Adelaide, South Australia, boasts a coastline dotted with numerous shipwrecks that can be explored by visitors. Notable wrecks in the area include the Bark South Australian (1837), which is South Australia's oldest documented shipwreck lost in a gale while serving as a whale-carcass processing platform. Additionally, the Gulf St Vincent Wrecks, part of Adelaide's Underwater Heritage Trail, feature four shipwrecks such as the Grecian, Zanoni, Star of Greece, and Norma, representing vessels associated with trade and development in South Australia.
Port Adelaide stands out for having the largest concentration of abandoned ships, with 40 wrecks spread across five sites. Among these wrecks, the Excelsior at Mutton Cove and the Santiago at Garden Island are noted for their relative intactness. Meanwhile, in the coastal town of Carpenter Rocks, visitors can find the wreck of the Hawthorn, a ketch built in 1875, lying in the shallows just meters from the beach.
With over 800 known shipwrecks in South Australia, including 270 listed on the SA Heritage Register, the state offers nine maritime heritage trails at wreck hotspots. These trails feature informative signs detailing the history of the ships and the circumstances surrounding their loss. Exploring these shipwrecks provides a captivating insight into South Australia's maritime past and presents unique opportunities for adventure and discovery.