‘New Guinea’, 1911

The ‘New Guinea’ was a 300-foot, 1,700-ton interstate steamer that had been built in the United Kingdom in 1884.

It was on a voyage from Melbourne to Sydney with a cargo of machinery and general goods and a crew of 28 when, on the morning of 13th February 1911, it ran into a bank of thick fog as it approached Gabo Island. Normally this would be a warning sign to a ship’s captain, who would then take measures such as reducing the ship’s speed. On this occasion this did not happen and, at 11.50 a.m., the ‘New Guinea’ crashed at full speed onto the rocks half a mile from Green Cape Lighthouse – right between where the ‘Ly-ee-Moon’ and the ‘City of Sydney’ had previously hit the rocks.

The ship’s engines were rapidly put into reverse in an attempt to (unsuccessfully) refloat her. However, very quickly the vessel’s engine room and bow filled with water, so the crew took to three life boats. They headed towards Eden, with one being carried by the wind and currents 15 kilometres out to sea before making it back to the Green Cape area.

Three vessels were sent to the wreck scene – the tug ‘Heroic’, the motor vessel ‘S.E.A.’ and the launch ‘Excelsior’. The ‘S.E.A.’ found the crew and started towing the lifeboats into Eden. On the way one had to be cut adrift and another had to put into Bittangabee (the spot where materials for the Green Cape Lighthouse had earlier been landed). The crew finally reached Eden at 9.30 p.m..

Within two days of the tragedy, the ‘New Guinea’ had slipped off the rocks and sunk. The captain had his master’s licence suspended for 6 months by a Marine Court of Enquiry for being too close to the shore and for sailing at full speed in thick fog.