SS Gothenburg

SS Gothenburg was a steamship that operated along the British and then later the Australian and New Zealand coastlines. In February 1875, Gothenburg hit a reef and sank off the Australian east coast, near North Queensland. Over 100 passengers and crew perished in the disaster.

Construction and early service

Gothenburg was built in 1854 by Scott & Company of Greenock, Scotland. She was a 501-ton, 197-foot-long (60 m) vessel. The ship was powered by a 2-cylinder, 140 horsepower (100 kW) steam engine. Gothenburg was described as a 'well-appointed' ship and was fitted with as many as 36 passenger cabins.

Australian service

In 1862, Gothenburg was purchased by the South Australian Government to replace the aging and slower SS Lady Augusta. The ship was then used on the run from Adelaide to Melbourne, and then Sydney. In 1863, the vessel was sold to Howard Smith and operated on the Australia-New Zealand run.

Wreck

On 24 February 1875, while sailing from Port Darwin to Adelaide, Gothenburg hit the Great Barrier Reef near the entrance to the Torres Strait. The ship quickly filled with water and sank. Out of the approximately 112 people on board, only 22 survived.

Legacy

The sinking of the Gothenburg led to a public outcry in Australia. The disaster was seen as a national tragedy and led to improved safety regulations in Australian shipping.