on the ocean floor

UNDERNEATH THE DEEP BLUE LIES A LITTLE-KNOWN PIECE OF ILLAWARRA HISTORY. AN ESTIMATED 105 SHIPWRECKS LIE OFF THE COAL COAST, EACH WITH ITS OWN STORY OF STORMS BATTLED, ATTEMPTED RESCUE AND LIVES LOST

Words Diana Ioppolo ignitecontent.com.au Sources Wollongong City Library, Heritage NSW, Shellharbour City Museum, UOW, ABC News Images From the collections of the Wollongong City Libraries and the Illawarra Historical Society

If you’re a Coal Coast local, you’ll know that ships dotting the horizon are part of the landscape. From cargo vessels to bulk carriers to the odd cruise ship, our south of Sydney location and deep-water port at Port Kembla attracts ships of all shapes and sizes. Ships that are spotted by kids at the beach, surfers in the water and those fortunate to enjoy an ocean view at home. But do you know the story of the ships that came and never left?

A costly rescue

Ship name: Cities Service Boston

Date sank: 16 May, 1943

Location: Bass Point

The Cities Service was a United States oil tanker that set out on rough seas from Bass Point.The storm quickly escalated, creating nine metre waves and flooding parts of Lake Illawarra and Shellharbour.

Soldiers from the 6th Australian Machine Gun Battalion that were camped at Kembla Grange were called to help. Thanks to their efforts, all 62 American crew were saved, but not without sacrifice. Four Australian soldiers were swept off the rocks and lost their lives in the rescue.

A memorial dedicated to the lives lost was created at Bass Point in 1968, with a memorial now held every year at the site.

Did you know? The Shellharbour City Museum houses a double pulley from the ship along with further information and photos.

An unsolved mystery

Ship name: The Brig Amy

Date sank: 13 February, 1898

Location: Thirroul

While on a voyage to transport tonnes of coal from Wollongong to Sydney, the Brig Amy was struck by gale force winds. It made it as far as Thirroul before breaking up just off the beach.

Official records show eight lives were lost, though real-life accounts suggest otherwise with several witnesses claiming to have seen a woman and child onboard. The mystery woman and child, however, were never officially registered, so their presence onboard remains unknown.

The Brig Amy is the only South Coast 19th century wreck to be formally commemorated, with a monument dedicated to the lives lost located atThirroul beach car park.

Check out Coal Coast Brewing Co.’s ‘Ode to Amy’, a hybrid brew that pays homage to the lives lost and people brave enough to rescue them.

A mistaken discovery

Ship name: The Queen of Nations

Date sank: 31 May, 1881

Location: Towradgi

The Queen of Nations was a general cargo ship en route to London from Auckland, only to end its fatal journey just north of Black Rocks at Towradgi. Fortunately for the crew, most made it out alive and only one life was lost.The ship itself couldn’t be salvaged, eventually resting in the shallow waters off Corrimal beach.

The shipwreck was mistakenly ‘discovered’ by divers on 5 April 1991, according to a front-page story run by the Illawarra Mercury.The Illawarra Historical Society quickly proved otherwise, with evidence that items from the ship were taken over the years. By this time, the ‘discovery’ caught the attention of the National Maritime Museum and the State Government, who subsequently took interest in the site.

Did you know? Officially declared a historic shipwreck, items can no longer be taken from the Queen of Nations without an official permit.