Name/TitlePhotograph, "Psyche"

About this objectThe ‘’Psyche’’ was a light cruiser, built in Devonport, England in 1897 and first commissioned in North America. In 1903 the vessel was commissioned for the Australia Station and arrived in Sydney to replace HMS Archer.

During WW1 the cruiser took part in the capture of the German protectorate of Samoa and other colonies in the Pacific. In July 1922 the 2135-ton, 314 x 36 ft ‘’Psyche’’ was sold and hulked to Waterside Ship Chandler.

She was then employed in Port Stephens as a timber lighter (flat bottomed barge) carrying cargo of Girders and Sleepers until sinking at her mooring in Salamander By in 1940 during a heavy storm.

The wreck was used by RAN clearance divers for training between 1950 and 1973 and was later broken up during an underwater demolitions exercise. The remains sit 4.2 metres below sea level, around 200 metres off Roy Wood Reserve. A memorial to the ship was unveiled at Roy Wood Reserve on 27 June 2015.

Today the wreck of the ‘’Psyche’’ is searched for by recreational fishermen as the artificial reef has become the home of a myriad of baitfish and large predators, particularly sharks and mulloway. Snapper, bream and longtail tuna have also been caught over the wreck.

Reference: https://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-psyche

Place MadeEurope, England, Plymouth

MakerRoyal Navy, Plymouth, England

Maker RoleShipwright

Date Made1897

PeriodLate 19th Century

Formatjpeg

Object TypeCruiser

Subject and Association KeywordsBoat building

Subject and Association KeywordsBoats

Subject and Association KeywordsCruising vessel

Subject and Association KeywordsNavy

Subject and Association KeywordsTimber

Subject and Association KeywordsCargo

Subject and Association KeywordsShipping

Subject and Association KeywordsSteel

Object numberTMA2021.00187

Copyright Licence