'Comboyne' (1911 - 1920) in Wollongong Harbour

Edited February 2019

 

This image shows the Comboyne in Wollongong Harbour - Mt Kiera in the background. Permission to publish this image has been obtained from the collections of the Wollongong City Library and the Illawarra Historical Society Wollongong City Library.

 

Further images of the Comboyne are in the Album COMBOYNE

 

List of wooden ships built by Wright Shipyards, 1867 to 1954

 

 

Further images of the Comboyne are in the Album COMBOYNE

 

The SS Comboyne was designed by John Wright and built by his son Ernest Wright at the Wright Shipyards in Tuncurry to the order of Allen Taylor and Co. Ltd. John Wright died on 28th May 1910, shortly after construction commenced. She was launched at Tuncurry on 16th June 1911 by Mabel Wright, Ernest’s wife.

She was a twin screw steamer with a wooden single deck with 2 masts and an elliptical stern. She was especially designed for the shallow bar trade.

 

Details

Registration ON131486

Sydney Ship registration number: 25/1911

Registered Tonnage (1 shipping ton = 100 cu. ft.)

Gross 281 tons

Net 151 tons

Length - 137.2 ft.

Breadth - 29.7 ft

Depth - 7.5 ft.

Builder: Ernest Wright - John Wright & Co. Ltd.

 

Engines Fitted

In late June she was towed by the steamer Tuncurry to Sydney to be fitted with engines by Chapman and Co., Druitt-street. “The machinery was installed by Chapman and Co., Ltd. Engines 11in x 22in, stroke 16in, boiler 12ft 6in x 10ft, hatch 36ft x 13ft. Electric light has been fitted throughout, and she has a steam windlass, McFarlane's patent winches, and all the latest appliances for the expeditious handling of heavy cargo. The steamer is for the Camden Haven trade, and is specially adapted for the carriage of passengers, timber, butter, and fish. Designed specially for bar-harbour work, she will carry at least 230 tons on the light draft of 7ft, and must prove a great boon to the trade.” The Sydney Morning Herald 7th November 1911

She underwent trials in Sydney and undertook her maiden voyage to Camden Haven on 6th September 1911.

 

Hits rocks at Port Kembla and sinks

Just 12 months later she struck the end of the eastern breakwater at Port Kembla and foundered. reported on the event. "She left Sydney on the night of 6th September Saturday night to deliver a cargo of turpentine piles for the new low level jetty in course of construction at Port Kembla. Everything went well till entering the port at about 3 o'clock on Sunday morning [7th September 1912], when the vessel struck the end of the eastern breakwater. Captain Lucey ordered the crew to leave the ship in the lifeboat. When the steamer took her final plunge into 40ft of water, the captain commenced a swim of a quarter of a mile to the shore in the darkness. “The water was bitterly cold, and before he had gone a great distance the captain was attacked with cramps, and it was with the greatest difficulty that he reached the rocks in the vicinity of the Port Kembla Company's jetty, in an exhausted condition. The only article of clothing he had on was a pair of trousers.

The party in the boat made for the Electrolytic Company's works, where they were received by the night watchman, and allowed to dry their clothes in front of the furnaces. At daylight they repaired to the Port Kembla Hotel, where they were accommodated, and remained throughout the day. The major portion of the crew left by this evening's train for Sydney.” The Sydney Morning Herald - Monday 9 September 1912

 

A few weeks later in late September it was reported that the Comboyne had been re-floated and would be towed back to Sydney by the tug Hero and that extensive repairs would be required.

 

A Gruesome Find.

The Comboyne again made headlines in early September 1915 when the steamer was coming up the Camden Haven River and the action of the propeller swirled up the head of a man. The Ballarat Courier 22nd September 1915 reported "Investigations by police discovered a body, which was fastened by a rope to a ship's anchor-weighing at least a half a hundredweight. Further scrutiny showed that the head, which has been identified as that of William Purcell, who is believed to have lived at one time at Hunter's Hill, Sydney, had been smashed in."

 

Total loss near Kiama

Eight years later she foundered again – on this occasion off Bass Point near Kiama. The Sydney Morning Herald 28th September 1920 reported: “The steamer Comboyne, when off Bass Point, near Kiama, early on Saturday morning [27 Sept 1920], in a fog struck a submerged obstruction and sank. The members of the crew took to the boats and were later picked up by the steamer Kiama and convoyed to Kiama, whence they proceeded to Sydney by train.

The Comboyne, bound for Wollongong with a full cargo of timber, was in the charge of Captain Woods. Shortly after midnight a thick fog banked up, but as the master knew the coast and the vessel was standing well off from the shore she proceeded on her way. At about 3 o'clock on Saturday morning the Comboyne had passed Kiama, and was abreast of Bass Point, steaming well over a mile off shore, when a slight bump was felt. Almost immediately the alarm was given from below the deck that the vessel was leaking.

The pumps were manned, and an inspection of the ship was ordered. The water, however, commenced to pour into the vessel so rapidly that the pumps were quite inadequate to cope with it and an examination was made impossible. The master then ordered the boats to be got ready, and attempted to head the Comboyne for the nearest spot where he could beach her. His efforts, however, were unavailing. The vessel, in striking the obstruction, had apparently torn part of her bottom out, and through the holes the water poured in to such an extent that she quickly took a big list and commenced to settle down.

The order was then given to abandon the ship, and in two boats the crew left her. Within a minute or so, and within eight minutes of the accident, the Comboyne heeled over and sank.

The occupants of the boats cruised about until the fog lifted, when they commenced to make for the nearest safe landing. They had not gone far, however, when the steamer Kiama hove in sight. The Kiama, noticing the distress signals, stood by and took them aboard, landing them at Kiama.

All the possessions of the crew were lost with the ship. The Comboyne was a well-known coaster. Owned by Allen Taylor and Co., Ltd., she was a twin-screw steamer of 281 tons, built especially for the timber trade at Tuncurry, N.S.W., in 1911."

 

Image Source - This image has been made available through Click History - Great Lakes Museum. As the image is temporarily unavailable through clickHistory, contact should be made direct to the Museum www.greatlakesmuseum.com.au/

 

All Images in this photostream are Copyright - Great Lakes Manning River Shipping and/or their individual owners as may be stated above and may not be downloaded, reproduced, or used in any way without prior written approval.

 

GREAT LAKES MANNING RIVER SHIPPING, NSW - Flickr Group --> Alphabetical Boat Index --> Boat builders Index --> Tags List

Done