Lady Lyttleton Wreck (Emu Point Channel)

Meet the site

The Lady Lyttleton is one of Albany's most historically significant wrecks: a whaling-era barque lying in the Emu Point Channel, the narrow entrance to Oyster Harbour. The vessel was originally built as the Sultan and registered in Sydney in 1861 as foreign-built; she was 28.8 m long and of about 178 gross tons. On 17 July 1867, while being careened (hove down by tackles from her mastheads to the shore) for hull work in the channel, she slipped, could not right herself because of the tackles, filled and sank.

The WA Museum records the remains in 7-13 m about 15 m offshore. A section of hull lies buried in the sand with the keelson, frames and planking visible, and around it are the windlass, an iron tank, a wooden spar, an iron drum and trypots – the cast-iron pots used for boiling down whale blubber, which tie the wreck to the south coast's whaling history. Marine Life Network describes the site as modestly sheltered and worth exploring, with whaling-era artefacts and interesting marine life.

The dive is defined by the channel. Strong tidal currents run in and out of Oyster Harbour, visibility is often poor, and the Emu Point boat ramp is next door, so the site demands good planning: slack-water timing, a dive flag and close attention to boat traffic. When those line up it is a rare chance to see an intact-in-part 19th-century whaling vessel within a few metres of a café and car park.

All material is protected under WA's maritime heritage legislation; the museum has surveyed and monitored the site. It suits experienced divers interested in maritime archaeology rather than those seeking reef life.

What you might see

Seagrass fish, blue swimmer crabs, cuttlefish, flathead, rays, sponges and ascidians on the timbers, occasional dolphins in the channel

Location

Remains of a whaling barque that capsized and sank in 1867 in the Emu Point Channel at the entrance to Oyster Harbour, about 15 m offshore in 7-13 m.

Facilities nearby

Emu Point foreshore: parking, toilets, café and kiosk, boat ramp; air fills at South Coast Diving Supplies, Albany.