The 950-ton Itata was a steel barque built in Liverpool, United Kingdom, in 1883. The 61.2 metre Itata is thought to have traded between England, South America and Australia, principally with a cargo of coal and nitrate. Quickly soluble in water, nitrate was in constant danger of catching fire.
Itata arrived from Iquique on 30 December 1905 and unloaded part of her nitrate in Sydney, arriving a week later in Newcastle to discharge the remaining 596 tons. For the return journey to South America, 350 tons of coal was placed next to the nitrate.
At 4:40 am on 12 January 1906, a dramatic fire broke out on board. An hour later, the vessel was a total loss. Tugs moved Itata from the wharf to a nearby beach. During the beaching, water got to the remaining nitrate causing huge explosions that could be heard sixteen miles away. Coal continued to burn in the hold for over a week.
The remains were sold and the hulk towed to Sydney for conversion to a milk transport barge. This did not occur and the Itata lies today in Salt Pan Creek, at Long Bay, Middle Harbour, Sydney.
Lloyds Building Survey Report, 3/12/1883, British National Maritime, London.
Lloyds Register of British Shipping, 1904-5, London
Newcastle Morning Herald, 13, 25/1/1906.
Newcastle Morning Herald, 8/6/1935.
