The skeletal remains of the Norwegian barque Ethel, driven ashore in 1904 and still visible on the beach below the cliffs.
The Ethel was a three-masted iron barque wrecked on this remote beach in January 1904 after dragging her anchors in a gale. More than a century of pounding surf has stripped her to a rusting skeleton, the curved ribs of her hull rising from the sand at low tide. A short, steep walk down from the clifftop lookout leads to the wreck and the wide surf beach, one of the most photographed scenes in Innes National Park.
Find it on the map
Got a photo of Ethel Wreck?
Share your best shot. If we use it in the gallery, you'll be credited by name. Photos are reviewed before going live.
Last verified 1 month ago
You might also like
Similar experiences across Yorke Peninsula
Ethel Wreck - frequently asked questions
What was the Ethel and when was it wrecked?
The Ethel was a three-masted iron barque that ran aground in a storm in 1904 while sailing to South Australia. The wreck still lies on the beach below the cliffs in Innes National Park.
Can you still see the Ethel shipwreck?
Yes. Although the hull collapsed in the mid-1980s, large pieces of rusted iron still jut from the sand at Ethel Beach, clearly marking the ship's outline. The amount visible depends on how the sand and tides have shifted.
Is it legal to take pieces of the Ethel wreck?
No. The Ethel shipwreck is protected under the Historic Shipwrecks Act, so it is illegal to disturb, remove or interfere with any part of the wreck.
How do you get to the Ethel wreck?
The wreck lies on Ethel Beach inside Innes National Park, reached via a car park and a steep stairway down to the sand. A clifftop lookout also gives views over the site.
Image credits
- Wreck of the Ethel 2007.jpg by Peripitus , CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons