Stinker’s History: Shipwreck Stories part 2

MANY ships built in Scotland during the 1920s eventually came to grief in Australia.

Built at Port Glasgow, Scotland, by Lithgows Limited in the 1920s the sister ships Pappinbarra, Uralla, Uki, Tyalgum and Urana traded along the NSW coastline and experienced great difficulties.

The Pappinbarra (built in 1925) ran aground in 1929 on the northern face of Fingal Island on passage from Port Macquarie to Sydney with a timber cargo.

The crew of 16 reached safety.

Uralla (1925) Washed ashore on Stockton Beach during a massive gale in 1928.

The ship was carrying timber.

The crew of 17 waded ashore.

Uki (1923) was one of the few that stayed afloat before being scuttled in 1976 off Tangalooma, Moreton Island in Queensland where it was used as a breakwall.

Tyalgum (1925) was driven ashore in 1939 at the entrance to the Tweed River when inward from Sydney with coal and cement on board.

The ship was broken up.

Urana (1924) was wrecked in 1937 when she ran ashore in a fog 10 miles south of the Manning River on passage from Sydney to the Macleay River carrying coal.

The crew of 17 were rescued.

In more recent times the Sygna, a Norwegian bulk carrier (1967) ran aground on Stockton Beach in 1974.

All the crew were saved.

When the Point Stephens Lighthouse on Fingal Island first shone in 1862 it was assumed that the number of shipwrecks would be minimal.

Such has not been the case.

Local history assistance

Help is required to trace the family of former Salt Ash resident Pearl Grace Tomlinson (nee Hyde), who lived from 1927-1994.

Pearl served in the Australian Women’s Land Army from 1944-45.

The Tomaree Museum Association wishes to profile Pearl for next year’s commemorative ANZAC exhibition and gather her story.

If any member of the family is willing to share Pearl’s story could they please contact me at stinkerfishing@yahoo.com.

By John ‘Stinker’ CLARKE