‘Rover’, 1841

The ‘Rover’ was an 87-ton (or 120-ton, depending on which report is to believed) schooner that was used to transport convicts from place to place.

In October 1841 it was headed from Sydney to Gabo Island where a lighthouse was to be built. On board were a crew of eight, three soldiers and eleven convicts.

On 13th October, having reached Twofold Bay before encountering ‘a most furious hurricane’, the ship was sailed into Broulee bay for shelter. It was anchored not far off the mouth of Candlagan Creek. Apparently, a Jervis Bay whaler then warned the captain of the ‘Rover’ that a safer anchorage could be found closer to Broulee Island – but his advice was ignored.

By the next morning the ‘Rover’ had ‘driven from her anchorage on to the beach, and was fast becoming a wreck amidst a terrible surf, the storm having rather increased than abated during the night, the sea running exceedingly high, and the wind from S.S.W. blowing a hurricane.’ The wind and sea were so strong that the ship was completely rolled over several times.

To rescue those on board, ‘the European locals organised a human chain, local aboriginals went to the seaward end. As each man jumped from the vessel the chain rushed into the trough of the sea and grasped him. Ten men and two bodies were brought ashore in that way.’

Eleven of those on board were ultimately saved. The captain and eleven others perished.

The local magistrate, Captain Oldrey, sought an official reward for the Aboriginals but this was not forthcoming. So, at his own expense, he supplied them with brass breastplates that were engraved with the outline of a sailing ship, the name of the wearer - 'Warragul Tom', 'Jerry, Chief of Broulee', 'Broulee Billy' and 'Boulbee' - the words "Bale me jarrad" (I'm not afraid), and an inscription that it was presented to them by Captain Oldrey "for bravery in gallantly rescuing passengers and crew from the wrecked ship Rover".

‘After only a short stay on the beach the ‘Rover’ apparently decided it had visited for long enough, and when the next storm came it washed back out to sea never to be seen again.’