The Wreck of the Steamer Macleay
By James Donahue
The Macleay was a small steel-hulled 28-year-old cargo ship, one of many vessels of its kind that were busy at the turn of the century hauling freight between ports along the Australian coast. On its final trip the Macleay was carrying coal, some general cargo and three horses from Newcastle bound for Clarence River and Grafton when it ran into fog, slammed into Boondelbah Island reef, turned on its side and sank in ten minutes. Only two of the 18-member crew survived.
Everything happened so fast that the crew didn’t have time to launch life boats before the 155-foot-long ship slipped off the reef, turned on its side and dropped into 45 feet of water. The disaster occurred early in the evening so most of the crew was in the water, clinging to floating wreckage throughout the night before succumbing to the elements and drowning.
The ship was under the command of Captain Keith Donald on that fatal trip on the night of November 10, 1911. Apparently the vessel was not equipped with ship-to-shore radio because the last message received was a signal lamp between Captain Donald and the light keeper at Port Stephens at around 7 p.m. At that time Donald left the bridge and left First Officer Henry Goldsmith on the bridge. Helmsman Charles Peterson was at the wheel.
Peterson, who survived the wreck, later told authorities he saw breaking waves dead ahead and reported it to the first officer. He also frantically turned the wheel in a last ditch effort to avoid the looming reef but it was too late.
Peterson said the ship was steaming at about nine knots when it struck. He said Captain Donald rushed out on the deck and ordered an effort to beach the steamer. A report in one news account quoted Peterson as saying: “The helm was swung round and the vessel slipped sideways off the rock. The water commenced to pour in forward. In ten minutes she heeled over and sank.
“The boats had been swung out preparing to launching, but swung back as the vessel heeled over and they could not be launched. All aboard were thrown struggling in the water. The steward got hold of a horse’s tail and afterwards climbed on the hurdle.”
Peterson said he spent 13 hours in the water. After the moon rose he said he saw other men still struggling around him and clinging to debris. When they washed ashore most of the men were too exhausted to fight the surf and were drowned. Only two, including Peterson, managed to make it to shore alive.
The wreck remains today a popular visiting spot for sport divers.
The Macleay was launched on the Thames River in London in 1883 and originally given the name Woodburn. The owners, B.B. Nicoll & Co. of Sydney brought the Woodbine to Australia where it served the coastal communities. The Woodbine was equipped to carry 28 passengers and general cargo. Later after bought by the North Coast Steam Navigation Company the name was changed to Macleay.
For a while the Macleay was a popular passenger steamer. As the ship aged, however, it was overhauled and equipped for carrying coal and cargo. She was busy doing that when it was lost.
By James Donahue
The Macleay was a small steel-hulled 28-year-old cargo ship, one of many vessels of its kind that were busy at the turn of the century hauling freight between ports along the Australian coast. On its final trip the Macleay was carrying coal, some general cargo and three horses from Newcastle bound for Clarence River and Grafton when it ran into fog, slammed into Boondelbah Island reef, turned on its side and sank in ten minutes. Only two of the 18-member crew survived.
Everything happened so fast that the crew didn’t have time to launch life boats before the 155-foot-long ship slipped off the reef, turned on its side and dropped into 45 feet of water. The disaster occurred early in the evening so most of the crew was in the water, clinging to floating wreckage throughout the night before succumbing to the elements and drowning.
The ship was under the command of Captain Keith Donald on that fatal trip on the night of November 10, 1911. Apparently the vessel was not equipped with ship-to-shore radio because the last message received was a signal lamp between Captain Donald and the light keeper at Port Stephens at around 7 p.m. At that time Donald left the bridge and left First Officer Henry Goldsmith on the bridge. Helmsman Charles Peterson was at the wheel.
Peterson, who survived the wreck, later told authorities he saw breaking waves dead ahead and reported it to the first officer. He also frantically turned the wheel in a last ditch effort to avoid the looming reef but it was too late.
Peterson said the ship was steaming at about nine knots when it struck. He said Captain Donald rushed out on the deck and ordered an effort to beach the steamer. A report in one news account quoted Peterson as saying: “The helm was swung round and the vessel slipped sideways off the rock. The water commenced to pour in forward. In ten minutes she heeled over and sank.
“The boats had been swung out preparing to launching, but swung back as the vessel heeled over and they could not be launched. All aboard were thrown struggling in the water. The steward got hold of a horse’s tail and afterwards climbed on the hurdle.”
Peterson said he spent 13 hours in the water. After the moon rose he said he saw other men still struggling around him and clinging to debris. When they washed ashore most of the men were too exhausted to fight the surf and were drowned. Only two, including Peterson, managed to make it to shore alive.
The wreck remains today a popular visiting spot for sport divers.
The Macleay was launched on the Thames River in London in 1883 and originally given the name Woodburn. The owners, B.B. Nicoll & Co. of Sydney brought the Woodbine to Australia where it served the coastal communities. The Woodbine was equipped to carry 28 passengers and general cargo. Later after bought by the North Coast Steam Navigation Company the name was changed to Macleay.
For a while the Macleay was a popular passenger steamer. As the ship aged, however, it was overhauled and equipped for carrying coal and cargo. She was busy doing that when it was lost.