Kyarra
Encyclopedia
Location: 1 mile off Anvil Point
(Swanage
) 50°35′27"N 1°56′58"W.
Description: 6953 ton Australian steamer
Length: 126 metres (413 feet)
Depth: 21–23 metres to top of wreck (70 – 75 feet), 30 metres to seabed (100 feet)
Sunk: 5 May 1918
The Kyarra was a 6,953 ton (7,065 t) steel cargo and passenger luxury liner, built on the River Clyde
, Scotland
in 1903 for the Australian United Steam Navigation Co. Ltd.
, Scotland
.
where she was registered, and Sydney, New South Wales
carrying cargo and passengers.
She was covered from bow to stern in brass portholes. The 'Kyarra' (the name is aboriginal for a small fillet of opossum fur) She sailed the flag of the United Steam Navigation Company Limited of London.
On November 6, 1914 she was requisitioned and converted into a hospital ship (HMAT A.55 Kyarra) for the purpose of transporting Australian medical units to Egypt. The hull was painted white with a large red cross on the side.
In March 1915 Kyarra was converted into a troop transport.
Commonwealth control ended January 4, 1918.
for Devonport, Plymouth
towards the western end on the Channel where she was to embark with civilian passengers and full general cargo. On May 5 however, before she could do so, she was attacked and fatally wounded by UB-57
near Swanage
and sent to the bottom. Six lives were lost.
This wreck was not discovered until the late 1960s by a member of the Kingston and Elmbridge BSAC
club (London) and later bought by the group. By now the Kyarra must be the best known wreck on the south coast. On any summer weekend there could be up to 100 divers on the wreck, this could put you off but when you consider the size of this ship, over 400' long, 6000 tons and still standing 30' feet proud of the sea bed, there will still be room for one or two more. There's still a lot of cargo on this wreck, the list of items found grows longer every week. This ship belongs to Kingston & Elmbridge Subaqua club but all the cargo belongs to HM Government so all finds must be reported to Receiver of Wrecks. The best time to dive is on a week day with a neap tide. Local dive boats will visit the Kyarra with two divers or more and you may find yourself the only diver there. Tides are a problem with the slack window down to 5–10 minutes on springs but the wreck normally has a shot line attached which shows the tide dying away. You should also use a delayed SMB as it allows diver to surface away from the shot.
Anvil Point
Anvil Point is part of the Jurassic Coast near Swanage on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset, England. The Jurassic Coast stretches over a distance of , from Orcombe Point near Exmouth, in the west, to Old Harry Rocks, in the east.-Geography:...
(Swanage
Swanage
Swanage is a coastal town and civil parish in the south east of Dorset, England. It is situated at the eastern end of the Isle of Purbeck, approximately 10 km south of Poole and 40 km east of Dorchester. The parish has a population of 10,124 . Nearby are Ballard Down and Old Harry Rocks,...
) 50°35′27"N 1°56′58"W.
Description: 6953 ton Australian steamer
Length: 126 metres (413 feet)
Depth: 21–23 metres to top of wreck (70 – 75 feet), 30 metres to seabed (100 feet)
Sunk: 5 May 1918
The Kyarra was a 6,953 ton (7,065 t) steel cargo and passenger luxury liner, built on the River Clyde
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in 1903 for the Australian United Steam Navigation Co. Ltd.
Construction and launch
The Kyarra was built at Dumbarton by Denny Bros and launched on February 2, 1903 on the River ClydeRiver Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
Career
For ten years Kyarra sailed between Fremantle, Western AustraliaFremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
where she was registered, and Sydney, New South Wales
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
carrying cargo and passengers.
She was covered from bow to stern in brass portholes. The 'Kyarra' (the name is aboriginal for a small fillet of opossum fur) She sailed the flag of the United Steam Navigation Company Limited of London.
On November 6, 1914 she was requisitioned and converted into a hospital ship (HMAT A.55 Kyarra) for the purpose of transporting Australian medical units to Egypt. The hull was painted white with a large red cross on the side.
In March 1915 Kyarra was converted into a troop transport.
Commonwealth control ended January 4, 1918.
Fate
She sailed from TilburyPort of Tilbury
The Port of Tilbury is located on the River Thames at Tilbury in Essex, England. It is the principal port for London; as well as being the main United Kingdom port for handling the importation of paper. There are extensive facilities for containers, grain, and other bulk cargoes. There are also...
for Devonport, Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
towards the western end on the Channel where she was to embark with civilian passengers and full general cargo. On May 5 however, before she could do so, she was attacked and fatally wounded by UB-57
Johannes Lohs
Lieutenant junior grade Johannes Lohs was a successful and highly decorated German U-boat commander in the Kaiserliche Marine during World War I....
near Swanage
Swanage
Swanage is a coastal town and civil parish in the south east of Dorset, England. It is situated at the eastern end of the Isle of Purbeck, approximately 10 km south of Poole and 40 km east of Dorchester. The parish has a population of 10,124 . Nearby are Ballard Down and Old Harry Rocks,...
and sent to the bottom. Six lives were lost.
This wreck was not discovered until the late 1960s by a member of the Kingston and Elmbridge BSAC
BSAC
BSAC can stand for:*Berkeley Sensor and Actuator Center*Bit Sliced Arithmetic Coding, audio coding from MPEG-4 Part 3*British South Africa Company*British Sub-Aqua Club*British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy*Black Swamp Area Council...
club (London) and later bought by the group. By now the Kyarra must be the best known wreck on the south coast. On any summer weekend there could be up to 100 divers on the wreck, this could put you off but when you consider the size of this ship, over 400' long, 6000 tons and still standing 30' feet proud of the sea bed, there will still be room for one or two more. There's still a lot of cargo on this wreck, the list of items found grows longer every week. This ship belongs to Kingston & Elmbridge Subaqua club but all the cargo belongs to HM Government so all finds must be reported to Receiver of Wrecks. The best time to dive is on a week day with a neap tide. Local dive boats will visit the Kyarra with two divers or more and you may find yourself the only diver there. Tides are a problem with the slack window down to 5–10 minutes on springs but the wreck normally has a shot line attached which shows the tide dying away. You should also use a delayed SMB as it allows diver to surface away from the shot.