Meet the site
The Llewellyn was built in Liverpool in 1884 as a Queensland Government pilot vessel. She proved unstable in heavy seas and spent much of her career on river duties around Brisbane, but during the 1919 seamen's strike she was pressed into service carrying supplies to isolated north Queensland communities. On the evening of 16 July 1919 she left Rockhampton for Bowen under Captain Holloway with eleven crew and two passengers – nurse Rowena Gordon and shipping accountant W.J. Bradford – carrying about 30 tons of cargo, coal and lighthouse stores. After passing Cape Capricorn lighthouse the next morning, she was never seen again. Heavy gales were blowing, and her forward-stowed cargo may have made her bow-heavy. Wreckage washed up on St Bees Island, but the ship itself was not found for 78 years. On 7 December 1997 diver Mark Earney, with David Leffman and Debs McLennan, dived a sonar anomaly off Bailey Islet and found her. Leffman's account describes a 30 m hull sitting intact and upright on the bottom, facing into the current, with a squarish wheelhouse, a broken funnel stump and a mast lying across the starboard deck, all covered in soft corals. A large grouper occupied the wheelhouse; potato cod, coral trout, batfish schools, wobbegongs carpeting the deck, turtles and even tiger sharks were seen, in 10–20 m visibility. The Queensland Museum quickly took control of the site. The wreck lies in about 35 m on a silty bottom in open water, exposed to strong currents. A permit is needed to approach within 500 m, the site is policed, there are no buoys, and there are no commercial trips. For permitted, experienced deep divers it is an untouched, poignant wreck – the grave of thirteen people.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
SS Llewellyn Wreck is recorded as Wreck in Mackay. The listed access is boat. 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.
- Current and timing
- Ask how the operator assesses the current window for the actual route. Historical tide notes are not a departure instruction.
- Planned depth
- Confirm the intended route and training requirements; the recorded maximum is not a target.
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 SS Llewellyn Wreck suitable for my certification?
The record lists Deep/Advanced + experience. 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 SS Llewellyn Wreck 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
Grouper (in wheelhouse), potato cod, coral trout, batfish schools, wobbegong sharks, turtles, tiger sharks, soft corals
Location
Intact government steamer lying in about 35 m of open water roughly halfway between St Bees Island and Bailey Islet, north-east of Mackay.
Facilities nearby
Mackay Harbour boat ramp / Mackay Marina. Nearest air/nitrox fills in Mackay.
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
davidleffman.commackayisaac.commarinelife.org.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.