SS Minmi, Cape Banks, Botany
Posted by: 
zebrafive
S 34° 00.060 E 151° 14.874
56H E 338189 N 6236349
Wreck of the SS Minmi, lost on 8 May, 1937.
Waymark Code: WM3RP3
Location: New South Wales, Australia
Date Posted: 05/12/2008
Views: 78
The SS Minmi was built in Glasgow, Scotland in 1927. It was 75 metres long, and displaced 1455 tons. The Minmi was a collier, carrying coal from Newcastle to Melbourne and returning empty. It was named either after the lower Hunter Valley town of Minmi, or the nearby Minmi Colliery.
On 8 May 1937 the Minmi left Melbourne for Newcastle under Captain Robert Clark Callum. The Minmi's captain for all of her ten year service was a Captain McPhall, who had brought the ship to Australia. Captain McPhall commenced two weeks leave in the first week of May, leaving chief officer Callum to take over as Captain. At 10pm they were off Botany Bay in heavy seas and dense fog, and shortly after the ship struck the outside of Cape Banks, the outer northern headland of Botany Bay.
Soldiers at the nearby Cape Banks Artillery Garrison were awoken by the sound of escaping steam, and saw the ship hard up on the rocks. Frederick Boulton, the ship's cook, collapsed and died of a heart attack soon after the ship struck the rocks. The rest of the crew of more than 20 were stranded on the vessel due to the heavy seas.
The Minmi split in two at about 12:45 AM, with crewmembers stuck on both the front and back sections. Those at the front were rescued without incident, but it was more perilous for those in the rear section. A line was tied to the rear section, with the other end held by rescuers on the rocks. One life, a Mr Burnside, was lost in the rescue attempt in the heavy seas, and several other crew spent the night on the vessel before being rescued at daylight.
Crowds estimated at 40000 on 15 May 1937 and 60000 on 16 May made the trek to La Perouse to see the wreck. Cars were banked up for 4 miles along Bunnerong Road (now Anzac Pde and Bunnerong Road towards the city, and police were required to control traffic and guard the cliffs. Many sightseers crossed the NSW Golf Course to get to the wreck site, and in doing so prevented golf from proceeding, and causing damage to the course.
The wreck was sold for 200 pounds to salvagers Penguin Ltd, and while undertaking salvage operations the men lived in shelters erected in caves at the scene. A marine inquiry exonerated the captain of the charge of failing to navigate the ship safely. The stern section of the Minmi is still visible on the rock platform on the inside of Cape Banks.
Date of Shipwreck: 8 May, 1937
Type of Boat: Steamboat
Accessibility:
The stern section is above the low-water mark on the inland coastline of Cape Banks.
Military or Civilian: Not listed
Cause of Shipwreck: Not listed
Diving Permitted: Not Listed
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Visit Instructions:
Only log the site if you have visited it personally.
Floating over a site does not qualify as a find if it is a wreck that requires diving - you must have actually visited the site - therefore photos of the site are good.