Kaipara Shipwrecks

(Revised DRAFT List subject to change)

Northland History Digitisation Project
http://northlandhistoryblogspot.com/

 1839 TORY
 http://northlandhistory.blogspot.com/2009/02/kaipara-ship-wrecks-
1839-tory-grounding.html
 December Ran aground damage sustained. Repaired and returned to Port
Nicholson (Owned by The New Zealand Company)

 1840 SIREN Feb 4

 http://www.scribd.com/doc/13360715/Kaipara-Wrecks-1839-Siren
 Brig 141 tons Struck the Tory Shoal when entering the Kaipara Harbour
 No Lives lost
 19 Cattle are reported as being landed
 Captain Munro (confirmed by research in the Sydney Papers of the time
not Captain Munn as put in some accounts)
 Further notes: This vessel was refloated . Noted as being at the Bay of
Islands “Siren,timber,leaky. “Then later noted as again sailing between
Sydney, Melbourne & Auckland. She was later noted in 1842 in
consecutive reports as being “laid up at Russell’s Wharf” Sydney harbour
Australia. D. Egan the vessel’s owner was noted as sailing her during 1841
in the Sydney Gazette & New South Wales Advertiser after her
grounding. Russell was noted as a boat builder. We can only assume the
Siren was broken up at Russell’s wharf then her timber used for building
other vessels. She had been put up for auction a few months before her
grounding at Kaipara in 1839 and was purchased by D.Egan. The vessel
was described as being made from teak.

 1840 AURORA April 27

 http://northlandhistory.blogspot.com/2009/02/kaipara-ship-wrecks-1840-
aurora.html
 Barque (Full Rigged Ship) of 500 tons
 Cargo Kauri Spars
 Wrecked on a bank at the harbour entrance when leaving for Hokianga.
Total loss
 http://northlandhistory.blogspot.com/2009/03/kaipara-ship-wrecks-1840-
aurora-updated.html
 Captain Theophillus Heale

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 1841 SOPHIA PATE August
 Brig
 Wrecked at the Kaipara Heads
 Loss of 21 lives
 Carrying settlers for the Wairoa District
 Captain George Harrison

 1846 MARY CATHERINE May 11

 http://northlandhistory.blogspot.com/2009/02/kaipara-ship-wrecks-1846-
mary-catherine.html
 Barque 500 tons
 Cargo saved. No lives lost
 Sold where she lay then returned to Auckland.
 Rebuilt and renamed as the Charles.
 Sailed from Auckland for England 16th September 1847
 Captain Howlett

 1851 L’ALCEMENE June 3

 http://northlandhistory.blogspot.com/2009/02/kaipara-ship-wrecks-1851-
lalcmene.html
 French Corvette 36 guns 3 masted Vessel
 Total wreck on Beach North Kaipara (Baylys Gorge)
 Survivors made Okara, where rescued, transferred to Auckland
 Captain Comte Harcourt

 1853 HELENA September 16

 Barque 265 Tons
 Total wreck after hitting beach just south Kaipara Heads
 Captain Brown

 1853 POSTHUMUS September 21

 Total wreck
 Carrying Ballast
 All lives saved
 Captain Bruce

 1855 RESOLUTION September 14

 Barque 383 tons
 Total loss at Kaipara Heads
 7 crew lost
 Bound for England cargo of timber and Kauri gum

 1863 SALCOMBE CASTLE September 15

 115 Ton Schooner
 Ran aground in heavy SW winds three miles south of Maunganui Bluff
 Total Loss

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 Master, Mr Bruce

 1864 ADVANCE August

 28 Ton Cutter
 Came ashore near Moremenui Gully
 Total Loss

 1864 LOTUS August 13

 81 Ton Schooner
 Kaipara Bar
 Built at Kaukapakapa Kaipara
 Known as the pride of the Kaipara
 Captain Nelson

 1865 PETREL March 28

 19 ton Cutter
 Came ashore 18 miles south of Kaipara Heads
 Total Loss

 1865 MAID OF KENT August 16

 48 Ton Schooner
 Left Napier bound for Kaipara – never seen again
 Sternboard washed ashore one mile north of Maunganui Bluff on August
16
 Total Loss

