This
thirty-seven year-old steamer sank within ten minutes in twenty seven metres of
water after a collision with the collier Hesketh in July, 1890. The
331-ton Royal Shepherd, a 42.4-metre iron steamship was built in
Scotland in 1853. During an extended operational life, the vessel operated
between Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia and later from New South
Wales. Her varied career included work as a passenger ship, general cargo
carrier, cattle transport, sewerage dumper and finally a collier. The
steamer departed Sydney on July 14th, 1890 for a regular, but final, voyage
south to Bulli and Bellambi to load coal. At the same time, the collier Hesketh
was steaming north with a full load of coal and rammed the Royal Shepherd
at the entrance to the Heads. The captain and crew of eleven just managed to
clamber onto the Hesketh's towering bow as their vessel sank
beneath them.
The
remains of the Royal Shepherd lie in 27 - 29.5 metres of water,
approximately one kilometre due east of South Head, Port Jackson.
