Meet the site
Victoria Tower was a three-masted iron clipper of 1,563 tons, 75 m (247 ft) long, built by Evans at Liverpool in 1869 for the Australian passenger trade – a new ship on her maiden voyage with 34 passengers and about 25 crew when she was lost. Inbound from Liverpool in dense fog on 17 October 1869, she struck the reef at Point Impossible east of Torquay; the mainmast drove down through the keel and broke the ship's back. Her pinnace was smashed by heavy seas, but with the help of a local resident, Mr Noble, everyone got ashore. The Torquay Museum records the wreck as one of the founding stories of the town. For a shallow, exposed site the wreck is remarkably intact – the Scuba Doctor rates it the most intact historic shipwreck accessible between Point Lonsdale and Cape Otway, despite extensive historical salvage. The bow is whole, with the bowsprit and martingale still projecting; along the starboard side amidships the iron frames stand upright; two hatches are recognisable on the deck line; and on the seaward side the masts and yard arms lie where they fell, all in 5–8 m about 100 m outside Victoria Reef. Ceramic fragments, pieces of slate and glass bottles are scattered through the sand and gutters. The iron is heavily colonised with kelp, sponges and coralline growth, and the reef around it holds sweep, wrasse, zebrafish, magpie perch and crayfish, with rays on the sand. The dive is limited entirely by conditions. It is reached from the beach across a surf-swept reef flat dominated by rips, and the Scuba Doctor stresses good physical fitness and experience; a boat from Barwon Heads or Torquay is the easier alternative when the bar allows. It suits experienced Advanced divers who live locally enough to pounce on a glassy morning, and it rewards them with the best-preserved sailing-ship wreck on the Surf Coast.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Victoria Tower is recorded as Wreck in Surf Coast & Great Ocean Road. The listed access is shore or 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.
- 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 Victoria Tower suitable for my certification?
The record lists Advanced Open Water. 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 Victoria Tower 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
Kelp, sponges, coralline algae, sweep, wrasse, zebrafish, magpie perch, southern rock lobster, stingrays, sea urchins
Location
About 100 m off Victoria Reef at Point Impossible, between Torquay and Breamlea on the Surf Coast, in 5–8 m; the most intact historic wreck between Point Lonsdale and Cape Otway.
Facilities nearby
Point Impossible car park (unsealed, toilets); cafes and fills in Torquay (Torquay dive shops) and Ocean Grove
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.autorquayhistory.comscubadoctor.com.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.