‘William and Alexander’, 1891

We’re not totally sure about this one. ‘Tomakin History’ records: ‘The William Alexander. July 1891 - a Ketch Ashore. The ketch William Alexander, a well-known coaster, went ashore during the recent easterly gale at Tomakin, on the south coast, and at latest advices was still hard and fast, with her rudder unshipped and sternpost jammed against a rock, the tide flowing in and out of the vessel. The ketch was laden with timber for Sydney when she drove ashore, but portion of this has been discharged and there now remains 9000ft in the hold. She is a vessel of 58 tons, and was built at the Hawkesbury River in 1872.’

This is the only information we’ve been able to find. It seems the vessel was actually the ‘William and Alexander’, which was a frequent visitor to South Coast ports, which was wrecked at Terrigal on 21st August 1892 (the tonnage and build date of the ‘William and Alexander’ are the same as the above for the ‘William Alexander’) – so it seems the vessel was successfully refloated and repaired after the grounding at Tomakin.