Friday 3 September 2010

The wreck of the Dunbar


In atrocious conditions on the evening of Thursday 20th August, 1857, the clipper 'Dunbar' approached the entrance to Sydney Harbour. Having successfully navigated the journey from England to Sydney just three years earlier, Captain Green felt in control.


However, with visibility less than 100m due to the driving wind and squalls, he misjudged the entry, and the ship floundered at the base of South Head, with the loss of 58 crew and 63 passengers. Just one person survived - James Johnson. There is a memorial here at South Head, and another at St Stephen's Church at Camperdown. Collected relics are also on display at the National Maritime Museum at Darling Harbour. The siting of the red-and-white striped Hornby Light on the tip of South Head, is a direct consequence of this shipwreck.


A member of the Skywatch Friday community.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Surprising. It is not like it is a narrow gap.

Kay L. Davies said...

Beautiful sky photos along with an interesting (but sad) piece of Australian history. Thanks, Julie!

jabblog said...

Not difficult to understand when ships didn't have the sophisticated navigation gear we have today. It's good that the Hornby Light was set up to try and avoid further disasters.

Tracy said...

What an amazing post. Interesting history. I guess if you are gonna crash it might well be somewhere as beautiful as this!

TheChieftess said...

Beautiful photos...interesting story!

Anonymous said...

Oh me, oh my... So great photos and text to Skywatch Friday, which for me not are open :-D
...se you later, alligator, yubii *LOL*

joo said...

Great photos and such an interesting post!
Happy weekend to you:)

Jim said...

I haven't seen that memorial for myself. I really like that last shot and the brilliant blues.
Sydney - City and Suburbs

Anonymous said...

A sad story but the colours of your photos are amazing.

Bruce Caspersonn said...

Yes, a sad story. Come all that way only to crash at the last "hurdle"...

Hildred said...

Sad history but a marvelous photo, - the blues are so vivid.

Randy said...

That is a sad history but it is such a beautiful coast line.

Joan Elizabeth said...

Nicely put together story. I love the pic of the crashing waves, adds so well to the context. And I enlarged the photo of the memorial to get a better look at "this her anchor' It looks so wonderfully of the sea.

Coffeeveggie addict. said...

Great sh0ts,i l0ve that wave ph0t0 fantastic!and thanks f0r sharing ab0ut the hist0ry!

Pearl Maple said...

Beautiful photos and a story well told, thanks for sharing with SWF

Limarea said...

Beautiful pics, with deep, lovely colors :)

Sue McGettigan said...

Fascinating story, thanks for sharing the story and the photo. Love your profile pic too :)