Diving the Eliza Ramsden
Diving the Eliza Ramsden is considered one of the most spectacular dives in the Port Philip Bay. It is one of the many historic shipwrecks of "Victoria's Underwater Shipwreck Discovery Trail" The wreck itself sits upright on the sandy seafloor with its bow pointing to Queenscliff (Police Point)
- Source: Heritage Victoria
On 24 July 1875 the Eliza Ramsden left Port Melbourne and was on its way towards the Heads. To get the attention of a pilot boat to guide them through the Heads, they had a blue light on board. No pilot boat came to help them and the captain decided to sail through the Heads himself. The ship appeared to be away from the land and she was sailing well when the captain went down below. Not long after that the Eliza Ramsden hit Corsair Rock. The low tide turned the ship around and it got stuck on the reef.
They took the sails in and to signal for assistance they fired some flares. A lifeboat from Queenscliff arrivedand the superintendent orderen the crew to leave the ship in their lifeboats. The ship was severely damaged and the superintendent was affraid it would sink when it drifted off the reef.
The next day the captain wanted to get back to see if the Eliza Ramsden could be towed off the reef at high tide. When they arrived at the scene some local fishermen told that she was already floating and drifting towards the South Channel. By the time the captain had reached the Eliza Ramsden it was too late. She was too damaged and had taken water. She sank, but only her top masts wre seen above the water. Day and night lights were attached to the masts as a warning for other ships.
