Gold treasure, an engraved turtle shell and the shipwreck that went missing

What began as a spearfishing trip off the Queensland coast in 1967 led to the discovery of a lost shipwreck and a tale of maritime disaster, sunken treasure, and remarkable survival. Peter Rubiolo and two friends stumbled upon the wreck of the SS Gothenburg, a vessel that vanished nearly a century earlier.

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We'd fished there many times and there was nothing sticking out of the water.

The Gothenburg, an English steamship contracted by the South Australian government, was known as a 'floating bank' due to its perceived security, and was consequently uninsured. In 1875, while traveling between Palmerston (now Darwin) and Adelaide, the ship struck the Great Barrier Reef. Over the next 24 hours, it slowly sank, leading to the deaths of approximately 100 people aboard. On board was 93 kilograms of gold, which was lost with the ship.

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When we hit it with the spear, steel rings a certain way, we realised it was a wreck.

Survivors described the scene as chaotic, with many perishing. Twenty-two people managed to reach Holbourne Island, where they reportedly survived by consuming raw seabird eggs. Among them was James Fitzgerald, who engraved the names of the survivors onto the shell of a turtle they killed for food. This engraved shell, along with a distinctive porthole recovered from the wreck, became key artifacts in identifying the lost ship.

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We weren't out looking for it. We just happened to be there.

Rubiolo recovered the porthole, which featured an engraved arrow, and took it to Brisbane. A shipwreck historian identified the marking, connecting it to a government vessel and ultimately the SS Gothenburg. The discovery unlocked the mystery of the tragic maritime incident, bringing to light the stories of those who perished and those who miraculously survived.

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All the wooden work is gone. Only the shape of the ship is there.