpedo attack on Townsville Harbour followed by a coordinated practice bombing of the wreck of the SS City of Adelaide. After a successful simulation attack on the Harbour, the six Beaufort bombers climbed to approximately 1,000 feet into V formation over Cockle Bay. A number of the Beauforts proceeded on a mock bombing run on the vessel at which time one of the aircraft was seen to strike one of the masts of the ship, crashing some 700 meters from the ship hull with the aircraft fuselage breaking up and disintegrating on impact, killing all the crew of 3 RAAF officers and 1 US Navy Officer 

Today the remnants of the hull has become an artificial island with a variety of plant, bird and marine life making this their home. The wreck is approximately 300 meters off the shore of Cockle Bay and can be easily reached at low tide.

For more information or if your after accommodation ask at the reception at Reef Lodge Backpackers Townsville, Queensland Australia. Or, contact us through our website www.reeflodge.com.au or Phone 07 47 211 112