The Eliza Ramsden was only one year old when it ran aground in 1875 on Corsair Rock, Point Nepean Reef. In its short career, it had made only one complete voyage from England to Melbourne, on to Boston and then back to England. Leaving Port Phillip Bay she struck hard against Corsair Rock. The ebb tide swung the ship around on its side where it wedged firmly on the reef. The ship’s lifeboats were made ready in case the vessel broke up. The sails were taken in and blue lights and rockets were fired to signal for assistance. A lifeboat left Queenscliff at 9.00pm. As it pulled up alongside the Eliza Ramsden, the Superintendent observed the damage to the vessel. Concerned that the boat was sufficiently damaged and would drift off the reef and sink, he ordered the crew and Captain to board their lifeboats and abandon ship. Early next morning Captain Steuart arranged with the Master of the Warhawk tug to return to the Eliza Ramsden to see if the ship could be towed off the reef at flood tide. As they made their way out to Point Nepean Reef, they were stopped by local fisherman who said the boat had already floated off the reef and was drifting out towards South Channel. The fishermen had boarded the vessel to try and steer it towards Queenscliff but had not been successful as the ship’s rudder was severely damaged. By the time the tug reached the Eliza Ramsden, it was too late. The vessel had taken water and had settled on the sea floor at thirteen fathoms with only its top gallant masts above the water. As a warning to other vessels, day and night lights were fixed to the masts, although they were eventually replaced by a wreck buoy to mark the site. As shipping increased, the Eliza Ramsden became a navigational hazard and in the 1960s its masts were blown-up with explosives. This is what the wreck lookes like now:
She now lies in 18m of water and is a beautiful dive. Unfortunately, the times that she is accessible are limited. She lies in the shipping channel, an area of great current execpt for short 30 minute windows where the tides change and the water is ‘slack’. Secondly, access to the channel is limited by incoming and outgoing ships. Divers are at the mercy of Melbourne Port Authority who only give a definite ‘all clear’ 1 hour in advance. This is was not our first attempt at this wreck; previously shipping had prevented us and we were forced elsewhere. Saturday, however, we were lucky and had a beautiful dive.