Shipwrecks
DESCRIPTION
NameShipwrecksDescriptionShellharbour has seen many shipwrecks over the years especially around the rough seas of Bass Point.
'Amphitrite'
One of the earliest recorded wrecks was the 'Amphitrite', a wooden ketch under the command of local Captain William Baxter that was wrecked off Shellharbour in May 1851.
'Echo'
The 'Echo' loaded with a cargo of maize and potatoes was wrecked off Bass Point in 1863.
'Rangoon'
The 'Rangoon' was wrecked off Stack (Rangoon) Island at Minnamurra in 1870 after the Captain mistook the Minnamurra Inlet for Kiama Harbour during rough seas. All of the crew were rescued. The anchor from the Rangoon is located at the front of the Ocean Beach Hotel at Shellharbour Village, and material from the wreck was used to construct the old McCabe family home in Shellharbour Village.
'Bertha'
The 'Bertha' was a wooden top-sail schooner on a voyage from Sydney to Kiama driven ashore in a gale on 9 September 1879. The schooner became a total wreck on the north side of Bass Point. The Bertha was under the command of Frederick Mahler and owned by F W Cook. There were about 3 crew and 2 passengers on board. Aboriginal witnesses to the shipwreck saved the lives of the Captain and crew by taking a line from the vessel to the shore. The Bertha, in ballast at the time of loss, was engaged in the transport of road metal from Kiama to Sydney. The remains of the schooner have not been found.
The vessel was 64 tons, 22.1m in length, built by Edward Davis at Davistown, Brisbane Water, NSW, in 1864. Registered at Sydney as 64 of 1864, Official No. 49269.
'The Franz'
'The Franz', a blue metal carrier was wrecked just north of Lake Illawarra on its way from Sydney to Kiama. The Captain and crew were all saved.
'Our Own'
'Our Own' was a wooden paddle steamer, wrecked on a beach near Bass Point on 21 August 1880 after suffering machinery failure. Two lives were lost. Our Own was carrying general cargo and a stationary steam engine. The vessel was 73 tons gross or overall weight, powered by one high pressure steam engine and able to carry a load of 44 tons. 26.94m in length, built by Reuben Greentree at Nowra in 1878. Registered Our Own by the owners, John McArthur & Co, at Sydney as 45 of 1878, Official Wreck No. 74982
'Alexander Berry'
Four men lost their lives in 1901 when the 'Alexander Berry' a wooden steamer screw owned by the Illawarra Steam Navigation Company was wrecked at Bass Point 1 July 1901. She used two high pressure, direct acting, steam engines. The vessel was 62 tons gross and 42 tons net a load of 20 tons [about half a semi load]. 24.6m in length, built by James Bower & Co at Pyrmont, NSW in 1873. Registered at Sydney as 6 of 1874, Official No. 69740. Wreck site located. A crew of 5 men were on-board at the time of the wreck, 4 men lost their lives.
'Comboyne'
The 'Comboyne' was wrecked in 1920 after striking an object one mile off Bass Point.
'Kiltobranks'
The 'Kiltobranks' was a wooden screw steamer, with a cargo of blue metal and under the command of Capt Gardiner. Wrecked at Shellharbour on 21 February 1924. The remains of the steamer have not been found. The vessel was 272 tons, 40.75m in length, built by Rock Davis at Blackwall, NSW, in 1908. Registered at Sydney as 36 of 1908, Official No. 125170.
'Cities Service Boston'
Perhaps the most famous wreck is of the American oil tanker 'Cities Service Boston', which was carrying a supply of fuel during World War Two. The ship ploughed into rocks off Bass Point 16 May 1943 during rough seas. A rescue crew; soldiers from the 6th Australian Machine Gun Battalion (AIF) stationed at Dapto were sent to help the 62-man crew. All of the American crew were saved but four of the Australian rescue team were lost.
'Troy D'
In 1995 the 'Troy D' overshot the Bass Point Jetty while loading basalt from the quarry and the ship became grounded on rocks. The blue metal carrier was winched off the rocks the following day.
External LinkWreck of the Rangoon 1870The Wreck of the Rangoon 1871Wrecks 'Bertha' 1879Cast Up By The Sea 'Alexander Berry' 1901Wreck at Shellharbour - Kiltobranks 1924Risks of Wreckage in Wrecks 1944Shipwreck at Shellharbour Soldiers Bravery 1943Brave Rescues from Wreck 1943Rail to Wreck at Shellharbour 1944
'Amphitrite'
One of the earliest recorded wrecks was the 'Amphitrite', a wooden ketch under the command of local Captain William Baxter that was wrecked off Shellharbour in May 1851.
