Shipwreck SS Speke — Attraction in Victoria

The Kitty Miller Bay walk offers beautiful coastal views as you walk around the headland and bay. Walk to the left of the bay and on low tide, you will be able to see the site wreck of the SS Speke Shipwreck. The Speke was the second-largest ship-rigged vessel ever built. In February 1906 it ran ashore on Phillip Island as a result of poor navigation by the captain. After battling headwinds on a voyage from Sydney to Melbourne in ballast, the ship Speke was forced ashore east of Kitty Miller's Bay.

The southern coastline of Phillip Island has historical significance for links to early European settlement and the development of Victoria. The 1906 shipwreck of the 'Speke' is adjacent to Watt Point. This landscape is also important in conservation history. Penguin tours to Summerland Bay in the 1920s provide an early example of eco-tourism in Victoria. The first Victorian 'Nature Park' was established here in 1996 as part of a state-wide plan to increase nature-based tourism. Roads on the island were used for the first Australian Grand Prix in 1928. The current Grand Prix circuit was built on the current site on Back Beach Road, adjacent to Pyramid...

Great coastal spot if you like rock-hopping....the whole 2kms! My 10 y.o. son and I really enjoyed the rocks and searching through the crannies and nooks of the small rock pools. The shipwreck is interesting to poke around. There's only a small part of the ship remaining. There's scattered pieces of rusted steel amongst the surrounding area. Have a go at trying to lift a piece - they're very heavy. Be sure to allow enough time to reach the shipwreck and return before the tide comes in. There's an alternative way to reach the shipwreck via the upper cliff track, however I have been told that there are some pretty tricky steep sections of this track too. No dogs allowed at any time on this beach. Loads of parking available. To reach the shipwreck, be sure to head left at the bottom of the steps from...

A really cool piece of existing history!

The Speke, A three masted steel ship of 2,876 tons and 93 metres, having been built in Wales, 1891, and measuring 94.5 metres – at the time she was the second largest ship-rigged vessel ever built - the Speke remains the most famous of Phillip Island shipwrecks. the Speke drifted broadside on to a reef to the east of Kitty Miller Bay on 22 February 1906 while en route from Peru, via Sydney, to Geelong, in ballast, to pick up a cargo of wheat. The Phillip Island Speke is NOT to be confused with the Speke which transported a total of 411 convicts to New South Wales over three voyages between...