SS+Macleay


 * //__The SS Macleay __//**

The SS Macleay was a single screw coastal cargo and passenger vessel originally built by Forrest and Sons at Milwall on the River Thames, London, England, for B.B. Nicoll in 1883 as the SS Woodburn. The Woodburn left England on 12 December 1883 and arrived in Sydney on 22 March 1884. It was 47 meters long with a beam of 8 meters and displacement of 398 tons. The vessel carried 28 passengers as well as cargo and was powered by a twin cylinder steam engine and sail when needed. Ownership passed to the Clarence and Richmond River Steam Navigation Company in 1884 and in 1889 the ownership again changed when CRRSN Co merged with John Slee and Company to form the North Coast Steam Navigation Company. The name of the vessel was changed to SS Macleay. The SS Macleay departed Newcastle for the Clarence River and Grafton with a cargo of coal, three horses and other cargo. At 7pm Captain Keith Donald "spoke" to the Port Stephens light keeper by signaling lamp and before he left the bridge, he gave orders for the vessel to head north-north-east. For some unknown reason, the officer on duty, Henry Goldsmith altered course to north-east. All of a sudden, the helmsman, Charles Peterson shouted that he saw breaking waves but Goldsmith declared it to be a school of mullet. Peterson attempted to steer away from the approaching reef but it was too late. The Macleay had hit Boondelbah Island. Within 10 minutes the SS Mackeay had sank at the north end of Boondelbah Island. Today the SS Macleay lies straight out from Little Island (to the north of Boondelbah Island) facing the south west, broken into two pieces just behind the engine. The wreck lies at 43 meters. The wreck is able to be dived at with a wide abundance of fish life including giant cuttle fish, red morwongs, yellowtail, wobbegong’s, brim and blue morwong. The visibility at the dive site is about 5 meters.

(The SS Macleay before it sank)