SS Nemesis (1880)

The SS Nemesis was a British passenger and cargo steamship that disappeared off the coast of New South Wales, Australia, in 1904. Constructed in 1880 by Charles Connell and Company in Glasgow, Scotland, the 2,339-ton vessel was owned by the Melbourne-based Huddart Parker company.

The Nemesis departed Newcastle, New South Wales, on July 9, 1904, bound for Melbourne with a cargo of coal and carrying 32 crew members and passengers. It encountered heavy seas and disappeared without a trace. Wreckage and bodies were washed ashore near Barrenjoey Head, confirming the ship's loss.

For decades, the location of the Nemesis remained a mystery, becoming one of Australia's most enduring maritime enigmas. Various theories were proposed regarding its fate, including being overwhelmed by a rogue wave, striking an uncharted object, or suffering a structural failure.

In 2024, the wreck of the Nemesis was finally identified by a team led by marine explorer Subsea Professional Marine Services, using sonar technology. The wreck lies approximately 31 kilometers off the coast of New South Wales, near Sydney. The discovery confirmed that the ship sank relatively intact, likely due to sudden and violent weather conditions. The discovery provided closure to the descendants of those lost and shed light on the dangers of maritime travel in the early 20th century.