THE MAHENO STORY

The Hervey Bay Historical Museum was opened in 1974 with one building which was the first Public Hall at Dundowran and donated by the residents there. By 1990, the Museum had increased to 13 buildings, there are now 18 buildings, 8000 exhibits and a group of dedicated volunteers, busily repairing the old buildings that were falling into disrepair and restoring buildings acquired in recent years.

DO YOU HAVE ANY PHOTOS ON WRECKS - WE WOULD APPRECIATE HEARING FROM YOU

Contact Syd through the link above and make your choice of contact.

MAHENO - TRIPLE SCREW TURBINE STEAMER - 5323 tons. 

Built in Dumbarton 1905, for the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand.  The second turbine steamer to arrive in Australia arrived in Melbourne, then Port Jackson on 14^th November 1905.  Lbd 400 x 50.2 x 30.8 ft

Now resting on the eastern side of Fraser Island, this once 122 metre long luxury steam ship, held the speed record between Sydney and New Zealand.  Serving her time in the first war this luxury liner became home to many thousands of sick and wounded troops ferried across the English channel.

While being towed to her final resting place, a cyclone caused the towing cable to snap, leaving this majestic ship to flounder in rough seas of Fraser Island, later to become a now famous landmark.  Locals soon learnt of her demise, making it a holiday retreat like no other.  After a few years the sea took its tally, followed by the outbreak of the second world war.  This rusting hulk soon gave her services to the war effort once again by becoming bombing practise for the Australian Air Force.

Re-fitted after the war to her previous glory, she made several trips between New Zealand and England, the outdated steam ship soon fell victim to the more modern means of transport.  She was sold to a Japanese Company for scrap after being decommissioned in 1935.

This sad but now rusting Skelton is loved to death, by many visitors who stop and marvel at this once heroic vessel. More wreck information can be found

on the site.

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