Major historical incidents
This summary includes the major oil spills in or near Australian waters, and several smaller offshore spills that resulted in significant legal action.
|
Date |
Vessel |
Location |
Oil amount |
|
28 November 1903 |
Port Phillip Bay, Victoria |
1,300 tonnes |
|
|
03 March 1970 |
Torres Strait, Queensland |
1,100 tonnes |
|
|
26 May 1974 |
Newcastle, New South Wales |
700 tonnes |
|
|
14 July 1975 |
Offshore, Western Australia |
14,800 tonnes |
|
|
10 September 1979 |
Botany Bay, New South Wales |
95 tonnes |
|
|
29 October 1981 |
Bribie Island, Queensland |
100 tonnes |
|
|
22 January 1982 |
Port Stanvac, South Australia |
unknown |
|
|
03 December 1987 |
Macquarie Island |
125 tonnes |
|
|
06 February 1988 |
Port Walcott, Western Australia |
450 tonnes |
|
|
20 May 1988 |
Cape Cuvier, Western Australia |
600 tonnes |
|
|
28 July 1988 |
Portland, Victoria |
184 tonnes |
|
|
21 May 1990 |
Cape Otway, Victoria |
unknown |
|
|
14 February 1991 |
Esperance, Western Australia |
700 tonnes |
|
|
21 July 1991 |
Western Australia |
17,280 tonnes |
|
|
30 August 1992 |
Port Bonython, South Australia |
300 tonnes |
|
|
10 July 1995 |
Hebe Reef, Tasmania |
325 tonnes |
|
|
28 June 1999 |
Port Stanvac, South Australia |
230 tonnes |
|
|
26 July 1999 |
Varanus Island, Western Australia |
25 tonnes |
|
|
03 August 1999 |
Sydney, New South Wales |
250 tonnes |
|
|
18 December 1999 |
Wilson's Promontory, Victoria |
less than 2 tonnes |
|
|
02 September 2001 |
Holbourne Island, Queensland |
less than 1000 litres |
|
|
25 December 2002 |
Border Island, Queensland |
greater than 70 km slick |
|
|
24 January 2006 |
Gladstone, Queensland |
25 tonnes |
|
|
11 March 2009 |
Cape Moreton, Queensland |
270 tonnes |
|
|
21 August 2009 |
NW Australian coast |
Approx 4,750 tonnes |
|
|
03 April 2010 |
Great Keppel Island, Queensland |
4 tonnes |
|
|
09 January 2012 |
Christmas Island |
102 tonnes |