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.

SS Merimbula Advertising Poster

This stunning advertising poster dates from 1910 and promotes the Illawarra and South Coast Steam Navigation Company’s ship SS Merimbula.

From the earliest days of European settlement in the local region, the ocean served as the highway in and out of the district, with people, produce and goods coming and going on the ships that plied the coastline. After its establishment in 1858, the Illawarra Steam Navigation Company (later the Illawarra and South Coast Steam Navigation Company) became the dominant operator serving the various ports south of Sydney, providing an all important link between local communities and metropolitan markets.

SS Merimbula alongside Eden wharf.

Constructed at Troon, Scotland in 1909, the TSS Merimbula was the largest vessel ever ordered by the company. In addition to her cargo carrying capacity, she provided accommodation for 96 first class and ten second class passengers.

She remained on the south coast run until grounding on Beecroft Peninsula in March 1928. Initial hopes of salvage were abandoned as she continued to slide from the rocks and into the sea. The loss of the SS Merimbula marked the end of the Illawarra Company’s passenger services.

© Angela George. All rights reserved.