Tracking Shots
Flashbacks - NZ History on Film
Wreck of the SS Tyrone
The wreck of the Union Steamship Company steamer, the SS Tyrone, off the Otago Heads on 27 September 1913 was one of the biggest wrecks ever in South Island waters. No lives were lost, though the steamer was a total wreck and was formally abandoned.
The wreck was a big attraction for salvagers and sightseers alike. Special ferry rides were put on for passengers to get close to the site. Others travelled by tram and then walked to the cliffs.
Moving images, taken by local enthusiast Henry Gore, were a big hit at the New Queens Theatre. The Evening Star reported, “The film shows the crowds of eager sightseers embarking at the wharf, disembarking at Harrington Point, the tedious tramp over the sandhills, the gigantic cliffs, and a fine panoramic view of the ill-fated Tyrone.”
Today the wreck still has appeal as a diving treasure.
- [Wreck of the SS Tyrone] (424kb)
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