On 4^th May 1906, the steamship (SS) Buninyong was on her regular coastal cargo voyage from Melbourne to Sydney. She was an iron-hulled steamer with a screw propeller, four boilers and 85 metres long, built by Laird Purdie and Co. in Barrow-in-Furness, UK, in 1883 and first registered in Melbourne in 1913. She was carrying sheep and general items when she collided off Sydney Harbour and subsequently beached at Rushcutters Bay. The scene must have been an unusual sight for locals. She was later refloated.

In February 1926 after a career of more than 40 years carrying passengers and cargo she was withdrawn from service.

The Daily Commercial News and Shipping List, Saturday 5^th May 1906, reported the Sydney accident:

“A serious collision occurred in the Harbour last evening [4^th May – 7:10pm] near Garden Island between the well-known steamer Buningyong and the barque, Criffel. Both were very severely damaged and the Buningyong was … sinking. It was found necessary to beach her in all haste on the bank in Rushcutters Bay. The Buningyong was inward bound from Melbourne … the Criffel was being towed and outward bound for Newcastle … engineering staff had only just time to escape with their lives.” A further report three days later noted that ” … it is generally expressed in nautical circles that had the barque Criffel been towed with a shorter tow line … the accident would not have occurred.”

A subsequent Marine Court, presided over by Judge Backhouse, agreed.

SS Buninyong was refloated but was subsequently dismantled in 1926 and all fittings removed.

She was then towed and sunk. Today the SS Buninyong shipwreck lies with her bow facing toward Barwon Heads, Victoria, at a depth of 54 metres (177 feet) and is a popular scuba diving spot.

Her bell was claimed to be discovered recently in a Melbourne scrap metal yard in early 2015 with an inscription “Buningyong 1883” but another claim to ownership comes from the fire station of a township west of Melbourne by the same name, Buningyong, population 3,714. Its fire station was built in 1883, the same year SS Buningyong was launched. The fire station bell was stolen in 1898 and today is rehoused there. However, ships’ bells are made of 80 % tin and 20% copper to reduce rust, the same as the rediscovered bell, indicating it is a maritime bell. Other bells used on land are made of brass or iron.

And, interestingly, a large, rusty, ship’s boiler has found its way to 606 Warrenheip Street, Buninyong, where it sits on the front lawn as a water tank. How it got there is unknown.

By Andrew Woodhouse

Heritage Solutions