State Ship Kwinana (photo: Western Australian Stateships).
Description:
Screw Steamer
Owner:
A Currie Melbourne 1912. State Shipping WA Master: W Wyles
Construction:
steel
Sunk:
29 May 1921
Size:
3295 tons 103.6m length 13.1m beam 7.6m draft
Underwater:
The Aboriginal name Kwinana means ‘pretty maiden’. Kwinana’s hull shape can still clearly be seen at the concrete breakwater/pier today, with the bow stem and plating visible at the waterline.
Built:
1892 William Doxford & Sons Ltd. Sunderland, England
Location:
The wreck of the Kwinana lies near the boat ramp at Wells Park, Kwinana.
Sinking:
Sinking: : Fire in Bunkers at Carnarvon, refloated and towed to Fremantle. On 9 December 1921 the hulk was towed to Careening Bay, Garden Island. In a storm on 29 May 1922 she broke her moorings, was was blown ashore during a storm to a spot now known as Kwinana Beach.
Longitude:
115.756163
Latitude:
-32.247912
Gallery
The Kwinana was damaged by fire at Carnarvon, sunk at jetty, refloated and towed to Fremantle.
Deck of the Kwinana after the fire (photo: McKenna Collection)
The wreck became a minor attraction and the local postmistress, Clara Wells, quickly started marking her mailbags “Kwinana Wreck”. The area became known as “Kwinana Beach”, and in 1937 Kwinana was adopted as the township’s official name.
Location of the site of the Kwinana (photo: Landgate aerial photograph).
