**The Barque Durisdeer wrecked on Stockton Beach 22 December 1895**

The local Marine Board opened an inquiry yesterday into the cause of the wreck of the barque Durisdeer, which occurred on the night of the 22nd instant during severe weather.

John Webster, the master of the vessel, stated that the tug Stormcock picked up the vessel off Sydney at 3 p.m. on 22nd instant. The wind then was south-east, and the weather clear, with passing showers, and the sea moderate.

A Sydney tug came up first and offered its service, but he declined them, being bound by his charter to take one of the J. and A. Brown’s tugs. When taken in tow he shortened sail. The captain of the tug informed him that they were going to have a bad night, and he replied that he would only go as far as Broken Bay, and would then lie to.

At about 9p.m. the wind increased in violence, and the weather was very squally with rain. He had topsails taken in, and generally everything was made fast aloft. Nobbys light was sighted at about 10 o’clock, and burned two blue lights as signal for pilot.

From the time sail was taken in they were going slow, but as they rounded the breakwater the tug put on more steam. At this time a severe squall came down with heavy rain. The bar was rough with a heavy sea running, causing the ship to roll considerably. The mate was at this time at the wheel assisting in the steering of the vessel.

Word was passed to look out for the pilot boat, and between Nobbys and the red light she was reported to be on the port bow ; but almost immediately after the boat was lost sight of. Just after this the tug gave two blasts of her whistle as a warning that something was wrong.

He (the captain) then sounded, and found that there was only five fathoms of water. He at once let go his port anchor, and after paying out 45 fathoms the cable parted, when the vessel was brought up. He ordered the starboard anchor to be dropped, and almost immediately he felt the vessel strike ground.

When 50 fathoms of anchor cable had been paid out the vessel was brought up, the time being then 12.30. They lay bumping heavily, and farther squalls drove the barque right up on to the Stockton beach, the second cable then parting.

At daylight the rocket brigade commenced work, and by means of a cradle rescued the whole of the crew.
Newcastle Morning Herald and Miner’s Advocate, Tuesday 31 December 1895.

From the time people took to the sea, we’ve been fascinated by the stories of storms and tempests, shipwrecks and loss, survival and discovery.

The coast around Newcastle, NSW, is littered with the wrecks of ships that have been part of the working port over the last 200+ years but have struggled to either make it in to port, or to safely leave.

In more recent history, many people are familiar with the wreck of the MV Sygna during an east coast low in 1974, and certainly the Pasha Bulker, which ran aground on Nobbys Beach during a similar storm in 2007.

Filmmakers Glenn Dormand and Tony Whittaker have released their 20th documentary exploring the local history of the Newcastle and Hunter Valley region, and this time have turned their attention to stories of those vessels that met their end here.

Some of these wrecks involved significant loss of life, such as the Cawarra, which foundered on the notorious Oyster Bank in 1866 and left 60 people dead.

On many occasions, however, the Newcastle Life Boats successfully battled the huge seas created by these storms and brought passengers and crew safely to shore.

You can watch Shipwrecked here – I hope you enjoy it!