Historic shipwrecks
Australia protects its shipwrecks and their associated relics that are older than 75 years through the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976. The Historic Shipwrecks Act applies to Australian waters that extend from the low tide mark to the end of the continental shelf and is administered in collaboration between the Commonwealth and the States, Northern Territory and Norfolk Island.
The Historic Shipwrecks Act is delivered through the Historic Shipwrecks Program. Its objectives are to research, explore, document and protect Australia's historic shipwreck heritage. Each State or Territory program offers different opportunities for public participation as do maritime archaeological volunteer associations that exist in Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia.
image of poster here
This new Historic Shipwreck Program Poster will be launched at the 2008 AIMA/AASHA annual Conference Archaeology From Below: Engaging the Public.
Protecting shipwrecks and relics
All wrecks which are more than 75 years old are protected under the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976, together with their associated relics.
Historic shipwrecks are protected for their heritage values and maintained for recreational, scientific and educational purposes. Divers can use wreck sites for recreational purposes but relics must not be removed from the wreck site and the physical fabric of the wreck must not be disturbed unless a permit has been obtained.
Some historic shipwrecks lie within protected or no-entry zones. These zones may cover an area up to a radius of 800 metres around a wreck site, and may be declared where circumstances place it at particular risk of interference.
Historic shipwreck protected zones
Source: ERIN
Anyone who finds the remains of a ship, or an article associated with a shipwreck, needs to notify the authorities as soon as possible and give them information about what has been found and its location. Historic shipwrecks and associated relics do not belong to the individuals who find them.
The transfer, possession and custody of material such as relics, including coins, from historic shipwrecks, are also regulated and permits are needed to purchase and sell relics.
Search for heritage places
Forms
- Notification of discovery of shipwrecks or relics
- Notification of possession, custody, or control, of shipwrecks of relics
- Application to temporarily or permanently remove a shipwreck relic from Australia
- Application for entering a protected shipwreck zone, or disturbing an historic shipwreck or relic
- Report of Incident Involving a Historic Shipwreck, Relic or Protected Zone