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Great Lakes Manning River Shipping NSW
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Segment of Register entry Mermaid 1878
Segment of Register entry Mermaid 1878

One of the greatest mysteries surrounding a vessel built at Cape Hawke was the gaff rigged ketch Mermaid built by Phillip Munro, in 1878. She was reported missing in February 1879 and never heard of again.

Updated March 2024 by Chris Borough, Graham Nicholson and Philip Pope

DETAILS
Name: Mermaid
Official Number 79463
Type: Ketch
Launched: 28th February 1878
Registered: Sydney 20th March 1878 (14 in 1878)
Builder: Phillip Munro of Cape Hawke
Length: 71.3 ft
Breadth: 18.8 ft
Depth in Hold: 5.8 ft
Tonnage: n.b. 1 shipping ton = 100 cu. ft or 2,83 cu. metres)
Gross: 47.25 tons
Net (Register): 48.31 tons (136.72 cubic metres)

OWNERS
March 1878 – May 1879 George Preddey of Sussex Street, Sydney

Mermaid Missing:
In late December 1878 she departed Sydney for Camden Haven but in January 1879, less than 12 months after launch, she was reported missing and had possibly come to grief on Seal Rocks. "News from Cape Hawke states that the ketch Mermaid, from Sydney, is still missing, and is supposed to have come to grief off Seal Rocks, on a dangerous reef off the headland, which is barely visible at low water. Mr. John Wright, of the North Shore saw-mills [Tuncurry], is a heavy loser, as he had goods on board to the value of £300." The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912) - Saturday 1 February 1879.

John Wright's Loss
John Wright had only recently set up a sawmill at Tuncurry (North Shore) and relied on chartered vessels to transport his timber products. About 1875 Mr. John Wright, Mr. Alex. Croll and Mr. E. Rogers, of Camden Haven, were in partnership in a sawmill at the Myall Lakes. On dissolving this partnership, somewhere about 1877, Mr. Wright came to Tuncurry — then known as North Shore— and established a sawmill and store. Being a shipwright by trade, the late Mr. Wright started a ship-building yard. To lose the cargo of timber he had consigned to Camden Haven was a substantial loss.

After this? Nothing. There is no mention in any newspaper to indicate what may have happened to the Mermaid. The Register indicates that the vessel foundered about 1881 and the Register closed in 1891.

This has to be the most unsolved mystery for a long time. The Mermaid is not on the NSW nor the National Shipwrecks Register. There is nothing in the press regarding the fate of the vessel and her crew,

Any information on the Mermaid and her fate would be greatly appreciated.

Acknowledgements: The assistance of Mori Flapan (Mori Flapan boatregister) by providing access to his extensive database is greatly appreciated.

All Images in this photostream are Copyright - Great Lakes Manning River Shipping and/or their individual owners as may be stated above and may not be downloaded, reproduced, or used in any way without prior written approval.
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Taken on: March 11, 2024
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