Captivating Transformation of Australian Shipwreck by Nature’s Hands

An amazing tale of how nature took control of an Australian shipwreck and transformed it into something interesting. Thick mangroves have grown from the wreck of the S.S. City of Adelaide, a passenger ship that was built in Scotland in 1863 and carried passengers between Australia and San Francisco. The ship is situated in Cockle Bay, Magnetic Island, and its underwater history is as interesting as its maritime history. Originally constructed as a three-masted sail-steamer, the City of Adelaide ship had one of its masts removed in 1871 to boost passenger capacity.

To accommodate more passengers, the ship underwent a renovation in 1871 that involved reducing its number of masts from three to two. Her steam engine was removed in 1890, and she was remodeled as a four-masted jackass barque. It caught fire in 1912 and burned for a few days before the fire was put out. It was grounded at Cockle Bay in 1915 while being towed to be scuttled as a breakwater. It was concluded, at the time of its 1916 sinking, that the shallow water would make it impossible to cut up and salvage and that it would remain in Cockle Bay.

Still today, the wreckage of the once-passenger ship forms an island-like structure off the Australian coast. George Butler, a resident of Magnetic Island, purchased the SS City of Adelaide with the intention of using it as a breakwater for a jetty in Picnic Bay. However, on the way to its destination, the ship ran aground in Cockle Bay, where it still sits today, its condition getting worse with each passing decade. It is entirely possible to go out to the wreck completely at low tide, but be cautious of the soft, sinking mud as the water rushes out and leaves it sitting completely out of the sea. The wreck served as a target practice for bomber crews from the neighboring Garbutt Airfield during World War II, according to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

The misfortunes of the SS City of Adelaide, in fact, only increased over time. The wreck proved dangerous during WWII when one of the tall masts brought down a bomber during a training exercise. Three members of the United States Navy and one member of the Royal Australian Air Force perished in the accident. However, later, in the 1970s, a cyclone struck close by, partially collapsing the ship’s iron hull. Now, the wreckage of the ship has given rise to a thriving mangrove forest. Thomson also constructed the ship’s two-cylinder, 200-horsepower marine steam engine. Its registered length was 246.0 feet (75.0 meters), her beam was 28.3 feet (8.6 meters), and her depth was 16.6 feet (5.1 meters).

Still, the shipwreck is an artificial island that supports a variety of flora and fauna. It is located at 19.174842°S and 146.825471°E. The trees, which are accustomed to harsh environments, have settled comfortably in the silted-up remnants of the ship. It is interesting to note that even though the SS City of Adelaide was in service for more than a century, the mangroves are relatively recent. However, as you can see, the mangroves have grown established, and the hull is now in parts. A colony of cockatoos has also made it their home, nesting in the mangrove trees that have sprouted from the corroded deck. One of twenty shipwrecks around the island, tourists still swarm to see what is left of the SS City of Adelaide.

Prohibited from commercial fishing and trawling, the mangroves grow peacefully and gradually overtake this industrial ruin because it is located in an Australian Marine Park, giving it special protection. Walking along the rocks from Picnic Bay at low tide is the fastest way to get to the wreck, though it can get muddy and you will need to keep an eye on the flood tide. If you want to get there, then from Townsville’s shore, Magnetic Island is easily accessible with a 40-minute ferry voyage.

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