Picture the SS Ozone. Imagine this magnificent paddle steamer. Built in 1886 near Glasgow she was a marvel of engineering. She was one of the finest paddle steamers ever built. The SS Ozone wasn’t just a ship. She was a symbol of elegance and speed. A queen of Port Phillip Bay.
Commissioned by the Bay Excursion Company she journeyed to Australia. There she became a beloved vessel. Melbourne and Queenscliff were connected by her regular runs. But her journey wasn’t without incident. She was involved in a series of collisions. The Elfin and the May were unfortunate victims.
The SS Ozone wasn’t just a mode of transport. She hosted lavish parties. Trade picnics were a common occurrence. Employees enjoyed days out on the bay. Children especially loved these outings. There was even fierce competition between rival ships. The Courier and the SS Ozone competed in a famous race. The Ozone easily won. The next year’s rematch never happened. The captain of the SS Ozone was ordered not to race. The debate about who really won still continues.
Her career ended in 1918. She was sold to a shipbreaker. Eventually her hull was sunk at Indented Head. It was to form a breakwater. Sadly the SS Ozone was not to last long in this new role. The wreck continues to erode. Time and sea claim the mighty SS Ozone. In April 1991 her starboard paddle wheel collapsed.
The SS Ozone is more than just a wreck. She’s a dive site. Divers explore her remains. A monument stands on the cliff top. It features one of the SS Ozone’s anchors. It serves as a reminder of the ship’s illustrious past. The SS Ozone’s story is one of speed elegance and ultimately tragedy. But her legend remains. She lives on in the memories of those who sailed her and those who explore her watery grave today.