Meet the site
Fawkner is the sister of the Batman: an iron steam hopper barge of 388 tons built by William Simons and Co at Renfrew and launched on 5 October 1883 for the Melbourne Harbour Trust, named like her sister for one of Melbourne's founders. She carried dredge spoil from the Yarra and Hobsons Bay channels for half a century, with two martial interludes – in 1885 she was armed with a breech-loading 6-inch 80-pounder and two Nordenfelt machine guns as a gunboat of the Victorian Navy and served as a torpedo-boat tender, and in 1914 she was pressed in as a non-commissioned minesweeper. She was scuttled on 20 May 1935, the day before the Batman. The wreck lies in 44–46 m at the western end of the Graveyard. Unlike the Batman, whose midsection has gone, the Fawkner retains more of her hopper structure: the strongback – the heavy girder that spanned the open hopper – is clearly visible over the hold towards the bow, the boiler sits near the stern, and the propeller is still in place. Penetration is possible in some areas, though the spaces are small. The bow is described as the colourful end, with dense sponge, zoanthid and ascidian growth and plenty of fish – bullseyes, butterfly perch, ling – and crayfish in the plating. Because the two sister barges lie within about a kilometre of each other, the Fawkner is usually dived as the second dive of a technical day on the Batman, or paired with the nearby Beverwijk 19. It is very much the same style of dive: a compact 48 m hull, top of structure around 41 m, sand at 46 m, all of it covered in a single 20-minute bottom time with 20-odd minutes of decompression. It suits technical divers who want a second clean wreck to consolidate skills, and it is quieter and slightly more intact than its more famous sister.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Fawkner is recorded as Wreck in Port Phillip Heads. The listed access is boat (day trip). Confirm the actual meeting point, route and permission to visit; a map pin does not establish any of these.
Topics flagged by the stored research
These are questions prompted by the existing notes, not a verified or complete hazard assessment.
- Other water users
- Ask about vessel activity, exclusion areas and the agreed surface arrangements.
- Lines and obstructions
- Discuss any known entanglement concerns and the suitability of the planned area.
- Planned depth
- Confirm the intended route and training requirements; the recorded maximum is not a target.
- Water movement
- Ask how swell and local exposure affect the proposed entry, exit and route.
Historical access notes exist for this record, but have not been independently verified for current use. Request current directions from the operator or site manager rather than following an old entry description.
Questions, answered
Is Fawkner suitable for my certification?
The record lists Technical (decompression). That does not establish suitability for every route or day. Share your training, recent experience and equipment needs with the operator and ask about the specific proposed dive.
Can I book Fawkner through YouDive?
YouDive is an independent research directory. Contact an operator directly to confirm whether it currently runs the trip, the inclusions and the booking terms.
What you might see
Sponges, yellow zoanthids, ascidians, bullseyes, butterfly perch, ling, southern rock lobster
Location
Western Ships' Graveyard south of Barwon Heads, about 1 km east of the Batman and 519 m south-south-east of the Beverwijk 19.
Facilities nearby
Departure from Queenscliff Harbour (parking, toilets, cafes, fills at Dive Victoria/Queenscliff Dive Centre) or Portsea Pier (parking on Point Nepean Road, toilets, cafes).
Before you make plans
Conditions, access and operator schedules can change. This is a location guide, not a dive plan. Ask a local operator about current conditions and suitability for your training and experience.
Sources & further reading
scubadoctor.com.auscubadoctor.com.audivernet.comRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.
