“Ironic twist of history:” Offshore wind developer solves 150-year old mystery of sunken coal ship

A Victorian maritime mystery dating back to the 1870s has finally been solved thanks to seafloor geophysical surveys undertaken off the coast of southern Victoria in preparation for the development of the proposed Auora Green offshore wind farm.

Auora Green is a proposed offshore wind farm under development by Spanish energy giant Iberdrola, located 25 kilometres off the Gippsland coast with a capacity of up to 3 gigawatts (GW) – the equivalent necessary to power approximately 2.25 million households.

During surveys undertaken as part of the standard site assessment process, geophysical surveys in 2025 detected two shipwrecks in and around the proposed site for the wind farm.

One of the two vessels was already known and had previously been identified as the SS Vicky, a 165-foot steel collier built in 1930 that experienced engine trouble in a storm during a voyage from Sydney to Melbourne in 1956, began to leak, and eventually capsized.

Working closely with Commonwealth and Victorian heritage authorities, Iberdrola and technical divers from non-profit exploration group Southern Ocean Exploration (SOE) were able to confirm the identify and final resting place of the second wreck as the City of Hobart.

“In an ironic twist of history, the City of Hobart sank while transporting coal to Melbourne, decades before Gippsland’s own coal industry began,” Iberdrola Australia said in LinkedIn post.

“Today, Aurora Green represents a step in the region’s transition away from coal generation and towards clean energy.”

A 645-iron steamer built in Glasgow in 1853, the City of Hobart left Newcastle in New South Wales on July 21, 1875, carrying 615 tonnes of coal destined for Melbourne.

According to SOE, the City of Hobart passed Gabo Island on July 24, but the next day a “steady thump from the stern” was heard, alerting the crew to the fact that the screw shaft had broken and was allowing water to penetrate the vessel’s holds.

The crew were apparently forced into the boats with a compass, buckets of fresh water, bread, clothing, and the ship’s register and articles before being picked up by the SS Barrabool. The City of Hobart sank around 15 minutes after she was abandoned approximately 60 kilometres off Wilson’s Promontory.

SOE had previously identified the City of Hobart as a potential project in 2008, but following several unsuccessful on-water searches, the search had to be postponed.

But during its geophysical surveys undertaken in early 2025, Iberdrola discovered the site and alerted the relevant authorities.

“We are pleased that initial investigations for the Aurora Green project were able to contribute to verifying the identity of two important pieces of Australia’s and Victoria’s maritime history,” said Renee Kurowski, senior manager for stakeholder engagement at Iberdrola Australia.

“Finds like this aren’t just fascinating, they’re important cultural records and protecting them ensures these pieces of our history are documented for future generations. This exciting find will help build a clearer picture of Australia’s maritime history.

“We appreciate the expertise and collaboration of SOE and the Commonwealth and Victorian heritage teams, in providing us with valuable insights into the two shipwrecks. As we progress through the development of Aurora Green, we remain committed to working with heritage authorities to ensure significant sites are respected and protected.”

Both shipwreck sites are protected by the Commonwealth Underwater Cultural Heritage Act 2018, which prohibits interference or damage to shipwrecks without approval.

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