Cherry Venture

The shipwreck in the 1970s
Career
Name:	Cherry Venture
Route:	Auckland to Brisbane
Out of service:	1973
Fate:	Shipwrecked
Status:	Demolished
General characteristics
Tonnage:	1600

Cherry Venture pictured in 2002

Cherry Venture was a 1600 ton cargo ship of Scandinavian origin. It ran aground on Teewah Beach in South East Queensland, Australia on the July 6, 1973 and remained on the beach for 34 years until its removal in early 2007.

Cause of the wreck

Cherry Venture was wrecked due to a combination of severe storms and a lack of cargo. Buoys in the area recorded wave heights of up to 40 feet (12 m). The unladen ship sat high in the water, which when combined with the high tides and strong swell propelled it to a point far enough up the sand that it could not be successfully re-floated, despite attempts that involved dredging the beach.

On the day of the storm the ship was traveling from Auckland to Brisbane.

Salvage attempts

The wreck was subsequently purchased by Peter Vagellas an Australian entrepreneur who had intended to re-float to vessel and convert it into a luxury liner and floating casino to service the Great Barrier Reef. In 1977 there was a failed attempt to refloat the ship. Eight salvage attempts over the next few years failed.^{[citation needed]}

Public interest

The wreck was a popular stopping point for tourists en-route between Noosa and Fraser Island and has been photographed often. Despite safety warnings describing the unsound nature of the structure visitors would often climb over the wreck.

Removal

In late 2006 it was announced that the wreck would be demolished due to increasing dangers posed by the wreck, including exposed asbestos in the engine room.

The removal process, which necessitated cordoning off a section of public highway which runs along the beach next to the wreck, began on February 13, 2007.

See also

• List of shipwrecks

External links

• The Cherry Venture on Google Maps