The Centurion forms one of the most interesting shipwreck dives in Sydney Harbour.
The vessel, owned by George Thompson was departing Sydney under tow for Honolulu when it got into difficulties at the Heads. Another steamer was moored in the channel, and in the attempt to pass around it, Centurion bumped against the rocks at The Old Mans Hat on North Head. Recovering from the shore, Centurion drifted back into the harbour and sank in 18 meters of water. Today the remains include a substantial portion of the hull (buried), deck frames, sections of the masts, anchor chain and other fastenings.
The Centurion was built as a magnificent timber clipper ship, later transformed to a barque rig, square-rigged on two masts. With a length of 63 meters and tonnage of 1004 tons gross, the vessel had been built in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1869 for the Aberdeen White Star Line. Centurion was built in the famous Aberdeen shipyard of Walter Hood & Sons, that also built the Fame, Queen of Nations and Walter Hood, all wrecked in NSW. Towards the end of its life, the passenger and cargo carrier served as a collier.
Depth of site ~19m.
Download NSW Heritage Office Information Sheet (427kb PDF file)
Download NSW Heritage Office archaeological survey report. (1.25mb PDF file)
