Story: Shipwrecks

Bodies from the Penguin

Bodies from the Penguin

This photograph shows some of the victims of the wreck of the Picton–Wellington passenger steamer Penguin. At 9.45 p.m. on 12 February 1909, the Penguin hit Tom’s Rock on Wellington’s south coast. It was a stormy night. Only three of the five boats made it to shore, carrying six passengers. Twenty-three others survived on two rafts despite both being upturned, and the captain came ashore on flotsam. The remaining 75 passengers and crew died. Most of the bodies were washed up on the coast between Sinclair Head and Cape Terawhiti.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, John Dickie Collection (PAColl-3037)
Reference: 1/2-015474;F

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Gerard Hutching, 'Shipwrecks - Improved safety', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/7296/bodies-from-the-penguin (accessed 30 March 2024)

Story by Gerard Hutching, published 12 Jun 2006