Sierra Colonna in unknown port, A.D. Edwardes Collection, State Library of South Australia, PRG-1373-8-94
The Colonna sailed until 1914. In that year it delivered a cargo of timber to Port Adelaide and was sold to the Adelaide Steamship Company as a coal hulk. The ship was broken down at Port Adelaide and arrived under tow at Albany on 14 October 1916 after an eventful voyage.
Fire broke out in the forward coal hold on 16 September 1943. After desperate attempts to fight the fire, it was decided that the only course of action was to flood the ship. The Colonna settled on the bottom on an even keel, and was then salvaged. It continued in service until October 1952.
Description
Ship; two decks, one bulkhead and was cemented
Size
Length: 236.3 ft (72.02 m) Beam: 38.0 ft (11.58 m) Depth: 22.8 ft (5.95 m) Tonnage: 1,499 gross, 1,435 net, 1,357 under deck
Built
Richardson, Duck & Company, Stockton, England
Owner
Final owner: the Adelaide Steamship Company
Location
One mile west of Rock Dunder, Princess Royal Harbour
Latitude/Longitude
(-35.03843, 118.1393783333)
Sinking
At the end of its useful life the Colonna was towed to a position where it was sunk by RAAF fighter planes using rockets and bombs.
Underwater
The remains of the Colonna lie in 32 fathoms (58.5 m) of water.
