The City's response to Yahoo Inc about the ongoing discouragement of swimmers from climbing on the historic Omeo wreck, 6.2.25
Question: I'm writing an article about the Omeo wreck and how swimmers are standing and jumping from the wreck daily, and I was hoping to speak to someone about the damage that can occur, and why it is important to look but not touch. Also about the current penalties in place for such behaviour.
Answer: The City of Cockburn completed stage one of the award-winning Coogee Maritime Trail in 2016 when it also began educating the community about the importance of the Federally protected Omeo wreck, which was driven ashore in a storm in 1905.
This site has long been a popular dive spot, and the establishment of the trail has provided a much-needed catalyst for the City and WA Museum to work together to educate the community about the value of the wreck and its history, and that it must be treated with great respect and care.
The 605-tonne barque-rigged iron screw steamer was built at Newcastle, England in 1858. Part of the cargo on its maiden voyage to Australia was the materials and equipment for laying the Bass Strait submarine cable.
The Omeo wreck is central to the trail which currently also comprises 70 concrete reef and dive modules, and an underwater art gallery featuring a selection of sculptures and marine artefacts including an old railway wheel and anchor recovered during the development of Elizabeth Quay.
The wreck provides an easily accessible snorkeling experience just 25m offshore in depths of 2-5m extending to around 7m as the underwater trail extends 200m offshore, at North Coogee.
The wreck and trail are home to an array of beautiful sea life in a fragile environment that is easily damaged by climbing, touching and misuse.
The City asks snorkelers and swimmers to be responsible by not touching, climbing, standing or resting on the wreck, removing pieces of the wreck or reef, or leaving rubbish behind.
City of Cockburn Environmental Education Officer Vicky Hartill said visitors to the trail needed to explore with their eyes, not their hands, and use pool noodles, bodyboards and kickboards to stay afloat to avoid resting on the wreck.
“We appeal for trail visitors to ‘Protect the Wreck’ and take care of this historic site and all the sea life that have made it their home,” Mrs Hartill said.
“The City is undertaking long-term management measures for the site including monitoring of visitor numbers and erecting educational signage.
“After a successful pilot project in 2023-24, the City now coordinates a dedicated team of up to 15 trail volunteers. They advocate for the wreck by providing education about the Omeo and the importance of protecting it and the variety of fish, starfish, cuttlefish, crayfish, mollusc, nudibranch, sea squirts and coral observed in the area.
“Members of the Coogee Maritime Trail Education Team are great fans of the trail themselves and are enthusiastic about providing information about the unique site at the busiest times, usually between Friday and Sunday, but also during the week.
“People are usually keen to learn about the history of the wreck itself and how the trail has grown around it.
“The volunteers also observe behaviours on the trail, record the number of people climbing on the wreck, and report illegal boats and fishing to relevant authorities. We want to make everyone’s experience at the trail peaceful and rewarding because it’s such a priceless attraction that also needs our protection.
“We’ve installed temporary ‘responsible snorkeling’ signage on the dive stairs and another portable sign displaying the same message will soon be placed out each weekend in the area, which has high pedestrian traffic.
“Late last year the City installed a pontoon inside the trail in a depth of about 3m of water to provide an opportunity for swimmers to rest, rather than standing on the wreck.
“Unfortunately it needed some running repairs so was temporarily removed but we hope to have it back on site again this month.”
Coogee Maritime Trail can be accessed via the shore from Coogee Beach or parallel beach access paths and via purpose-built stairs over the rock seawall, on Socrates Parade.
The attraction also includes a universally accessible land-based trail along pathways connecting to the neighbouring suburb of Port Coogee and its marina.
WA Museum media response, quotes to be attributed to Dr Ross Anderson, Curator of Maritime Heritage at the Western Australian Museum. 7.2.25.
Question: Why is it important to look but not touch the wreck?
Answer:The Omeo wreck is made of iron, and the outer surfaces of the metal have a layer of protective marine concretion and marine growth attached that help buffer the intact metal from the atmosphere (with corrosion-causing oxygen) and contribute to the preservation of the wreck. People touching and impacting the wreck can damage the protective outer layers of marine concretion and marine growth, leading to an increase in oxygen and a higher corrosion rate, or, in the worst cases, can cause the structure to break.
Question: What kind of damage can occur from constant standing/jumping off the wreck?
Answer: (As above) It’s a bit like the effect of water dripping on a stone – one person jumping and standing on it might not cause much amount of damage, but hundreds of impacts over time will gradually cause long-term damage.
Question: What kind of damage can occur from constant standing/jumping off the wreck?
Answer: People touching, standing on and physically impacting the wreck can damage the protective outer layers of marine concretion and attached marine life, leading to an increase in oxygen and corrosion of the wreck, or, in the worst cases, physical damage and breakage.
The Western Australian Museum has worked closely with the City of Cockburn to educate snorkellers about correct ‘wreck etiquette’, and how to best enjoy the Omeo wreck and its ecology without having any adverse impacts.
Question: What penalties are in place for people who ignore the rules?
Answer: Omeo is protected by the Commonwealth Underwater Cultural Heritage Act 2018, under which it is an offence to “engage in conduct that has an adverse impact” on shipwrecks. Section 30 of the Underwater Cultural Heritage Act outlines the penalties that range from fines to imprisonment however, this is very much dependent on the severity of the offence. To view the Act, visit
https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2018A00085/latest/text