‘Mynora’, 1864

The 117-ton wooden paddle steamer ‘Mynora’ was built in Pyrmont, Sydney, in 1863 for the Illawarra Steam Navigation Company to serve the Clyde-Moruya-Wollongong area.

On 4th April 1864 she left Sydney for Moruya and arrived safely the following day. She then set sail back to Sydney with 14 passengers. However, she ran into thick fog south of Jervis Bay and then struck a small reef off St Georges Head.

Captain Barter was able to free the vessel from the rocks and continued his journey north. However, the vessel was rapidly taking on water, so Captain Barter drove her up onto Steamers Beach in Wreck Bay, about 3 miles north of where she had struck the reef.

All the passengers and crew were safely taken off the steamer, but the vessel could not be saved.

The women and children then walked 5 miles overland to the Cape St Georges Lighthouse. The rest of the crew stayed with the ship, saving a portion of the cargo.

The following day the S.S. ‘Hunter’, on her way to Sydney from Eden and Merimbula, picked up the male passengers from Steamers Beach, then proceeded to the lighthouse’s landing to collect the women and children. It then transported them to Sydney.

The ‘Mynora’ was the second vessel the Illawarra Steam Navigation Company lost in just over 6 months. It would not be the last!