HMS ORPHEUS

The HMS Orpheus disaster on 07 February 1863 at the Manukau Bar, with the loss of 189 lives, remains New Zealand’s worst maritime tragedy.  The gallery has a collection of Orpheus relics including the anchor, a section of the mast, as well as information material relating to the Orpheus wreck. It also houses many other relics of maritime interest, cannon, cannon balls, ships wheel, compass and ships bell. There is a DVD recording of the events leading up to the Orpheus shipwreck (DVD copies can be purchased at the museum).