Iberdrola Australia has helped confirm the identity of the City of Hobart, an iron steamer that sank off the Gippsland coast on 24 July 1877, during site investigations for its proposed Aurora Green offshore wind project.
The company said geophysical surveys in early 2025 detected two shipwrecks more than 25km off the coast of Gippsland within and around the proposed 3GW project site, which could power up to 2.25 million households.
Iberdrola Australia stated that it worked with Commonwealth and Victorian heritage teams and that information it provided enabled technical divers from Southern Ocean Exploration to confirm one wreck as the City of Hobart and the other as the previously identified SS Vicky.
The shipwreck sites are protected by the Commonwealth Underwater Cultural Heritage Act 2018, which prohibits interference or damage without approval.
Renee Kurowski, senior manager stakeholder engagement at Iberdrola Australia, said: “we are pleased that initial investigations for the Aurora Green project were able to contribute to verifying the identity of two important pieces of Australia’s and Victoria’s maritime history.”
Kurowski said: “Finds like this aren’t just fascinating, they’re important cultural records and protecting them ensures these pieces of our history are documented for future generations,”
Kurowski added: “This exciting find will help build a clearer picture of Australia’s maritime history.
“We appreciate the expertise and collaboration of SOE and the Commonwealth and Victorian heritage teams, in providing us with valuable insights into the two shipwrecks.
“As we progress through the development of Aurora Green, we remain committed to working with heritage authorities to ensure significant sites are respected and protected.”