S.S. Courier 1887-1928

Text: Wayne Caldow

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During the 1880s the Port Phillip Bay excursion steamers grew in popularity such that the Melbourne based company, Huddart Parker, commissioned the building of a new ship specifically for the trade. The new steamer was expected to take advantage of the increased trade and to compete with Howard Smith's Edina. The steel-hulled Courier, 728 tons, was launched in Scotland in 1887 and arrived in Melbourne at the end of the year to begin running in the Melbourne-Geelong trade in January 1888.
S.S.Courier at Moorabool Wharf, Geelong, Victoria. LaTrobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria
S.S.Courier at Moorabool Wharf, Geelong, Victoria. LaTrobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria

Unlike the Edina, the Courier had a relatively uneventful life, and remained in the Geelong trade until November 1927. Age and economics forced her withdrawal from service and inevitable sale to ship breakers. The hull was stripped of everything considered to be of value, then towed through The Heads on March 27 1928 and scuttled in the Ships' Graveyard.

Today, the remains of the Courier lie in 42 metres of water and, as with many of the wrecks in the Ships' Graveyard, the hull has mostly collapsed. The bow and stern sections are lying over to starboard and are the best preserved parts of the hull. The fore deck still retains a considerable amount of planking, a few deck fittings and some railing on the starboard side. This deck area is quite large and is an impressive sight, standing approximately seven metres off the bottom. Immediately behind this, the hull has totally collapsed, leaving the main deck hatch coaming sitting on the bottom. Behind this are the two boilers sitting in line. On days with good visibility the dark shape of the stern can just be seen in the distance, although to see this close up requires a separate dive. The stem is also an impressive sight, but it is less structurally intact than the bow. The shape of the vessel's counter stern is still recognisable, and just forward of this, there is the remains of some superstructure.

S.S.Courier at Moorabool Wharf, Geelong, Victoria. LaTrobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria
S.S.Courier at Moorabool Wharf, Geelong, Victoria. LaTrobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria
The Courier is obviously too deep to consider doing any survey work using the methods currently employed. However, this should not detract from any consideration of the significance of the site. The bay excursion steamers were an important part of the social life of Melboume when going "down the bay" was a very popular form of entertainment. It is fascinating to listen to the stories of older people of trips on the bay, stories of seasickness, steam engines and a much simpler form of pleasure. Although the excursion trade ceased decades ago, there is still a rich oral history. It could be argued that the Courier is representative of ships and a trade that is more significant in terms of social or cultural history than many of the sites that have so far been declared under the Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976 [January 31, 1996, saw all the wrecks in the Ships' Graveyard declared historic, including the Courier].                                                                                                                                            
  • Do you have any comments or questions regarding the S.S.Courier project report?
  • If you have dived on the S.S.Courier have you any comments concerning the site?
  • Do you have any information / photographs historical or otherwise which you believe may be useful to the MAAV for inclusion in the project report?
  • Full credit will be given to any material if published.

Your comments are appreciated.

References
Gregory, C.D. (1928) Australian Steamships Past and Present. - (1935) The Romance of the Edina.

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Last modified: April, 2010