Shipwrecks

Wreck of the Brig 'Nile' in1883.jpg
In 1800s Kiama and Gerringong, when roads were no more than horse tracks, shipping was the primary means of transportation, but navigating the shoreline was often a treacherous affair.

 

Kiama Harbour (originally at Black Beach) and Boat Harbour in Gerringong were the main access points to the fledgling townships and the drivers behind the area’s growth and development. Initially, the harbours consisted of little more than mooring chains and jetties, which were regularly swept away and could only service one ship at a time. When there were bad seas, ships could not enter or leave Kiama Harbour for sometimes weeks at a time. A number of ships, including Neptune (on 10 November 1856), and Lord of The Isles (on 19 June 1867), were lost in storms off Kiama Harbour.

 

In 1868, work began on the building of the much-needed Robertson Basin in Kiama Harbour, and ten years later, the basin was officially opened. However, it was not enough to save the Millewa, which was wrecked off the coast of Kiama on 5 July 1878.

 

We are fortunate to have a photograph in our collection capturing the Nile in its dramatic final moments. On 13 February 1883, the Nile took in a cargo of 300 tons of blue metal at Kiama and sailed for Sydney. When she reached Fort Bass, the winds became unfavourable, so she put about and tried to re-enter the basin, but in doing so touched the rocks on the west side of the bay and commenced bumping heavily. The vessel’s bows were deep in the water, and the sea washing half the deck, the bows being quite submerged, and the stern high up in the air. The masts and spars were still intact, with one sail set, but the deck was breaking apart. There was a large quantity of water in the hold, and fragments of timber floated about, and the sharp rocks underneath were doing the work of demolition.

 

The increase in shipping that resulted from the new harbour at Kiama meant a lighthouse was now necessary, and in 1887 the Kiama lighthouse was completed. While this no doubt improved conditions for shipping, unfortunately it didn’t save the Ino, which was wrecked off Kiama with a cargo of coal on 19 September 1889.

 

The Gerringong coastline also claimed its share of shipwrecks, including the Margaret, lost in a storm off Black Point, Gerringong, on 28 December 1879, and the Frolic, which ran ashore at Geering Bay on 18 March 1888. When the railway came to Gerringong in 1893, shipping started to decline, exacerbated by a storm in 1901 that destroyed half the Boat Harbour jetty. (You may recognise many of these ships in the street names around the Elambra estate in Gerringong?)

 

Shipwrecks

Below is a list of the shipwrecks off the coast of Kiama, Minnamurra and Gerringong.

Note, some of the sinkings were right on the border with Shellharbour. We include them here for interest sake. 

Wrecks are listed in alphabetical order.

Sources

The Wrecksite

Australian Encyclopoedia of Australian Shipwrecks

The Pirate website

Australian National Shipwreck Database

 

 

Alexander Berry

The Kiama Life Saving Brigade were quickly on the scene. However, she broke up rapidly, drowning the captain and all but one of her crew of five. The captain was chief officer of the steamer Tasman, when it was lost in south-east Tasmania in 1883, and was blamed for her loss.

Name Alexander Berry
Image alexander_berry.jpg
Type Cargo Ship
Tonnage 62
Date sunk 01 July 1901
Nationality Australian
Cargo
Built 1873
Propulsion Steam
References The wrecksite

Trove
Australian National Shipwreck Database

 

Bernard and Isabel

Name Bernard and Isabel
Image ketch.jpg
Type Ketch
Tonnage 22
Date sunk 2 May 1875
Nationality Australian
Built 1873
Propulsion Sailing ship
References Australian National Shipwreck Database

Trove

 

SV Chippewa

The SV Chippewa was wrecked with all hands during a gale at Crookhaven Heads.

