Aarhus Shipwreck

When Wrecked: 24 February 1894

Location: Moreton Bay & Islands

Available Information:

Danish Barque - 640 tons and 170 feet long. At 7.00pm on the 24th of February 1894, the Aarhus was about 4 miles W.S.W. of Moreton Island enroute from New York to Brisbane. She waited for the pilot. When the pilot did not arrive ,Captain Gram decided to put to sea for the night. She had not gone far when she ran into Smiths Rock. She struck heavily at about ten minutes to nine and by five past nine was at the bottom in twelve fathoms of water. Fourteen crew including the Captain and his wife got away safely in one of the boats. After three hours of rowing, the survivors landed on Moreton Island. After many years of searching, members of the Underwater Research Group of Queensland found her remains in 1979.

PROTECTED under the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976 together with their associated relics. 

All shipwrecks that are more than 75 years old are protected under this Act.