Shipwreck Hunters Australia

In 2021, the WA Museum participated in the making of the docuseries Shipwreck Hunters Australia. The series followed divers and underwater filmmakers, Andre Rerekura, Nush Freedman, Johnny Debnam, Ryan Chatfield, and Ash Sutton, as they searched for shipwrecks along the Western Australian coast. The WA Museum provided maritime archaeological expertise both on camera and behind the scenes, helping to uncover and tell the stories of some of Western Australia’s most fascinating shipwrecks.

The WA Museum’s Maritime Heritage department has over 50 years of experience in maritime archaeological fieldwork and research. The Museum’s contribution to Shipwreck Hunters Australia was led by archaeologists, Dr Ross Anderson and Dr Deb Shefi. Through their involvement in the project, they have contributed to the existing decades of research in this field, with new findings and knowledge about the six wreck sites featured in the series.

The series can be watched on the Disney+ online streaming service.

Featured wreck sites

Upright structures on the sea floor, with sea life swimming around.

Glenbank, 1911

The Shipwreck Hunters team verified the newly discovered wreck site as Glenbank and confirmed what led the ship to rapidly capsize and sink.

Watch episode one: Deep Sea Discovery

Wooden jetty with a ship on both sides.

SS Koombana, 1912

The Shipwreck Hunters team investigated new leads and conducted magnetometer searches in new areas based on scientific and archival research.
Watch episode two: Search for Koombana

Looking down on parts of aircraft wreckage in shallow water.

Broome Flying Boats, 1942

The Shipwreck Hunters team made one of the most significant finds in Broome for over 20 years.
Watch episode three: Flying Boats of Broome

Diver on the Trial wreck site, 1985

Trial, 1622

The Shipwreck Hunters team searched for new wreck site features and any evidence of another wreck in the area.
Watch episode four: Australia’s Oldest Shipwreck

Diver upright underwater, using a camera in a protective case.

Stefano, 1875

The Shipwreck Hunters team discovered new artefacts from the site of one of Australia’s most significant shipwrecks.
Watch episode five: Survivors of Stefano

Upright anchor with one fluke and the crown embedded in the seabed.

Zeewijk, 1727

The Shipwreck Hunters team explored the theory that the undiscovered Dutch East Indiaman Aagtekerke (1726) wrecked at the same site as Zeewijk (1727).

Watch episode six: Two Wreck Fever

Shipwreck Hunters Australia is a co-production between VAM Media and Terra Australis Productions in association with Barking Mad Productions for Disney+.
The series is directed and produced by VAM Media’s Brendan Hutchens (Testing Teachers, Walking Man, Drawn To Water), together with series producer Katherine Barrett (Aussie Gold Hunters, Outback Truckers) and executive producer Steve Bibb (Inside the Sydney Opera House and Matildas: The World at our Feet).
The Director of Photography is Darren McCagh and editors are Meredith Watson, Jeffrey and Noah Norton.
Principal production investment was provided from Screen Australia, with the series developed and produced with the assistance of Screenwest and Lotterywest and supported by the State Government of Western Australia through the Western Australian Screen Fund. Additional support and expertise was provided by the Western Australian Museum.