Underwater cultural heritage

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Historic Shipwreck SS Tasman
A diver swims over the shattered stern section of the SS Tasman
Historic Shipwreck SS Alert
Wreckage from the schooner Alert washed up at Arthur Beach, Tasmania
Fraser Island. Photo: Paul Candlin.
Maheno shipwreck, Fraser Island
Diver with a commemorative marker on the Sirius site. Photo: Western Australian Museum.
Diver with a commemorative marker on the Sirius site
Diver inspects one of the anchors at the Sirius site. Photo: Western Australian Museum
Diver inspects one of the anchors at the HMS Sirius site
Great Ocean Rd, Apollo Bay. Photo: John Baker.
Anchor from the Marie Gabrielle (1869) on Wreck Beach, Victoria

Australia protects its shipwrecks, sunken aircraft and other types of underwater heritage and their associated artefacts through the Underwater Cultural Heritage Act 2018, which is administered in collaboration between the Commonwealth and the States, Northern Territory and Norfolk Island.

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News

USS Neosho shipwreck detected
Australian researchers believe they have found the wreck of USS Neosho, a US oil tanker sunk defending Australia in the Battle of the Coral Sea, near the ship’s last reported position at nearly 3 km depth.
09
Sep
2019
Historic Shipwreck looted off Vic coast
The iron steamer SS Alert has been reported as looted by divers . Wrecked in 1893, and located within a protected zone declared under the Underwater Cultural Heritage Act 2018. The site sits at a depth of 80 meters, well beyond the capacity of...
23
Jul
2019
New legislation for Australia to protect Underwater Cultural Heritage
On 1 July 2019 Australia repealed the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976 and commenced the Underwater Cultural Heritage Act 2018. The new Act broadens protection to aircraft and other underwater cultural heritage in Commonwealth waters, recognises human...
01
Jul
2019

Protected shipwreck relics: What are my responsibilities?

If you are in possession of a protected Historic Shipwreck relic and have not yet notified the Minister, the Department advises you to do so before the commencement of the Underwater Cultural Heritage Act 2018 in July 2019.

The 'Protector' HMCS

Wrecked on this day

Read the stories of ships wrecked on this day in history.