Wardang Island

Port Victoria, on the West coast of the Yorke Peninsula is a gentle town with a violent history. There's no sign of it along the foreshore where the Caravan Park overlooks the Jetty that reaches out into Spencer Gulf. Last Century it established itself as one of the most important shipping centres for South Australia - taking wheat from the Peninsula to markets across the world. But it came at a cost. Shipwrecks were common in the waters off Port Victoria ... and while there was never any loss of life ... there was plenty of loss of sleep for Captains bringing their vessels in and out of dock. The ocean floor off the Yorke Peninsula is littered with nautical reminders of how difficult shipping is. There are at least 35 wrecks alone at Troubridge Shoals near Edithburgh. Back near Port Victoria - each cross in this map represents one of eight ships that are now berthed on the ocean floor around Wardang Island. They were anchored off the Island waiting to dock when nature picked a fight with them. However what South Australia lost in shipping it gained in reefs.

The "Songvaar" was a Swedish Vessel that collected 40-thousand bags of wheat from Port Victoria in 1912 and then sank off Point Pearce. There was a failed attempt to re-float her and eventually a storm in 1920 broke her up further. The Songvaar is now home to shcools of fish like this striped variety known as "Old Wives" and the quicker "Silver Drummers" ... fish that are common to divers but almost unknown to fishermen and women. That's because the fish are vegetarians and don't respond to bait. One creature that certainly is not a vegetarian is the Cutlefish. Like a Chameleon, the Cuttlefish changes colour to suit it's surroundings and is constantly on the lookout for fish and crustaceans to feed on. The Department of Environment has installed an underwater trail for divers that runs between Port Victoria and Wardang Island. Divers can follow the history of various wrecks using the plates on the ocean floor and with a waterproof guide book. Through the schools of Magpie Perch and Zebra Fish is one of the standout remains - the anchor from the S.S. Investigator. The tree masted iron screw steamer was built in Glasgow in 1882 and worked for the Adelaide Steamship Company running between Port Pirie and Port victoria. She had a load of general cargo and superposphate on board on April 29 1918 when she sank. Innacurate charts was the official reason for the loss.

Another Scottish built vessel the "S.S. Australian" was on her final voyage from Venus Bay to Port Vicotria when a sand stirm blowing off Wardang Island mad visibility so poor she ran aground. All 352 tons went to the bottom - including 275 tons of what started as bagged wheat and ended up as fish food. If you are interested in the Wardang Island Maritime Heritage Trail then the Department of Environment has information available at it's bookshop at 77 Grenfell Street in the City. And at Port Victoria there is a Shipwreck Interpretive Display at the base of the Jetty plus a nearby Maritime Museum which is open Sundays and Public Holidays from 2 until 4 in the afternoon. For more information email: info@postcards.sa.com.au