Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Highlander
• Type: Wooden sidewheeler steamship
• Year Built: Mid-19th century (active by 1867)
• Builder: Calvin & Breck Company
• Dimensions: Length 179 ft (54.6 m); Beam; Depth of hold
• Registered Tonnage:
• Depth at Wreck Site: 3 m / 10 ft
• Location: Garden Island, Lake Ontario
• Coordinates: N 44°11.893' W 76°27.651'

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

A wooden-hulled sidewheeler designed for commercial freight and occasional government service. Equipped with steam propulsion via twin paddle wheels, she served the regional lake trade and briefly operated as a gunboat during the Fenian threat of 1866–67.

Description

The Highlander was a typical mid-19th-century sidewheel steamship with a relatively long hull for inland waters. Sidewheel steamers of this class were used for cargo and mixed-service transport. While not designed for high-seas conditions, they provided reliable power across Ontario’s interior lake routes.

History

Highlander was constructed for Calvin & Breck and played multiple roles — from freight transport to armed service as a government-chartered gunboat during the Fenian invasion alert in 1867. The vessel’s operations centred on Kingston and Garden Island, which was a bustling shipbuilding and forwarding port.

On the night of December 19, 1871, while moored at Garden Island alongside the Hercules, a fire broke out. Charles Kelley, newly aboard and believed to be asleep near the ship’s stove, was killed. The fire spread quickly, aided by strong winds, and despite efforts by local residents and firefighters, both the Highlander and Hercules were destroyed. The ships were uninsured, and the loss was estimated between $13,000–$25,000 CAD (1871 valuation).

After the fire, the remains of the Highlander were scuttled in the shallows behind Garden Island in what became known as a ship graveyard.

Significant Incidents

• December 19, 1871: Destroyed by fire while moored at Garden Island, resulting in the death of Charles Kelley.

Final Disposition

Completely destroyed by fire while wintering at dock. The remains were scuttled near Garden Island and lie partially intact in shallow water.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Known to local divers and historians for decades. Not rediscovered but continuously accessible due to shallow depth and proximity to shore. Remains visible, including structural hull fragments and sidewheel components.

Resources & Links

The Highlander exemplifies the dangers of 19th-century steam navigation, especially in winter quarters where fire was a constant threat. Her historical significance is compounded by her role in Canadian defence during the Fenian period. Today, she rests as a shallow and accessible dive site offering a rare opportunity to observe an early sidewheel steamer in situ.