Name SV Chippewa
Image ketch.jpg
Type Ketch
Tonnage 26
Date sunk 19 November 1868
Nationality Australia
Built 1866
Propulsion Sailing ship
References The wrecksite

Trove
Australian National Shipwreck Database

 

Cities Service Boston

Heavy weather off the southern New South Wales coast forced the convoy in which she was travelling to Iran to scatter; far off course, the tanker ran aground. Despite very rough seas all personnel aboard were saved, although four were admitted to the Kiama hospital. However, the rescuers were not so fortunate, as four lost their lives during the rescue operations.Salvage operations took about ten years to complete.

Name Cities Service Boston
Image citiesserviceboston.jpg
Type Tanker
Tonnage 9348
Date sunk 16 May 1943
Nationality American
Built 1921
Propulsion Steam
References The wrecksite

Trove
Australian National Shipwreck Database

 

Frolic

Captain Johnson. Ashore and lost at Gerringong, Geering Bay, south of Kiama, 18 March 1888. Crew saved.

Name Frolic
Image ketch.jpg
Type Ketch
Tonnage 26
Date sunk ?
Nationality Australian
Built 1853
Propulsion Sailing ship
References The wrecksite
Australian National Shipwreck Database

 

Growler

Captain Johnson. Ashore and lost at Gerringong, Geering Bay, south of Kiama, 18 March 1888. Crew saved.

Name Growler
Image schooner_sailing_vessel.jpg
Type Schooner
Tonnage 36
Date sunk 18 March 1888
Nationality Australian
Built 1879
Propulsion Sailing ship
References Thewrecksite

Trove
Australian National Shipwreck Database

 

Hawkesbury Packet

On 20 June 1816, under Captain Edward Watson, sought shelter in Port Stephens during the Great Gale of 1816. With diminished provisions, two crew set out by foot for Newcastle, but were detained by Aborigines and stripped of their clothing; one died. The other crawled the last three miles and alerted the authorities. Meanwhile, the sloop resumed her voyage to Newcastle.

Name Hawkesbury Packet
Image ships_sloop.jpg
Type Sloop
Tonnage 28
Date sunk August 1817
Nationality British
Built -
Propulsion Sailing ship
References The wrecksite
Australian National Shipwreck Database

 

Ino

On 19 September 1889, Ino was on voyage from Wollongong to Moruya with a cargo of coal (60 tonnes), when she was wrecked off Kiama, at Robertson Basin.

Name Ino
Image ketch.jpg
Type Ketch
Tonnage 40
Date sunk 19 September 1889
Nationality Australian
Built 1864
Propulsion Sail ship
References The wrecksite

Trove
Australian National Shipwreck Database

 

FV Koraaga

Lost 5 nm east of Gerringong, Black Head.

Name FV Koraaga
Image koraaga_0.jpg
Type Cargo Ship
Tonnage 221
Date sunk 9 September 1931
Nationality Australia
Built 1915
Propulsion Steam
References
The wrecksite
Australian National Shipwreck Database

 

The Lady of the Lake

Name The Lady of the Lake
Image schooner_sailing_vessel.jpg
Type Schooner
Tonnage 41
Date sunk 31 August 1879
Nationality
Built
Propulsion Sailing ship
References The wrecksite

Trove
Australian National Shipwreck Database

 

Lord of the Isles

On 19 June 1867, Lord of The Isles was on voyage from Bulli to Kiama, with a cargo of timber and coal, when she was lost in a storm off Kiama Harbour.

Name Lord of the Isles
Image ketch.jpg
Type Ketch
Tonnage 28
Date sunk 10 November 1856
Nationality Australian
Built 1855
Propulsion Sailing ship
References The wrecksite

Trove
Australian National Shipwreck Database

 

Margaret

On 28 December 1879, Margaret was on voyage from Shoalhaven to Sydney with a cargo of timber and a crew of three, when she was lost in a storm off Gerringong, Black Point.

Name Margaret
Image ketch.jpg
Type Ketch
Tonnage 25
Date sunk 28 December 1879
Nationality Australian
Built 1867
Propulsion Sailing ship
References The wrecksite

Trove

Australian National Shipwreck Database

 

Mermaid

The Mermaid was lost ashore at Gerringong Harbour.

