The tragic wreck of the SS ‘Cheviot’ during a frightful storm took place at this location on the 19th October 1887, with the loss of 35 lives. It remains the greatest number of lives to be lost in a single shipwreck along this entire section of coastline . . .
The screw (i.e. propeller driven) steamer SS ‘Cheviot’, was a typical coastal trading passenger and cargo steamship, on her way to Sydney at the time. She had barely cleared Port Phillip Heads when her propeller blades were sheared off against the rocks and left her floundering – the efforts of the captain and crew to regain control failed in the heavy seas. All those located to the front of the ship at the time of the disaster perished as it plunged into the sea, apart from one man who managed to reach the shore and raise the alarm. A rescue was affected the following day. As can be seen in the photo above the rock platforms extend a distance into the sea, not to mention the task of scaling down the cliff faces to reach the wreck would have been, in itself, as difficult as battling the mountainous seas – a testament to the bravery, improvisation skills, and determination of our early pioneers:
” . . . The wreck of the steamer Cheviot at Portsea, which was briefly reported yesterday, was total, and disastrous to life. The Cheviot passed through the Heads on Wednesday evening at about 8 o’clock on her way to Sydney, while a heavy south-west gale was blowing, which deterred the steamers Wairarapa and Southern Cross from leaving port. An hour afterwards her propeller was carried away by the sea or it dropped off — the stern rose out of the water, one account says, the engines “raced,” and all the blades of the propeller were suddenly stripped off — and the vessel lay helpless on a lee shore with so heavy a gale blowing that her anchors, which were let go to try and save her were dragged. An attempt to handle the vessel under canvas also failed. She was tossed about helpless upon the water, and in about an hour the steamer stranded, and soon parted amidships. The fore part broke up, and all the steerage passengers and most of the crew and officers who were upon it, perished. A man managed to reach the shore, much cut and bruised by the rocks.
The stern half of the vessel remained just upon the rock until daylight, when the Queenscliff lifeboat crew, assisted by the artillery men at Point Nepean, and some men who were employed at the fort making pits for the new guns, effected the rescue of the saloon passengers and captain by means of the life-saving apparatus brought from the lighthouse at Point Nepean. A rocket attached to a line was fired on board, which made it a comparatively easy matter to employ a hawser to carry a “boatswain’s chair between the steamer and the shore. The women were landed first, and then the male passengers were brought off. The captain, Richardson, was the last man to leave the ship. . . “
Source: Excerpt – Sydney Morning Herald (NSW) – Article ‘Wreck of the Steamer Cheviot‘ – published 21st October 1887
The Brisbane Courier reported: Wreck of the Steamer Cheviot
‘Cheviot Beach’ and ‘Cheviot Hill’ carry the name of the wreck of the SS ‘Cheviot’, and serve as a reminder the the tragic loss of life on this occasion, as well as the many other ships that succumbed to the treacherous Rip and the mountainous seas of Bass Strait so often whipped up by the south-easterly gales.
Interestingly, this location is also famous for the mysterious disappearance of Australia’s 17th Prime Minister, Harold Holt, on the 17th December 1967 . . .
Helpful Hints:
– Located approximately 1.5 km from Gunners Cottage, via Defence Road – obtain Directions here
– The entrance to Point Nepean National Park is located some 3.5 km North-West of the Portsea Town Centre
Discover Portsea:
– Shopping
– Facilities available at Portsea include:
Sorry, no records were found. Please adjust your search criteria and try again.
Sorry, unable to load the Maps API.