The TSS John Penn was an iron screw steamer built in London in 1867, about 140 feet (43 m) long and 199 tons, capable of 10 knots. According to the South Coast History Society, she left Tathra for Sydney on 7 November 1879 with mixed cargo and passengers. In dense fog the captain kept up speed on what he believed was a safe offshore course, and just before 2 am on 8 November she drove onto rocks at the foot of Burrewarra Head in flat seas. She was refloated at high tide but foundered and sank in about 12 m of water while under tow towards Broulee Bay. No one was lost. A Marine Board inquiry found the captain negligent for not slowing down or using the sounding lead in fog and suspended his certificate for three months.

The Marine Life Network lists the wreck as a 10 m shore dive near Burrewarra Point, describing it as a big, very old wreck, 42 m long, now in mud. (It gives the loss year as 1870, but the historical record says 1879.) Little of the ship is likely to stand proud of the bottom; expect scattered iron plates, frames, perhaps the boiler or engine parts, partly buried in mud and silt.

This is a site for wreck enthusiasts who enjoy searching for history rather than a scenic dive. Visibility is often poor. As a wreck more than 75 years old, it is protected under the Underwater Cultural Heritage Act 2018, so nothing may be disturbed or removed. Position data is not published and should be obtained from the heritage database before a dive.

The Marine Life Network lists the John Penn as a 10 m shore dive near Burrewarra Point, protected from all but strong easterly weather. The wreck sank while being towed from Burrewarra Head towards Broulee Bay, so it lies somewhere between the two. No public GPS mark exists.

Divers should obtain the position from the NSW heritage database or local divers; a boat from the Tomakin ramp gives the most flexible access.

The Marine Life Network describes the site as protected from all but strong easterly weather. The muddy bottom means visibility is often poor and easily ruined by fin kicks, and rain runoff makes it worse. Pick a calm day after a spell of westerlies, and dive near high tide when the water is usually clearest.

Descend carefully to avoid stirring the mud, and search the area around the mark for exposed plating, frames or machinery. Keep off the bottom and work upstream of any current so the silt drifts away from you.

Protected under the Underwater Cultural Heritage Act 2018 (over 75 years old).

No operator lists the wreck. Mentioned by the Marine Life Network; dived occasionally by wreck enthusiasts.