The iron paddle steamer Euroka, was a 170 ton vessel built at Balmain, Sydney in 1897. The 37 metre steamer had a top speed of eight knots. 'Euroka' is reported as an Aboriginal word for 'Spirit in the sun' or 'Spirit that lives in the sun'.
The Euroka began service with the North Coast Steam Navigation Company Ltd. The paddle steamer was converted to a collier in 1910 by new owners and began operating on the 'Sixty Miler' run between Newcastle and Sydney.
After loading coal at Lake Macquarie, for a voyage to Sydney, the steamer grounded several times, finally getting to sea on the morning of the 19th October 1913. Once at sea, water was noticed entering the engine room. Defeat was eventually conceded when steam was billowing from below decks and the vessel was settling fast. At 5 pm, Captain Benton gave the order to abandon ship off Narrabeen, Sydney. Five hours later, the crew of nine arrived safely in Sydney.
The abandoned Euroka drifted onto reef at the north-eastern point of Long Reef and became a total loss. Today the site is spread over a considerable area in five metres of water along the northern side of Long Reef.
