Ship’s wheel:

From the wrecked steamer SS Empire Gladstone.

Built in Sunderland, England, in 1946, the 7,090-ton steal freighter SS Empire Gladstone had only been operating in Australian waters for six months when she came to grief on Toalla Point (also known locally as Haystack Rock) between Eden and Pambula on 5 September, 1950. Owned by the British Government, she was under charter by the Adelaide Steamship Company at the time.

After several days, with rough seas battering the stricken vessel, the Captain ordered the crew to abandon ship and head for the nearby port of Merimbula.

A syndicate, headed by Merimbula publican Ben Buckland, purchased the salvage rights and retrieved most of the cargo of car bodies, but were unable to save the iron ore on board.

There was no loss of life as a result of the incident. The wreck is a popular recreational dive spot today.

For more information about the loss of the vessel, go to http://southcoasttimetraveller.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/the-wreck-of-empire-gladstone.html

The SS Empire Gladstone’s ship’s wheel is part of a private collection. Both the Eden Killer Whale Museum and Merimbula Old School Museum also have artefacts in their collection associated with this vessel.