The cache here is a micro so your own scribble stick is needed to sign the log
butt for those cachers that want to know about this site theres a near by sign it says " this site housed a timber mill and shipyard from the 1870s. The logs placed to support the keel of the ships underconstruction can still be seen in the water . The concrete foundations of the mill can also be seen
John Campbell Stuart contructed a number of ships at this yard including the " Herone ",the " Nicholas ", and the " Royal Tar" at the time the Royal Tar was the largest ship built on the N.S.W coast.
The keel of the Royal Tar was laid in 1872 using local timbers such as Bloodwood and Blue Gum. The timber was cut on site at the mill. The hull was completed in 1876 and launched with great difficaulty over a three day period. After the launching the tow line parted and the ship drifted onto south beach where she remained for ten days
The tug " Agnes Irvine " assisted in moving the Royal Tar from the sand and then towed the hull to Sydney for final fitting out.
The Royal Tar plied the shipping routesbetween Australia, Japan, America and New Zealand carrying coal and timber.Her most famousvoyage was to Paraguay in 1893 where an attempt was maid to set up a socialist state called " New Australia " she was eventually wrecked at Shear Rock, New Zealand in 1901 while carrying a load of coal "
The Royal Tar was a three mastered barque of 598 tons, 117 feet long on a beem of 31 feetand a draft of 17 feet all this was floated across the Nambucca river mouth whos barred entrance today carries around one metreof water at low water springs.
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