‘Millewa’, 1878

The ‘Millewa’ - a 16-metre, 30-ton ketch that had been built the previous year on the Shoalhaven River - was wrecked on the 5th July 1878 whilst attempting to enter Robertson Harbour (Kiama Harbour).

The vessel was on voyage from Sydney to Kiama with a crew of three and was carrying a general cargo.

It seems she was heading into the harbour to seek shelter from a head wind and a heavy sea. Otherwise, the weather was relatively calm.

The skipper needed to make two tacks whilst entering the harbour. The first was successful, but the vessel then ‘missed stays’ (failed to successfully complete the second tack), and being ‘close to the breakwater, a heavy roller carried her in’.

‘Soon after she struck, the sails were lowered and carried ashore, and if the masts had been cut away at the same time, the cargo might have been saved with less damage to it than when the bottom had been ground out of the vessel by the heavy’ swell.

Only a portion of the cargo was saved.