Zuytdorp Wreck 

The wreck of the Dutch ship Zuytdorp lies on the seabed against the cliff face at the southern extremity of the Shark Bay World Heritage Area. When The Zuytdorp was wrecked in 1712 it was carrying more than 250 passengers & a cargo of trade goods and silver including 248,000 guilders in newly minted coins.

Clues to the Zuytdorp shipwreck have been put together to create a story which has unfolded over the last 40 years. It is thought that the Zuytdorp struck reef without warning, & came to rest close enough to the coastal reef platform for some crew to bridge the gap to apparent safety. There would have been very few survivors as there would have been no time to launch boats & any who jumped would have been crushed on to the reef. There is speculation that some survivors joined aboriginal groups, if so it would have been the first encounter between Europeans & Aboriginals.

The wreck was discovered in 1927 by station workers. The ship was identified by the coins found at the site.

Further Information

In 1992, 59,000 hectares of land surrounding the wreck was declared the Zuytdorp Nature Reserve. Access to the Reserve and wrecksite is both hazardous and restricted. For safety reasons at least two vehicles are required for expeditions in that area. Permission is required from CALM to enter the area and from station owners to pass through their property. The immediate area surrounding the wreck and associated land sites is a restricted zone. Permission is required from the Western Australian Maritime Museum to enter the area. Diving on the wreck is prohibited for safety reasons and to protect historical relics.