SS Gothenburg

Gothenburg
History
NameGothenburg
NamesakeGothenburg
Owner
  • 1854: North of Europe SN Co
  • by 1865: John H Blackwood
  • by 1874: McMeckan & Blackwood
Operator1854: J Hervey
Port of registry
Route
  • 1854: London – Sweden
  • 1860s: Australia – New Zealand
BuilderCharles Lungley & Co, Millwall
Launched1 April 1854
Refitrebuilt at Adelaide, 1873
Identification
Fatewrecked, 24 February 1875
General characteristics
Tonnage
  • 1855: 572 GRT, 345 NRT
  • 1871: 675 GRT, 459 NRT
  • 1874: 737 GRT, 501 NRT
Length
  • 1871: 187.4 ft (57.1 m)
  • 1874: 196.6 ft (59.9 m)
Beam
  • 1871: 28.1 ft (8.6 m)
  • 1874: 28.2 ft (8.6 m)
Depth
  • 1871: 12.9 ft (3.9 m)
  • 1874: 20.5 ft (6.2 m)
Installed power120 hp
Propulsion2-cylinder steam engine
Sail plan3-masted barquentine
Crew34

SS Gothenburg was an iron-hulled sail- and steamship that was built in England in 1854 and sailed between England and Sweden until 1862. She then moved to Australia, where she operated across the Tasman Sea to and from New Zealand until 1873, when she was rebuilt. After her rebuild, she operated in the Australian coastal trade.

In February 1875 Gothenburg was wrecked in a storm on the Great Barrier Reef off the north coast of Queensland. Twenty-two people survived in three lifeboats. Between 98 and 112 people were killed, including a number of civil servants and dignitaries.