The SS Bonnie Dundee was a 193 gross register ton Australian steamship built by Gourlay Brothers and Company in Dundee, Scotland. Launched on 2 March 1877, she was designed for trade operations originating from the Richmond River in New South Wales, Australia. The vessel's construction featured typical steamship characteristics of the period, though specific dimensions beyond tonnage are not detailed in the provided source. After her launch, Bonnie Dundee departed Dundee on 28 March 1877, transiting via the Suez Canal and making a stop at Ceylon before arriving in Cooktown, Australia, on 27 June 1877. She subsequently entered the Clarence River in New South Wales in mid-July of that year and reached Sydney on 18 July 1877, marking the start of her service in Australian waters. While under charter, the vessel was commanded by Captain John Alexander Stuart. Her operational history was cut short when she was involved in a fatal collision with the steamship SS Barrabool, captained by John Readman Clark, on the evening of 10 March 1879. The collision occurred at approximately 8:00 p.m. near Lake Macquarie, New South Wales. The Bonnie Dundee was struck and was cut in two, sinking within minutes. Tragically, five passengers lost their lives in the sinking. The Barrabool sustained damage to her port bow above the waterline but managed to escape serious damage. The wreck of the SS Bonnie Dundee lies in about 35 metres (115 feet) of water, approximately 5 kilometers off Caves Beach, New South Wales, southeast of Moon Island. The site remains a notable wreck location, representing a maritime tragedy from the late 19th century and illustrating the perils of coastal navigation during that period.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.