The Wreck
Early in the afternoon of Saturday 14 May 1921 the SS Wollongbar was tied up alongside the old jetty about 200 metres offshore. It had finished loading cargo and was ready to board crew and passengers in time to depart for Sydney at 5.00pm. In the large waves, strong winds and low tide the ship’s keel began bumping on the seabed. Recognising the jeopardy the captain cast off to head into deeper, safer water. However, as the moorings were freed the ship grounded on a sand bar and turned broadside to the large waves. The captain tried to recover course and several times got the vessel’s bow turned back toward the sea but each time the ship encountered the sandbar, stalled, and was pushed closer to land. Eventually the wind, waves and current prevailed and the ship stranded in the surf on Belongil Beach. Its cargo of butter, bacon and bananas was either off loaded or jettisoned.
Despite several attempts to re-float the Wollongbar none was successful and the wreck was sold for salvage. The abandoned hull, boilers, rudder bar and tiller were all that was left. The rudder bar and boilers are often visible, and in between large storm waves the hull can be glimpsed. No lives were lost but for Byron Bay a crucial link with the outside world was gone. The outline of the hull can still be seen through calm seas from the air.
An almost identical ship, the Wollongbar II was built and made its maiden voyage to Byron Bay on 11 January 1923. It continued weekly service between Byron Bay and Sydney until torpedoed and sunk by a Japanese submarine on 29 April, 1943.
Nowadays, the wreck is an interest to swimmers and divers, and a visit to Byron Bay would not be complete without a swim out to the remains of the ship, and a climb on to the rudder bar to pose for the typical Instagram pic.
The cache is well hidden, but in plain sight. This is a high muggle area, so please be as discrete as possible while searching.
First To Find: Hermets United