Maheno Wreck

The SS Maheno has been shipwrecked on Fraser Island’s 75 Mile Beach for over 100 years. The historic ship was one of the first turbine-driven steamers and has become one of Fraser’s most famous wrecks. In 1935 the ship was being towed to Japan, on its way to becoming scrap metal when a cyclone hit and broke the tow chain. The SS Maheno then drifted in the cyclonic waters and washed up on the shores of Fraser Island, it has been sitting there to rust ever since. The rustic skeleton is a popular site for visitors to inspect the damage it has incurred and explore the surrounding areas. Shortly after washing up, it’s believed the ship was used for concerts and weddings and then as target practice during the Second World War. Hundreds of thousands of people visit the wreck each year, many not knowing about the interesting history behind it.