Wardang Island Maritime Heritage Trail
Port Victoria on the west coast of Yorke Peninsula, was an important trading port in the early 1900s and was one of the last Australian ports to see large square-rigged sailing vessels operate on a commercial basis. The last 'Grain Race' from Australia to Britain began from Port Victoria in 1949.
Wardang Island, eight kilometres off Port Victoria in Spencer Gulf, has at least thirteen known shipwrecks in the area, eight of which has been located within 10 miles of each other and forms the Wardang Island Maritime Heritage Trail.
Of the eight wrecks featured in this trail the Monarch, S.S. Australian, S.S. Investigator, MacIntyre and Moorara were small local schooners and coastal steamers used to carry wheat and other cargo to Port Victoria from outlying areas, and to ferry wheat from the jetty to the larger vessels at anchor. The Aagot, Notre Dame D'Arvor and Songvaar were three masted square-riggers which carried the grain overseas.
The Wardang Island Maritime Heritage Trail includes plaques adjacent to each of the eight shipwrecks and six land-based interpretive signs located at Port Victoria. Explore the wrecks in clear shallow waters making it ideal for novice shipwreck divers.