Single deep dive The Bonnie Dundee

Meeting is 7.am at the store departs RSL CLUB Wharf 8.am Adv  -  Deep diver experience.

The Bonnie Dundee was built by the Goulay Brothers in Dundee, Scotland in 1877 for George and Bruce Nicoll of Sydney. They were developing a line of coastal traders especially to the Richmond River in Northern NSW. The vessel was 39.7 metres long and 121 tons.

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Around 8 pm on Monday 10th March, 1879 on a clear evening with calm seas the north bound Bonnie Dundee collided with the 900 ton SS Barrabool which was heading from Newcastle to Melbourne. The Bonnie was cut in two and sank almost immediately. It is thought a signalling error contributed to the accident.

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Controversy ran about the fact that the crew and male passengers were able to jump to safety onto the Barrabool whilst 4 female passengers drowned. George Pardell the cabin boy also attempted the jump but fell backwards also presumed drowned. The grizzly end to his  the tale was when the Bonnie's skipper Captain Stuart identified George from clothing and human remains in a shark caught off Sydney several weeks later.

SS Bonnie Dundee

The Bonnie Dundee was built by the Goulay Brothers in Dundee, Scotland in 1877 for George and Bruce Nicoll of Sydney. They were developing a line of coastal traders especially to the Richmond River in Northern NSW. The vessel was 39.7 metres long and 121 tons.

​

Around 8 pm on Monday 10th March, 1879 on a clear evening with calm seas the north bound Bonnie Dundee collided with the 900 ton SS Barrabool which was heading from Newcastle to Melbourne. The Bonnie was cut in two and sank almost immediately. It is thought a signalling error contributed to the accident.

​

Controversy ran about the fact that the crew and male passengers were able to jump to safety onto the Barrabool whilst 4 female passengers drowned. George Pardell the cabin boy also attempted the jump but fell backwards also presumed drowned. The grizzly end to his  the tale was when the Bonnie's skipper Captain Stuart identified George from clothing and human remains in a shark caught off Sydney several weeks later.

The wreck of the Bonnie Dundee lies in 36 metres 4.5 km from Swansea. Although in two parts the small bow section is only a short swim from the much larger stern wreckage by following the line of the port side of the ship.

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The rear section is dominated by the boiler, engine and stern post. Like most wrecks on sand it is a fish magnet and is usually covered with bullseyes, pomfreds and other reef fish. There are always a few wobbegongs to be found.