State undertakes shipwreck survey

Sunshine Coast Daily: State undertakes shipwreck survey

A SURVEY of Queensland’s historic shipwrecks has been launched to provide a better understanding of where the historic sites are off Queensland’s coast.

Climate Change and Sustainability Minister Kate Jones said the survey would begin in Moreton Bay and be carried out by the Heritage Branch of the Department of Environment and Resource Management.

The heritage branch has recently taken over management of Queensland’s historic shipwrecks from the Queensland Museum.

“Queensland’s coastline is littered with untold stories under the sea,” Ms Jones said.

“We know there are more than 1000 historic shipwrecks or abandoned vessels along the state’s coast, as well as in our rivers and bays. But in most cases, data on these shipwrecks is scant and often inaccurate.

“Every one of these ships is an irreplaceable archaeological site which can tell us much about the lives of past generations of Queenslanders and others who visited our shores.

“While some wrecks in the Moreton Bay area are well-known such as the Aarhus, there are approximately 50 wrecks reported in and around the Bay listed on the National Shipwreck Database.

“In many cases, the locations listed are imprecise and we know very little about the history of the individual wrecks.

“Through this survey, we will tap into the broad range of skills and equipment within our heritage and marine parks units to locate as many wrecks as possible and determine their significance.”

Ms Jones said there was a wealth of information about unidentified shipwrecks among members of the community, historical researchers and diving groups.

The first stage in this survey would be community consultation, with the department calling on members of the public, research organisations and diving groups to help build up the bank of knowledge on historic sites, starting with Moreton Bay.

“We know the people of Queensland are passionate about our underwater history – and there is a real interest in many of our shipwrecks among the diving community in particular. By working with the community we hope to build a clearer picture about the wrecks off our coast.”

The survey would also locate different types of underwater heritage objects other than shipwrecks, including aircraft.

Anyone with information or enquires about Queensland’s historic shipwrecks should contact DERM’s Customer Service Centre on 1300-130372 or e-mail.