TSS Cumberland

Quick Facts

  • Vessel Type: 8,993-ton steel-hulled steamship (4-masted)

  • Built: 1915 by Hamilton & Company in Glasgow, Scotland

  • Owner: Federal Steam Navigation Company

  • Sank: August 11, 1917

  • Location: 5 miles south-east of Green Cape, NSW

  • Depth: ~93 meters (51 fathoms)

  • Cause of Sinking: Struck a German mine; later sank under tow

The Story of the TSS Cumberland

The TSS Cumberland was a massive 474-foot, 8,993-ton steel-hulled steamship powered by four steam turbines. Built in Scotland in 1915, this impressive cargo vessel was destined to become one of the most controversial casualties in Australian maritime history.

The First Home-Waters Casualty of WWI On July 6, 1917, the Cumberland was steaming south around Gabo Island in a convoy bound for the UK. Unbeknownst to the crew, the notorious German raider Wolf had recently laid a deadly minefield along the Australian eastern seaboard. The Cumberland struck one of these mines, blowing a massive hole in her port side and making her the very first wartime casualty in Australian home waters.

A Cover-up and a Slow Sinking Not wanting to alarm the general public about German mines on the coast, the Australian Government initially covered up the incident, claiming the explosion was the work of saboteurs on the docks in Townsville.

Immediately following the explosion, the Cumberland was intentionally run aground on Gabo Island to save the ship and her valuable cargo. After extensive salvage work, she was taken under tow by two tugs, heading stern-first toward Sydney for dry dock repairs. However, on August 11, a strong north-easterly swell compromised the salvage patch. The great ship buried her bows, reared her stern 50 feet into the air, and plunged into the ocean near Green Cape.

The Discovery

Because the Cumberland sank in 93 meters (51 fathoms) of water, she remained far beyond the reach of standard scuba divers for decades. This extreme depth requires highly specialized mixed-gas technical diving and ideal weather conditions to safely explore.

Using advanced marine sonar, the Southern Ocean Exploration (SOE) team pinpointed the massive wreck lying on the seabed. Diving the Cumberland is a monumental undertaking, but the team's efforts have successfully documented the current condition of this deeply historical WWI casualty, bringing its hidden legacy back to the surface.