Name Mermaid
Image ships_cutter.jpg
Type Cutter
Tonnage 12
Date sunk 29 August 1949
Nationality Australia
Built 1830
Propulsion Sailing ship
References The wrecksite
Australian National Shipwreck Database

 

Millewa

On 05 July 1878, Millewa (Hc Christison) was on voyage to Kiama, with a cargo of general and a crew of three, when she was wrecked off Kiama.

Name Millewa
Image ketch.jpg
Type Ketch
Tonnage 30
Date sunk 5 July 1878
Nationality Australian
Built 1877
Propulsion Sailing ship
References The wrecksite
Trove
Australian National Shipwreck Database

 

Neptune

On 10 November 1856, Neptune (Edmund Parkes) was on voyage to Kiama with a cargo of shells when she was lost off Kiama Harbour.

Name Neptune
Image ketch.jpg
Type Ketch
Tonnage 15
Date sunk 10 November 1856
Nationality Australian
Built 1844
Propulsion Sailing ship
References The wrecksite

Trove
Australian National Shipwreck Database

 

SV Nile

On 12 February 1883, Nile was on voyage from Kiama to Sydney when she was wrecked off Kiama (northwest reef).

Name SV Nile
Image nile.jpg
Type Brig
Tonnage 164
Date sunk 12 February 1883
Nationality Australian
Built 1859
Propulsion Sailship
References The wrecksite

Trove
Australian National Shipwreck Database

 

Rangoon

Ashore at Kiama in strong winds, 22 March 1870. Wedged between two rocks there was hope she would survive, but a heavy gale about a month later completely destroyed her.

Name Rangoon
Image Rangoon.jpg
Type Barquentine
Tonnage 374
Date sunk 22 March 1870
Nationality -
Built 1852
Propulsion Sailing ship
References The wrecksite

Trove
Australian National Shipwreck Database

 

Scotia

The Scotia struck rocks and was lost at Kiama, north of the Blowhole, 26 December 1889.

 

Name Scotia
Image schooner_sailing_vessel.jpg
Type Schooner
Tonnage 52
Date sunk 26 December 1899
Nationality Australia
Built 1840
Propulsion Sailing ship
References The wrecksite

Trove
Australian National Shipwreck Database

 

Spec

On 17 October 1865, Spec (Capt. J. Dawson), with a crew of three, was lost off Kiama, at Gerringong. Two died, of which two were crew.

Name Spec
Image schooner_sailing_vessel.jpg
Type Schooner
Tonnage 17
Date sunk 17 October 1865
Nationality Australian
Built 1856
Propulsion Sailing ship
References The wrecksite
Australian National Shipwreck Database

 

Swallow

The Swallow was lost at Gerringong Harbour entrance.

Name Swallow
Image ships_cutter.jpg
Type Cutter
Tonnage 26
Date sunk 15 March 1842
Nationality Australia
Built 1836
Propulsion Sailing ship
References The wrecksite
Australian National Shipwreck Database

 

Twin Sisters

The Twin Sisters was wrecked when it drifted onto rocks at Kiama in 1851.

Name Twin Sisters
Image ketch.jpg
Type Ketch
Tonnage 49
Date sunk 4 June 1851
Nationality Australia
Built 1849
Propulsion Sailing ship
References The wrecksite
Australian National Shipwreck Database

 

                                       


 

 

The ship "Nile" sinking in the entrance to Kiama Harbour, c.1883.

Image 1.jpg

The circled ship is the "Rangoon" in Sydney before it sailed down the coast. The ship struck storms around Minnamurra and with poor visibility may have thought the river entrance was the harbour. The ship hit the rocky island and broke up. Rangoon Island is named after the shipwreck.

Image 5.jpg

'SS Illawarra' leaving Kiama Harbour, c.1880s.

Image 3.jpg

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