The SS 'Wollongbar' is an example of a passenger and trading vessel that steamed the North Coast Rivers of New South Wales, as well as Bass Strait and the east coast between Sydney and Hobart. Vessels such as this played an important role in developing the economy of interstate regions, in addition to providing a cheap means of travel for passengers.

The 'Wollongbar' mainly serviced the Sydney - Byron Bay run, carrying refrigerated produce such as bacon, cheese and butter, as well as up to 150 passengers. Before the use of ships, the trade of such produce could only be undertaken by road (an unreliable means of transport, since roads at this time were more like tracks). Vehicles, like a lot of earlier ships, also did not have refrigeration space, which meant produce like butter had to be heavily salted in order to preserve it. Thus, the river was considered to be the lifeblood of the Northern Districts, as it was a faster means of transport, which also guaranteed the delivery of fresher produce.

The SS 'Wollongbar' is also historically important as an example of a vessel during World War II which was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine. At 10am on April 29, 1943 the 'Wollongbar' was struck twice and destroyed, killing 32 of its 37 crew on board. With access to naval charts and intelligence reports, the Japanese knew the shipping movements and attacked with the intention of cutting off all shipping supplies. During the two month attack on Sydney in 1942, for example, the Japanese attacked 14 allied merchant ships; sunk 6 and ruined 29,000 tonnes worth of shipping.

Thus, ship models such as this one act as a legacy for the full-scale version which no longer survives. It would have been made for shipbuilder's to assist in their full-scale construction, helping to provide the builder with an idea of the vessel's fittings, riggings and sail plans, as well as helping to show the ratio of length to beam, the fining of her entry, stern and so on.

References
Australian Government Department of Veterans' Affairs, "The Sinking of the Wollongbar II", http://www.australiansatwar.gov.au/stories/stories.asp?war=W2&id=190, 2001 (Downloaded April 24, 2007)
Pemberton, B., "Australian Coastal Shipping" (Melbourne, 1979) pp.90 & 234
Plowman, P., "Passenger Ships of Australia and New Zealand Volume 2, 1913-1980" (Sydney, 1981) pp.60-61
Richards, M., "North Coast Run - Men and Ships of the New South Wales North Coast" (Killara, 1977) pp.50, 73, 100, 143 & 170

This half-block model of the SS 'Wollongbar' was designed by James Scott and made by Lithgows Ltd Shipbuilders in Port Glasgow, Scotland in 1922.

James Scott was a naval architect born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1859. In 1873, at the age of 14, James spent 12 years working in the mould loft of John Elder of Fairfield, Govan before coming out to Australia in 1885. Descendents of the Scott family claim that James was approached by Allen Arthur Taylor (timber merchant, ship-owner, politician and chairman of the Illawarra & South Coast Steam Navigation Co Ltd and the North Coast Steam Navigation Co Ltd) offering to subsidise his fare. This would explain James' subsequent involvement with the North Coast Company.

James married Jane Bell and had five children, two of whom died young. On arriving in Australia they resided at Rowntree Street, Balmain but later made Hunters Hill their long-term abode. Records show that for 12 years James worked at Cockatoo Island with William McDonald and for some time also, Sam Hayes, at the Fitzroy Dock.

James Scott became foreman shipwright of the North Coast Steam Navigation Co Ltd where he is reputed to have designed 32 ships for them (he is attested to have designed 60 throughout his entire career). Some of these vessels included the 'Nerong', 'Wollongbar II', 'Kulgoa', 'Wauchope' and the 'Nambucca'. Some of James Scott's best known creations, however, are the two 'Lady' ferries (the 'Lady Manning' and 'Lady Hampden'), which were designed by Walter Reeks and epitomised the double-ended ferry style which was to become standardised in all ferry designs from 1892 on.

Identifiable characteristics of James Scott models include the use of Australian red cedar in the backing boards (or straight grain Oregon for North Coast models), black painted sections denoting the water line and flaring at the propeller shafts.

