 SSCollaroy atCollaroy, New South Wales | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Australia | |
| Owner |
|
| Builder | John Laird and son & Co.Birkenhead |
| Launched | 1853 |
| Fate | Wrecked 1889 |
| Notes | location of stranding at Collaroy33°43′59″S151°18′12″E / 33.733033°S 151.303365°E /-33.733033; 151.303365 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | coastal cargo |
| Tons burthen | 419 |
| Length | 180.9 ft (55.1 m) |
| Beam | 23.3 ft (7.1 m) |
| Draught | 11.1 ft (3.4 m) |
| Propulsion | engine manufactured by Fawcett, Preston and co |
| Sail plan | barkentine |
| Complement | 10 |
SSCollaroy was an ironpaddle steamer which often travelled betweenNewcastle andSydney. The ship was named after asheep station nearCassilis in theHunter Valley,Australia. It was launched in 1853 inBirkenhead,England.[1] The ship's name is now the location of the present day suburb ofCollaroy.[2][3]
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Four months after extensive repairs, the ship became beached close toPittwater Road at Collaroy on 20 January 1881.[4] A navigational error was given as a cause, when the ship attempted to avoidLong Reef nearSydney in heavyfog, without the captain's order.[5][6] A report in theSydney Evening News suggests theCollaroy was in an unofficial race with another coastal steamer, theMorpeth. And that a further westerly course would assist in reaching port in a faster time.[7]
Ship's mate Richard Drew stated that he did not see theBroken Bay light, several miles to the north of Long Reef. Another report said he also lost sight of thelight at south head.[8] At 3:55 am, ship's mate Richard Drew allegedly advised the captain of dense fog. A land form was noticed, incorrectly assumed to be Long Reef. After being on deck for twenty minutes, breaking waves were noticed on the starboard bow. TheCollaroy was proceeding to the beach at ten knots. Orders were given to reverse engines. However, the ship breached the sand without great impact, and was unable to be shifted by the ship's reversing motor.
Initial attempts to drag the ship from the beach were unsuccessful. When Captain Thompson and five other men were attempting to connect thehawser in a smaller boat. All were all thrown overboard by a wave. One of the crew members was drowned. Hercules Dalziel from theShetland Islands. Reports said he was tangled in nearbyseaweed.[9]
On another attempt, the hawser became detached from the rescuetugs. The ship was beached for over three years. The stranded ship became a tourist attraction.[3] The master Captain Martin Thompson and mate Mr Richard Drew had their licenses suspended for three months.[10]
The new owner, John Robertson ofBotany paid £200 for the wreckage before the ship was recovered.
TheCollaroy was described as so deep in the sand that the workmen could "step on hersponsons", while its hull was described as "full of water". With considerable labour the vessel was raised off the sand and turned head tosea. A purpose-built cradle was made around the hull which was then swung so that the bow pointed seaward. A ‘way’ or launching ramp was then built ahead of the recovered steamer towards the water. Three additional‘kedge’ anchors was placed out in the water adjacent to the steamer and attached to the bows. The steam tugCommodore again assisted in pullingCollaroy down the purpose-built ramp when the cable snapped. A second attempt also saw the line parting.
On the third attempt, hydraulic power was employed at the stern of the ship and with the assistance of the tugLeveret, theCollaroy was freed, and hauled from the beach at high tide, 7:30 pm on 9 September 1884. This was met with much celebration from local residents and tourists. And then towed toDarling Harbour in Sydney.[11][3]
After a week's maintenance on theslipway at Sydney, it was reported that "her engines worked splendidly".[12] A Rodger's small palmanchor was found at the wreck site in 1963 and an admiralty type anchor was also discovered at Collaroy in 2001.[13]
At the time of the beaching, the ship's cargo consisted of 7 bales of wool, 170 bags of potatoes, 200hides, 40 casks oftallow, 40 pigs and 30 sheep. The livestock was successfully landed and driven into a paddock close to the wreck. All twenty-four passengers (including 14 saloon and ten insteerage) were successfully brought ashore with their luggage in the starboardlifeboat, in three or four trips. The ladies and children were either carried through thebreakers or waded ashore themselves. All but one of the forty aboard were safely landed, many being taken toManly by a fleet of horse-drawn coaches.[14]
In February 1888, theCollaroy was sold to its final owner, Alexander Burns. The ship was refitted as aschooner orbarkentine rigged sailing ship, with the engine and paddles removed. TheCollaroy sailed from Sydney on or about 24 April 1889, bound forEureka,Humboldt County, California. The cargo was 500 tons of coal, and a crew of ten hands all told. The ship encountered fog five miles north of the entrance to Eureka Harbour on 7 July and was wrecked. No loss of life was recorded. The actions of Captain Alfred Ball were judged as professional, competent and without blame.[15][16]
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