Meet the site
The Victorian Ships' Graveyard was the official dumping ground for Melbourne's unwanted hulls: an unregulated 'outer Heads' area used from about 1900, and from 1932 the proclaimed Commonwealth Area No. 3, a 6 km circle about 10 km south-west of Barwon Heads in 40–60 m. More than 46 vessels were stripped, towed out through The Rip and sunk with gelignite between 1913 and 1971, and all are protected historic shipwrecks. Werfa was an iron steam collier of 862 tons, 65.8 m (216 ft) long, built by Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Co at Newcastle-on-Tyne in 1883 for the Werfa Steamship Company of Cardiff and the Welsh coal trade. She came out to Fremantle in 1898, was bought in 1899 by the Bellambi Coal Company for the Newcastle–Sydney coal run, and was later acquired by McIlwraith, McEacharn of Melbourne, who converted her to a coal hulk in 1914. Her afterlife had one notable incident: on 5 August 1925 the visiting American destroyer USS MacDonough struck and sank her in Victoria Dock. Raised, she lingered until 20 March 1929, when the tug Minah towed her out to Bass Strait and she was scuttled. The wreck lies in 62–65 m in the deep eastern part of the Graveyard, a few hundred metres from the Leeuwin and Hygeia. The Scuba Doctor records many swim-throughs on the collapsed hull, a stern with distinctive iron rectangles of framing, and a rudder that is fully intact – a rare survival on a scuttled hulk. As on the neighbouring deep wrecks, deep-water sponges and sea whips grow on the iron, and ling, boarfish and big crayfish are the resident fauna; visibility on the days calm enough to dive is often 15–25 m. Werfa is part of the 60 m-plus eastern set – Malaita, Hygeia, Leeuwin, Werfa, John Nimmo – that constitutes the hardest tier of Victorian Graveyard diving: hypoxic trimix or rebreather, an hour or more of decompression in or beside the shipping approach, and a boat prepared to stand by. It is dived rarely, by experienced Melbourne technical teams, and suits divers who have progressed through the 45–55 m wrecks and want swim-throughs and an intact stern at depth.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Werfa 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 Werfa 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 Werfa 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
Deep-water sponges, sea whips, ling, boarfish, southern rock lobster, butterfly perch
Location
Deep eastern Ships' Graveyard about 6.5 km south of Point Lonsdale, 561 m south-east of the Leeuwin.
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.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.
