City of Hobart

Quick Facts

  • Vessel Type: Iron screw passenger steamship

  • Built: 1853 by R. Napier & Sons in Glasgow, Scotland

  • Owner: Tasmanian Steam Navigation Company

  • Sank: July 25, 1877

  • Location: East of Wilsons Promontory, Victoria

  • Cause of Sinking: Collision with the steamer Penola

The Story of the City of Hobart

Built in 1853, the City of Hobart was a heavily built iron passenger steamship that served as a reliable workhorse for the Tasmanian Steam Navigation Company. For decades, she successfully ferried passengers and cargo across the notoriously rough Bass Strait between Melbourne and Tasmania.

The Fatal Collision On July 25, 1877, the City of Hobart was steaming off the coast of Wilsons Promontory when disaster struck. In the dark, she was involved in a violent collision with another steamer, the Penola.

The impact tore a massive hole into the side of the City of Hobart. Fortunately, the crew acted quickly and decisively. All passengers and crew members were successfully transferred to the heavily damaged but floating Penola before the City of Hobart sank beneath the waves.

The Discovery

The resting place of the City of Hobart remained a mystery for over a century. Lying in deep water off Wilsons Promontory, the wreck was eventually located and documented by the Southern Ocean Exploration (SOE) team.

Using advanced sonar and deep-diving techniques, the team found the iron hull remarkably intact given its age, serving as a time capsule of 1850s maritime engineering and a thriving artificial reef.

Text by – Des Williams (MAAV)