‘Bonnie Dundee’, 1897

From the early 1890s, prominent local businessman and timber merchant Francis Guy had a seafront sawmill at Bawley Point. Logs were hauled to it from Brooman State Forest along a 16-kilometer horse tramway. Guy also owned ships that then transported the sawn timber to Sydney – one of these, which he owned with a Mr Field, was the 85-foot, 84-ton schooner ‘Bonnie Dundee’ that had been built on the Macleay River in 1876.

On 18th June 1897 the ‘Bonnie Dundee’, whilst moored at Bawley Point waiting to be loaded, was blown on to the shore and, eventually, became a total wreck. A local newspaper recorded the event:

'Wreck of the Bonnie Dundee at Bawley Point. Crew Saved; Narrow Escape for Captain. On Thursday night, 17th instant, a heavy chop sea from the north-east was running. The Bonnie Dundee was riding at anchor abreast Mr Guy’s mill. Fears were entertained for her safety, those on board being on watch through the night. At times the sea broke clean over her. At four o’clock on Friday morning, the moorings parted, and in a very short time the unfortunate vessel was on the rocks. With some difficulty a line was got to the shore, and the hands succeeded in reaching the land in safety, with the exception of the Captain, who could not be persuaded to leave her, and Mr Walter Mackay volunteered to go to his rescue. At this time Captain Giddens was not to be seen on the vessel, and young Mackay was none too soon in his rescue. He found the Captain in an exhausted state on the weather side, the Bonnie Dundee being broadside on to the breakers. With some difficulty he got him safe ashore. It is expected the Bonnie Dundee will be a total wreck. Had the sea not moderated she would have broken up quickly.’ Later the newspaper reported ‘Since writing the foregoing, the Bonnie Dundee has completely broken up’.

Interestingly, a Marine Board of Enquiry subsequently ‘congratulated the crew on its fortunate escape, and commended the gallant conduct of Anderson in swimming ashore in the manner he did.’ Anderson was a seaman on the ‘Bonnie Dundee’. He ‘tied a rope around his waist plunged into the surf, and, half swimming and half wading, got ashore above the breakers, a distance of about 30 fathoms (about 55 metres). The sea was extremely rough. While the rope was held by some of the inhabitants ashore the others of the crew swam to land.’ No mention was made of Walter Mackay’s rescue of Captain Giddens.