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I had a letter the other day (in 1980s) on a number of matters historical and noted one passage there from which stated that I had written little on the wrecks which occurred in our near vicinity.

True, on looking back I have written of the fate of some of the ships that were built in this port but little of those many ships whose fate caught up with them in our near vicinity.

700 VESSELS ON THE BOTTOM

The reason for this lack has been that one likes to keep to the more cheerful things and secondly that there is no way that one could make an exhaustive list, for upon reliable authority it is known that somewhere in the vicinity of 700 - yes 700 vessels lie on the sea bottom between Harrington on the Manning and North Head, Sydney, probably the greater percent of these between Port Stephens and Cape Hawke.

SEA CURRENTS

Now I am no sailor, but as I understand it along the coast currents are variable according to the season but generally the currents close in against the land are less rapid than those further out to sea.

Down our section of coast there is generally a southward movement of water at a fairly rapid set of speed out some three to four miles (4.8 to 6.4km).

Thus in the days of sail way out from the land meant a current assisted and safe voyage to Sydney but on the return, one kept to the coast and ran the gamut of the islands and rocks along the shore to avoid the current.

Seal Rocks - Sugarloaf Point area was particularly treacherous.

A MEMORIAL TO SUNKEN SHIPS

Recently the Rotary Club of Tuncurry-Forster in co-operation with the members of the local Ministers' Fraternity erected and dedicated a small monument on Bennett's Head in memory of the ships and those who manned them and whose end occurred in our near vicinity. (This was written in l983).

SOME OF THE SHIPS WRECKED

In the interest of knowing for whom we were honouring the following list was compiled, leaning heavily on the works of J.K. Loney, whose earlier work "Wrecks of NSW North Coast" has been more recently supplemented by a more explosive volume.

No doubt you will recall our first official wrecks, 35 ton schooner 'Governor Hunter' lost in July l8l6 and found by the crew of the 'Lady Nelson' in early l8l8 when they came north seeking the 'William Cossar' stolen by escapees; the 'Edwin' of 15 tons and 'Jane' of about the same size - both lost in l8l6 along this coast just south of Blackhead, 'Edwin' up near Old Bar, and "Governor Hunter" in sight of Forster camping area.

In l873, the 40 ton ketch 'Radical' sank as 'She entered the Cape Hawke River' in September.

In l876 in July, the 40 ton ketch 'Oberon' also sank in the mouth of the Hawke River; she being forced to anchor awaiting the tide to rise and allow her across the bar. Her anchor was lost and she beached. About this time a 28 ton ketch 'Kate' ran in under the Hawke to shelter and was swept ashore and broke up.

In June of l888, the ketch "Mystery" is said to have sprung a leak at sea off Cape Hawke and sought shelter in the Hawke River, upon making entry she struck the bar several times and was lost. (Hawke river of course being the entrance to Wallis Lake and was variously named in those times - our area being Hawke Heads as often as not.)

Now in l897, a strong southerly had been running all through the day and four ships, 30 ton schooner 'Favourite', 49 ton 'Ability', 57 ton 'Bellbird' and the ketch 'Osprey' had sheltered in Cape Hawke Bay as it was called - this would be off Forster Main Beach.

During the night the wind swung sharply to become a fierce north easter and these ships all being in sail, of course, were blown on to shore and lost.

The 'Ability' still lies under the sand right below the pilot station and some few years back was visible when currents swept the sand off her.

In July of l900, the schooner 'Empress of India' was swept on to the northern wall of the entrance to Wallis Lake and lost. Her captain, Peter Williams and two seamen were originally buried in Tuncurry camping area but eventually were reburied in Tuncurry Cemetery.

Much of the timber from the 'Empress' was salvaged and made use of as a shop and house of Vincent Fazio on the corner of Kent and Manning Streets, which still stands to this day (in l983).

In l906, John Breckenridge's little paddlewheel cutter, 'Forster' which was used to tow the sailing ships up river to Failford to load then down and out to sea for the Sydney voyages, caught fire and was burnt out.

Ships like the 'Toogooloo' which loaded in this port then sailed out for the city and were never again heard of leave us wondering just where they lie but from the accounts it would appear that this ship lies somewhere just south off the Hawke.

Resident tug of the port for many years, 'Marion Mayfield', worked from l883 until l913 when she met her end inside the port on December 14. 'Candidate' 88 ton ketch in July of l912 lost off Cape Hawke, while in l934 the 246 ton "Jap" built at Failford by Breckenridge was lost on Tuncurry breakwall and there her engine was visible until recently.

That is but a sampling of the total, for no doubt ships from other areas not connected with this region have gone down out to sea round here unknown to the locals but then fishermen report damage to their gear and bring up anchors and pieces of ships, for which we have no details, there are plenty out there.

THE 'HOOTLET'

One of the fascinating pieces of local shipmaking and breaking concerns the 'Hoolet'.

In l875, John Wylie Breckenridge of Forster built a 30 ton wooden ketch which he named "Hoolet" registered in Sydney No. 71826, of 58.9 feet in length, beam 16.7 feet and hold depth of 5.6 feet. In company with 'Acme' and 'Flirt' she was wrecked in Seal Rocks Bay on July 15, l876.

Now on October 7, l876, a 30 ton ketch named 'Hoolet' and registered under No.74893 and which was 60.8 feet in length, 15.7 feet in beam, and 5.6 feet in hold, was launched by William Brisbane Piper at Piper's Bay, Wallis Lake and registered in the name of John Wylie Breckenridge, owner.

Did Piper salvage the original 'Hoolet' between July and October, tow her home and rebuild her, or did he build a completely new craft in those three or so short months? Another of history's mysteries'.