Our Sailing History: The Shipwrecks of Queenscliff and Surrounds

Next event date: Tuesday, 03 March 2026 | 05:00 PM to 06:30 PM

Heritage Victoria - Danielle Wilkinson and Liam Phillips are maritime archaeologists with Heritage Victoria, working to protect historic shipwrecks under Victorian and Commonwealth heritage legislation. Both are occupationally qualified SCUBA divers with postgraduate training in maritime archaeology and have worked on shipwreck sites in Australia and internationally.

Situated just inside the treacherous Heads, Queenscliff is surrounded by one of Victoria’s richest concentrations of shipwrecks. These wrecks offer a remarkable window into the history of shipping, trade, and life along the coast, spanning more than a century.

This talk explores the challenges of recording, conserving, and protecting underwater heritage, where fragile shipwrecks must be carefully managed while still allowing respectful access and public understanding. It also traces the journey of artefacts, legally and, at times, illegally recovered that have found a final home at the Queenscliffe Maritime Museum.

Join us as we uncover the stories of nearby wrecks including William Salthouse, Sacramento, Holyhead, George Roper, and others, and learn how you can play a role in protecting these historic sites for future generations.

5.00 – 6.30 pm at Gil Allbutt Boat Shed – Queenscliffe Maritime Museum

Cost $20 / Museum Members $15 Book Online

Bar open — drinks at bar prices

 

 

 

When

Location

Gil Allbutt Boat Shed - Queenscliffe Maritime Museum, 2 Wharf St, Queenscliff, 3225, View map