Wander down to Kitty Miller Bay at low tide, and you’ll see a historic wreck on the beach!
Take a look at the surf nearby, and you’ll see how there have been over 200 different vessels that have suffered at the hands of the treacherous sea. The surf can be intense on the coasts of Phillip Island!
The Speke shipwreck is the most significant shipwreck to have been reported on the coast of Phillip Island.
It crashed onto the Kitty Miller Bay rocks, on the Southern Coastline.
In 1891, the Speke was one of the largest three-masted steel sailing ships ever built. The length of the ship reaches around 32 metres.
In 1906, the ship ran ashore and was stranded on the sands of Phillip Island, which was due to poor navigation. One man had drowned when one of the lifeboats capsized, but the remainder of the crew reached safety.
Navigational errors meant the ship was caught in choppy waves. There was a fire on Phillip Island, and the captain thought this was Split Point Lighthouse. He steered the ship towards some rough surf just off the coast of Phillip Island, mistaking it for the lighthouse.
The ship’s captain lost his license and was not allowed to drive ships again.
The SS Speke shipwreck at low tide
Get down onto the rocks at Kitty Miller Bay to see the shipwreck.
The boat was capsized due to the ocean’s forceful waves. Sadly, one man drowned. The rest of the crew miraculously swam to the shoreline and survived.
The ship’s captain was banned from steering ships from that point on.
Seeing the Speke
If you want to see the Speke, check out Kitty Miller Bay, which is just off the southern coast of the island. It’s not too far from Summerland Beach – where the penguin parade happens.
If you’re doing the coastal walk, then expect a fun, but relatively short walk. Do the walk at low tide to fully experience it! The water washes away from the beach and you’ll get a whole view of the shipwreck in all of its glory.
Managing Director at Sightseeing Tours Australia
Cameron Ward turned his travel passion into a thriving Australian tourism business. Before he co-founded his own business, Sightseeing Tours Australia, he was enjoying being a Melbourne tour guide. Even now, Cameron delights in helping visitors from all around the world get the most out of their incredible Australian trip. You’ll see Cameron leading tours or writing about his favourite Australian places where he shares his local insights.