Apollo Bay - SS Casino Wreck
The SS Casino is one of Apollo Bay's most famous maritime stories. For nearly 50 years, the coastal steamer carried passengers, livestock, mail and cargo between Melbourne and ports along Victoria's south-west coast, completing an estimated 2,500 voyages. Built in Dundee, Scotland, in 1882, the vessel became a lifeline for coastal communities before the Great Ocean Road was completed.
On 10 July 1932, the SS Casino attempted to berth at the Apollo Bay jetty during heavy seas and a strong south-easterly gale. The ship struck the bottom several times, suffered serious damage and began taking on water. An attempt was made to beach the vessel, but it capsized approximately 400 metres offshore. Ten people, including Captain John Middleton, lost their lives in the disaster.
The wreck lies in about 9 metres of water off the northern end of Apollo Bay and has become a popular dive site. The wreck itself cannot be seen from shore under normal conditions.
Visitors can, however, see several memorials:
- The SS Casino Anchor Memorial outside the old post office in Apollo Bay.
- Interpretive displays explaining the sinking.
- The ship's wheel is displayed at the Apollo Bay Hotel.
- The propeller and bell are preserved in Port Fairy as part of memorial displays.
Anchor of S.S. Casino
Presented to the Shire of Otway on 10th July 1982 by the Apollo Bay and District Historical Society to commemorate the sinking at Apollo Bay of S.S. Casino on 10th July 1932, with the loss of ten lives.
M. Biddle, President and R. B. Davis, Secretary
Signage at the site reads:
SS Casino
This site – originally built as a post office in 1970 – has housed the SS Casino's anchor since 10th July 1982 when it was presented to the Shire of Otway by the Apollo Bay & District Historical Society, exactly 50 years after the ship was lost. The anchor is a strong reminder of Apollo Bay's rich maritime history and heritage.
The SS Casino was a flagship of the Belfast and Koroit Steam Navigation Company based in Port Fairy. She was built by Gourlay Bros of Dundee, Scotland for the NSW north coastal trade and called at Warrnambool in May 1882, to load potatoes for Sydney. Here she was inspected by the directors and was acquired in July 1882. Upon her triumphant arrival to Port Fairy she was met with cheers by a large crowd who turned up to see her sail up the Moyne River. She was put on the run from Port Fairy to Melbourne. In May 1885 she commenced calling at Lorne and Apollo Bay.
The SS Casino was an iron ship with gross tonnage of 425 tons, 160.4 feet long, a breadth of 24.1 feet and a draft of 10.2 feet. She could carry 300 ton of cargo and had saloon accommodation for 35 passengers.
She was built with three masts for rigging sails, which were used to save fuel on the delivery voyage. On 20th October 1924 when the SS Casino went aground off Point Hawden near Grey River, she lost the middle mast which was never replaced.
She made 2,500 voyages and was known as one of the "immortals" of Port Philip as she successfully navigated the treacherous waters of the Bass Strait. However, it was not always smooth sailing, she had a few near misses in her time, running aground on a reef near Grey River, beaching at Warrnambool whilst entering Lady Bay in a power blackout and even colliding with another boat off Point Gellibrand.
On the 19th July 1932 a celebration to commemorate Casino's fiftieth anniversary had been planned, unfortunately at 9 o'clock in the morning of Sunday 10th July 1932 (just nine days prior to the planned celebration) disaster struck. In heavy seas, while attempting to berth at the Apollo Bay jetty, she ran over her own anchor which pierced her hull under the front hold. This went unnoticed until Captain Middleton, who tried to maneuver her out of the bay to wait for the sea to calm, realised she was taking on water and tried to beach the ship. She hit a sand bar and rolled on to her side. She sank before being able to reach safety. The lives of the Captain and nine of her crew members were lost.
The SS Casino now lies about 400 meters offshore in 9 meters of water on a sandy seabed at the northern end of Apollo Bay, opposite Pisces Caravan Park. She lies on her port side with the bow toward the sea. The forward hull remains relatively intact however the stern has collapsed exposing the steering gear, engine and propeller shaft, the propeller stands as a monument in Port Fairy for all the crew who lost their lives. A salvage operation was conducted on the wreck and items are within Apollo Bay. Her original flag is on display at the Apollo Bay Museum.
Location
Cnr Great Ocean Road and Nelson Street, Apollo Bay 3233 View Map
