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The Story of the TSS Coramba
The TSS Coramba was a 160-foot twin-screw coastal steamer built in Scotland in 1911. Designed for the coastal trade, she was a reliable workhorse for the Victorian coastline. However, in late 1934, she sailed directly into one of the worst storms in Victoria's recorded history.
The Fierce Gale of 1934 On November 29, 1934, the Coramba left Warrnambool bound for Melbourne, heavily loaded with a cargo of wool, shell grit, and condensed milk. By nightfall, the barometer plummeted and a massive southwest swell began to build across Bass Strait.
As she approached Western Port on the night of November 30, the Coramba was battered by hurricane-force winds and struck by several massive waves. The impact tore away her superstructure and lifeboats, ultimately capsizing the vessel. Tragically, all 17 crew members were lost to the sea. Over the following days, debris littered the beaches of Phillip Island—including the ship's clock, which had washed ashore stopped at precisely 10:30 PM.
The Discovery
For over seven decades, the true resting place of the Coramba remained a mystery. While a famous diver in the 1930s claimed to have found it shortly after the sinking, the location was never confirmed.
The Southern Ocean Exploration (SOE) team spent years systematically searching the treacherous waters south of Phillip Island. After extensive historical research and hydrographic scanning, the wreck was finally pinpointed and dived by the team in May 2011. Found lying upside down on the seabed, the discovery solved a massive maritime mystery and brought a sense of closure to the descendants of the lost crew.