The SS Australian was an iron-hulled single-screw steam coaster built in Dundee in 1879, about 49 m long and 352 tons. For more than three decades she carried cargo and passengers along the South Australian coast. On 8 May 1912 – less than a month after the Songvaar sank at the other end of the island – she ran onto a reef at the south-east corner of Wardang Island during a sand storm that reduced visibility to almost nothing, and was lost.

Today the wreck is well flattened but extensive. The SDFSA records the stern at about 8 m with wreckage rising to 2.5 m, and the bow lying about 100 m to the north-east in shallow water. A detached boiler, frames, flattened plating and machinery fragments give plenty to explore, and because surge keeps growth on the iron limited, the Marine Life Society describes the structure as extremely visible.

Fish life is usually prolific. Sweep, silver drummer and leatherjackets are the most common residents, with old wives, magpie perch and schools of small baitfish, and crabs and octopus in the gaps. The Australian is one of the most popular Wardang dives because it combines easy depth, plenty of structure and good fish, and it sits a short distance from the MacIntyre, allowing a two-wreck dive.

It suits Open Water divers and confident snorkellers on calm days. Remember that the southern shore takes south-westerly swell – on a rough day, head for the more sheltered Songvaar and Moorara instead. The DEW trail booklet and the Port Victoria Maritime Museum hold photographs of the coaster in service that help identify her machinery underwater.

From Adelaide drive about 190 km (2 hours 15 minutes) via Port Wakefield and Maitland to Port Victoria. Launch at the Port Victoria boat ramp beside the jetty and run west to Wardang Island – the island's nearest shore is about 8 km away and the southern wreck sites about 11 km (20-30 minutes in a small boat). The Port Victoria Maritime Museum and the Department for Environment and Water trail booklet give site details and coordinates.

Wardang Island is Aboriginal land held by the Point Pearce (Narungga) community: diving the wrecks from a boat is fine, but landing on the island requires permission. The Australian lies at the south-east corner of the island, about 10 km from the ramp (20-25 minutes). The MacIntyre is a short distance away, and the two are usually dived together.

Wardang Island lies 8-11 km off Port Victoria in Spencer Gulf. Its western and southern shores – Aagot, Investigator, Notre Dame d'Arvor, Monarch, Australian and MacIntyre – face the open gulf and are subject to south-westerly swell, surge and wind-driven sand movement, so they need low swell and light winds, ideally easterlies. The eastern and northern sites (Songvaar, Moorara) are more sheltered from the prevailing south-westerlies but exposed to northerly and easterly chop.

The 20-30 minute boat run from Port Victoria becomes uncomfortable above about 15 knots. Summer and autumn mornings are the usual window; winter fronts bring days of south-westerly weather. The Marine Life Society notes surge keeps growth on the wreck limited, which makes the structure very visible.

Start at the stern in 8 m, explore the flattened plating and detached boiler, then follow the debris line north-east to the shallow bow section; finish with a short swim to the MacIntyre if gas allows.

No resident operator; a staple of Adelaide shop and club Wardang weekends (The Dive Shack rates it novice) and of private boats from Port Victoria.