The Shipwreck of the Once Majestic SS Maheno.
On the eastern coast of Fraser Island in Australia lies the wreck of the SS Maheno. It is now a popular tourist attraction and it has a story to tell.
SS MAHENO
The SS Maheno was built in 1905 in Scotland as a luxury ocean liner and was the first turbine-driven steamer in the World. It belonged to a New Zealand Company which used it in the oceans between New Zealand and Australia. The ship held 420 passengers and included such amenities as a smoking room, a fancy dining room and a seperate music room resplendent with its own grand piano.
THE WAR
During WWI, the SS Maheno was called up to duty. It was no longer a luxury cruiser but was converted into a hospital ship for soldiers, transporting the sick, dying and wounded wherever they needed to go. The stately entertaining rooms ditched in favour of medical wards and operating rooms. It carried on-board 5 Army doctors, 61 orderlies, 13 nurses and a chaplain,
After the war, the ship was due to return to its previous commercial purpose. However, it was never the same again, and so in July 1935, the decision was made to sell the ship as scrap.
THE ACCIDENT
The ship was being towed to the wrecking dock when a severe cyclone struck and it became detached from the tow-ship. The ship was then lost for 3 days and many feared that it had sunk somewhere in the Pacific. But, it hadn't sunk, it had washed ashore on Fraser Island off the Queensland coast. Several attempts were made to re-float and salvage the ship but due to ocean conditions they were never successful.
THE SS MAHENO TODAY
And here is still sits today, 80 years later and slowly day by day being eroded by the sea. What is left of the hull is very rusted with only the skeletal bare bones remaining. I can't imagine that in another 20-30 years there will be anything left.
"In a landscape with few signs of human history, the Maheno is now a picturesque, emotionally uncomplicated ruin.”
.
I hope you enjoy my pictures of this once great ship.
Extra Images
http://www.kingfisherbay.com
http://terraoko.com
https://afishoutofgrimsby.files.wordpress.com
Click here to:
This post has been ranked within the top 80 most undervalued posts in the second half of Dec 30. We estimate that this post is undervalued by $4.93 as compared to a scenario in which every voter had an equal say.
See the full rankings and details in The Daily Tribune: Dec 30 - Part II. You can also read about some of our methodology, data analysis and technical details in our initial post.
If you are the author and would prefer not to receive these comments, simply reply "Stop" to this comment.