Wardang Island, also known as Wauraltee Island, is a small island of 20 km²/7.7 mi² in the Spencer Gulf, at 11 km/6 mi in the northwestern coast of Port Victoria on the Yorke Peninsula, South Australia.
The island serves as a natural breakwater, protecting the former grain port of Port Victoria from ocean currents. The waters around Wardang are popular with recreational divers because of the opportunities for wreck diving. The South Australian wreck represents one of the eight wrecks identified in the spot. The Australian was a single screw steamer that wrecked of the coast of Wardang Island in May 1912.
The vessel is approximately 15 m / 49 ft long and was made of iron in 1879. The wreck is well flattened, in shallow water and covered in growth. Explosives have been used on the wreck over the years, thus the boiler lies some distance from the main wreck-site.
Relics are on display at the Port Victoria Nautical Museum. The site is part of the Wardang Island Maritime Heritage Trail. The wreck is located at 12 m/39 ft depth below sea level and is ideal for amateur divers. Check out the Maritime Museum of Port Victoria for artifacts of some early dives.