James Scott continued to design naval vessels, even at the age of 78 where he prepared plans for the 'Moruya'. He died in 1942.

Lithgows Limited was a British shipbuilding company that was incorporated in 1918 from Russell & Co (the original name of the family shipyard belonging to Sir James Lithgow's family). The company grew throughout the early 20th Century and acquired many lower-Clyde heavy industrial businesses such as Dunlop, Bremner & Co in 1919; Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co in 1935 and Ferguson Bros in 1961. The company ceased to operate in 1988.

The SS 'Wollongbar [II]' was commissioned for ownership and use by the North Coast Steam Navigation Co Ltd to replace the SS 'Wollongbar [I]' after it was lost in bad weather on a returning trip from Byron Bay. The new 'Wollongbar', which was made almost as a complete replica (the main differences were the location of the mainmast and single propeller which gave it a lower service speed), was primarily used to work the Sydney - Byron Bay run. On this run, vessels carried mostly refrigerated produce such as bacon, cheese and butter.

However, the 'Wollongbar' was considered to only work efficiently during the summer. Thus, it was laid up between June to November, during which time she was either chartered to relieve the 'Nairana' on the Bass Strait or other vessels on interstate runs. Once, when the 'Riverina' was wrecked near Gabo in April, 1927, for example, the 'Wollongbar' ran for several weeks between Sydney and Hobart. When the 'Wollongbar' was not running between Sydney and Byron Bay with the 'Orara', she was replaced by the 'Pulganbar'.

From 1942-1943, the North Coast Steam Navigation Co Ltd was operating with only six ships. This included the 'Arakoon', 'Bonalbo', 'Doepel', 'Ulmarra', 'Wyangane' and the 'Wollongbar [II]'. This was reduced to five at 10am on April 29, 1943, however, when the 'Wollongbar' was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine off Crescent Head.

The acting Chief Officer at the time the 'Wollongbar [II]' was torpedoed was Captain Will Mason. In the lead up to the event, the vessel was on her way up to Byron Bay (37 crew only, no passengers) when she received an S.O.S from a steamer (the SS 'Limerick') which was on fire. The 'Wollongbar' proceeded to the position and picked up the survivors, before continuing onto Byron where she discharged her cargo and loaded frozen meat and butter bound for Sydney. The next day, without any warning of submarines or torpedoes in the area, Captain Mason heard an explosion. But, it was not until a second explosion sounded that actually caused the ship to destruct. Without any sign of the ship's attacker, the 'Wollongbar' turned instantly into wreckage with pieces of wood, fittings from the ship and floating boxes of butter littering the water. Of the 37 crew on board, only 5 survived, including Captain Mason, Chief Officer; Roy Brown, wheel hand; Bert Blinkhorn, fireman; Frank Emson, greaser and Pat Tehan, able seaman.

Twenty years after the event in 1963, barnacle-encrusted blocks of putrid butter were found washed ashore near Crescent Head!

This particular ship model was donated to the Museum by the North Coast Steam Navigation Co Ltd in 1954.

Half-ship model, SS 'Wollongbar', wood, designed by James Scott, made by Lithgows Ltd Shipbuilders, Port Glasgow, Scotland, 1922

Builder's half-block model of the SS 'Wollongbar' in five sections. The model is made of wood and shows the deck area and rudder. It is finished in black above the waterline, with a pale brown lower section and mounted on a dark varnished backboard.

Full-scale specifications:
Length: 86.89m
Beam: 12.83m
Depth: 7.65m
Gross Tonnage: 2240 tonnes
Net Tonnage: 874 tonnes
Horsepower: 218

Made: Lithgows Limited Shipbuilders; Scotland; 1922

Designed: Scott, James;


Used: North Coast Steam Navigation Co Ltd; North Coast, New South Wales; 1922 - 1943

B2600

1922

145 mm

350 mm