'Echo'
The 'Echo' loaded with a cargo of maize and potatoes was wrecked off Bass Point in 1863.
'Rangoon'
The 'Rangoon' was wrecked off Stack (Rangoon) Island at Minnamurra in 1870 after the Captain mistook the Minnamurra Inlet for Kiama Harbour during rough seas. All of the crew were rescued. The anchor from the Rangoon is located at the front of the Ocean Beach Hotel at Shellharbour Village, and material from the wreck was used to construct the old McCabe family home in Shellharbour Village.
'Bertha'
The 'Bertha' was a wooden top-sail schooner on a voyage from Sydney to Kiama driven ashore in a gale on 9 September 1879. The schooner became a total wreck on the north side of Bass Point. The Bertha was under the command of Frederick Mahler and owned by F W Cook. There were about 3 crew and 2 passengers on board. Aboriginal witnesses to the shipwreck saved the lives of the Captain and crew by taking a line from the vessel to the shore. The Bertha, in ballast at the time of loss, was engaged in the transport of road metal from Kiama to Sydney. The remains of the schooner have not been found.
The vessel was 64 tons, 22.1m in length, built by Edward Davis at Davistown, Brisbane Water, NSW, in 1864. Registered at Sydney as 64 of 1864, Official No. 49269.
'The Franz'
'The Franz', a blue metal carrier was wrecked just north of Lake Illawarra on its way from Sydney to Kiama. The Captain and crew were all saved.
'Our Own'
'Our Own' was a wooden paddle steamer, wrecked on a beach near Bass Point on 21 August 1880 after suffering machinery failure. Two lives were lost. Our Own was carrying general cargo and a stationary steam engine. The vessel was 73 tons gross or overall weight, powered by one high pressure steam engine and able to carry a load of 44 tons. 26.94m in length, built by Reuben Greentree at Nowra in 1878. Registered Our Own by the owners, John McArthur & Co, at Sydney as 45 of 1878, Official Wreck No. 74982
'Alexander Berry'
Four men lost their lives in 1901 when the 'Alexander Berry' a wooden steamer screw owned by the Illawarra Steam Navigation Company was wrecked at Bass Point 1 July 1901. She used two high pressure, direct acting, steam engines. The vessel was 62 tons gross and 42 tons net a load of 20 tons [about half a semi load]. 24.6m in length, built by James Bower & Co at Pyrmont, NSW in 1873. Registered at Sydney as 6 of 1874, Official No. 69740. Wreck site located. A crew of 5 men were on-board at the time of the wreck, 4 men lost their lives.
'Comboyne'
The 'Comboyne' was wrecked in 1920 after striking an object one mile off Bass Point.
'Kiltobranks'
The 'Kiltobranks' was a wooden screw steamer, with a cargo of blue metal and under the command of Capt Gardiner. Wrecked at Shellharbour on 21 February 1924. The remains of the steamer have not been found. The vessel was 272 tons, 40.75m in length, built by Rock Davis at Blackwall, NSW, in 1908. Registered at Sydney as 36 of 1908, Official No. 125170.
'Cities Service Boston'
Perhaps the most famous wreck is of the American oil tanker 'Cities Service Boston', which was carrying a supply of fuel during World War Two. The ship ploughed into rocks off Bass Point 16 May 1943 during rough seas. A rescue crew; soldiers from the 6th Australian Machine Gun Battalion (AIF) stationed at Dapto were sent to help the 62-man crew. All of the American crew were saved but four of the Australian rescue team were lost.
'Troy D'
In 1995 the 'Troy D' overshot the Bass Point Jetty while loading basalt from the quarry and the ship became grounded on rocks. The blue metal carrier was winched off the rocks the following day.
External LinkWreck of the Rangoon 1870The Wreck of the Rangoon 1871Wrecks 'Bertha' 1879Cast Up By The Sea 'Alexander Berry' 1901Wreck at Shellharbour - Kiltobranks 1924Risks of Wreckage in Wrecks 1944Shipwreck at Shellharbour Soldiers Bravery 1943Brave Rescues from Wreck 1943Rail to Wreck at Shellharbour 1944
Family
Maritime
CONNECTIONS
Shipwrecks. Shellharbour City Council, accessed 12/12/2025, https://discover.shellharbour.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/487