The SS Yongala is the famous 1911 shipwreck lying near Townsville in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
The passenger and cargo ship sank during a cyclone on 23 March 1911 while sailing from Melbourne toward Cairns. All 122 people aboard died, making the wreck one of Australia’s notable maritime disasters.
The Yongala wreck was not found by divers until 1958. It now supports dense marine life, including corals, fish, rays and sea snakes, and is regarded as one of Australia’s premier wreck-diving sites.
The wreck is often described as being near Townsville, although it lies offshore south of the city, near Cape Bowling Green. It is protected under Australian heritage and marine conservation rules, so access and activities are regulated.