Photographed in 2002 by John Harding

The wreck has changed significantly over the years

The cleaned bell was given a dip off the Coffs Harbour Jetty for these pictures by John Harding (1988)

The Yongala bell was discovered and salvaged by Wally Gibbins while in the company of Ben Cropp circa 1971.

Displayed for many years in Wally Gibbins former sea shell and diving artifacts museum it eventually was sold for $6,000 to the maritime museum at Townsville, Queensland where it is the prize exhibit.

When found the bell was completely encrusted in barnacles and had fallen onto the sand thereby becoming overlooked by local Queensland divers.

Wally knew the layout of the ship and where the bell should have been. He spotted the clump of barnacles on the sand and concluded this to be ‘the prize’.