The Tyalgum, a 544-ton steamer, owned by the North Coast Steam Navigation Company, was built in 1925 at Port Glasgow, Scotland. Powered by two triple expansion engines, the 48.77-metre steel twin screw steamer had a speed of approximately 9 knots.
On 25 August 1939 the Tyalgum approached Tweed Heads on a voyage from Sydney. Taken in tow by the tug Undaunted, the steamer grounded on reef off Flagstaff (Duranbah) Beach. Water flooded into the damaged hull and the crew of seventeen was taken off. The steamer was stranded only a ship's length from the shore with a cargo of 190 tons of coal and 20 tons of cement.
Large pumps were brought from Brisbane and several attempts were made to refloat the vessel. When these proved unsuccessful, most of the steamer's machinery together with the funnel were salvaged. The Tyalgum was then abandoned. Today, much of the ship remains under beach sand.
