The 368 ton single screw steamer Duckenfield was a classic 60-miler that operated over the 60 miles from Newcastle to Sydney, predominantly carrying coal. In a moderate southerly and poor visibility Duckenfield struck Long Reef on Sydney's northern beaches on 24 May 1889. The collier was enroute to Sydney from Newcastle with a cargo of coal, coke and copper ingots. Captain Hunter and a crew of thirteen abandoned ship while the 36.6 metre vessel lay on the reef but one sailor drowned. The Duckenfield then drifted off the reef and sank.
Subsequently, a team of divers began salvage operations which lasted over a year. The operations were interrupted and finally' abandoned because of pressures to undertake salvage on more recent casualties - including the Royal Shepherd of which Captain Hunter was again the master.
The iron hulled Duckenfield was built in 1875 for coal merchants J & A Brown and was powered by a 2 cylinder vertical compound engine. The engine remains the dominant feature on the wreck site which has become a popular diving spot.
As of 2005, access to the Duckenfield shipwreck no longer requires an approved Permit under Section 15 of the Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976. The site remains a protected Historic Shipwreck under this legislation.
Depth of site ~24m
Download ss Duckenfield (1875 1889) - Wreck Inspection Report, March 1989 (132kb PDF file)
Download The Duckenfield Expedition 31st March -1st April 2005 (692kb PDF file)
