‘Our Own’, 1880

‘Our Own’ was a 27-metre, 73-ton side-wheel wooden paddle steamer that had been built in Nowra in 1878.

On 21st August 1880, ‘the manhole of the boiler was damaged, the steam escaped, and consequently there was no working the craft.’ She went ashore on a beach south-east of Bass Point when the wind veered around to the south-east early in the morning. Two lives were lost.

The ‘Our Own’ had been transporting general cargo, mostly for a Mr McArthur of Shoalhaven and a Mr Wilson of Broughton Creek (now Berry) along with a small steam engine valued at between £300 and £400 for a steam launch that was being built in the area. A newspaper report suggested the crew did little to attempt to offload the cargo until volunteers turned up. However, the vessel’s ‘proximity to the shore was favourable in getting off the cargo, and the greater part of it was got off by Saturday evening, though unfortunately it is much damaged.’