'Belinda', 1884

The Ipswich Daily Observer on 22nd April 1884 noted: ‘The ketch Belinda, laden with sawn timber, went ashore at the Wagonga Head, on Wednesday last (April 16th), and became a total wreck. The vessel was insured, and she was abandoned to the insurance company. No lives were lost, though there were some narrow escapes.’

A Marine Board enquiry, reported in the Evening News on 6th May 1884 provided further information:
WRECK OF THE BELINDA.
The ketch was 52 ton, the property of Mr. W. H. Taylor of Sydney, and was insured. On April 16, she left Wagonga River for Sydney, having been waiting five weeks to get to sea. He (the Captain), together with his mate, thought it a favourable time to go to sea, and so did the master of the ketch Jonathan, which followed him with the intention of going out, but did not do so in consequence of the master of the Jonathan, seeing him in difficulties, let go his anchor. On the Belinda reaching the bar the wind fell light, and the Belinda became unmanageable. Finding the ketch drifting he let go both anchors, but they would not hold owing to the bed, it being live sand. Also got a boat out, but the tow rope parted, and, notwithstanding that the Johnathon assisted them with anchors and line, after three hours the line parted, and she went ashore on the North Beach. They did all that was possible to get her off but failed, and the Insurance Co. sold the wreck. When starting to go out the tide was young flood, and there was plenty of water on the bar; the channel having shifted to the southward the Wagonga was more difficult to get out of than ever.’