 1865 DARING
 Schooner 31 Tons
 Beached 8 miles south of Kaipara Heads
 Cargo of grass seed
 Captain Phipps

 1866 BONNETA September 26

 Cutter 28 Tons
 Off Kaipara Bar

 1867 MOSQUITO September 11

 http://northlandhistory.blogspot.com/2009/02/kaipara-ship-wrecks-1867-
mosquito.html
 Sank in rough weather near Whakapirau
 Boat’s builder Thomas Condon drowned
 Skippered and owned by Lionel de Labrosse Pahi

 1869 LITTLE FRED February 28

 Schooner 131 Tons

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 3 masted
 5 miles north Kaipara Entrance
 Total wreck
 Captain Davies

 1871 MIDGE December 14

 Stranded about half a mile south of Poutu Point
 Total loss
 Master D. A. Stuart

 1874 HERCULES March 23

 Stranded Poutu Point
 Total Loss
 Cargo Cut Timber
 Master George Smith

 1874 ALBION April 18

 Stranded Kaukapakapa Creek
 Total Loss
 Master James Robinson

 1875 TAWERA
 Schooner 55 tons
 Crew of 5 all lost
 14 Miles North Kaipara
 Captain R. Church

 1876 LADY FRANKLIN July 2

 235 ton Barque
 Mary Catherine Bank
 Captain J. Payne

 1876 STRATHNAVER September 30

 53 Ton Schooner
 Capsized total loss
 1 Life lost on Bar
 Master William McDonald

 1876 MELAINE January 15

 Stranded 2 Miles off South Head
 Total Loss
 Cargo Ballast
 Master B. Creagh

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 1877 FLORA January
 Struck the Mary Catherine Bank
 Severely damaged
 Beached

 1877 FERONIA May 16

 315 Ton Barque
 Stranded Total loss inside heads
 Cargo Ballast
 Master J. Mitchelson-White

 1878 TELEGRAPH
 Stranded
 Total loss Kaipara Heads

 1878 MERLIN July 9

 41 Ton Schooner
 2 Lives lost on Bar
 Master A. Craig

 1878 KING OSCAR October 5

 Stranded, slight damage, Tory Shoal
 Master A. Black

 1880 PRAIRIE January 5

 Stranded total loss Kaipara Heads
 Master J.C. Hiscock

 1880 CLARA HARGREAVE September 3

 338 Ton Barque
 Stranded, slight damage middle bank, Kaipara Harbour
 Master J. James

 1880 JAMES A. STEWART October 7

 179 Ton Brigantine
 Stranded North Spit 7 loves lost total loss
 Cargo Timber
 Master J. McClellin

 1881 LADY DON January 2

 68 Ton Schooner
 Stranded Waipoua River

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 No Lives Lost
 Total Loss
 Cargo of Totara Piles
 Master Peter Pullman

 1881 RONA August 12

 Foundered 20 miles south of Kaipara Heads
 Total loss
 All 5 crew lost
 Hull washed ashore

 1881 WILD WAVE

 173 Ton Brigantine
 Stranded partial loss North Spit
 Master M. V. Hurley

 1882 EAST LOTHIAN January 17

 348 Ton Barque
 Stranded slight damage Tory Shoal
 Master C. Propley

 1882 VINDEX March 29

 Stranded total loss North Spit
 All saved
 Cargo Timber
 Master J. Stolling

 1882 GRASMERE May 11

 465 Ton Barque
 Stranded Partial loss Kaipara Harbour
 Master M. H. French

 1882 TOREA July 1

 Stranded trifling damage Kaipara Harbour
 Anchor Chain fouled
 Master John Grundy

 1882 CABERFEIDH August 24

 333 Ton Barque
 Stranded Tory Shoal no damage
 Disregarded Signalman’s instructions
 Master F. Ohlson

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