Unlike our early sea mariners, we have at our disposal the use of modern technology to make the sea a safer place to travel. The automatic lighthouse at Fingal and the fully automated laser beam lighthouse at tweed Heads which started in April 1971 is such an example.
As the area started to support a populace the river and sea system commenced an era of unsurpassed trade. The first steamer to cross the Tweed Bar was the "Gneering" in 1869, forty years after Captain Rous, in 1828, surveyed the Tweed River System.
It came as no surprise that with the roads bad or non-existent and railways only a dream, shipping would be the major trading medium. The companies involved at the tme, which saw many of their ships pass Sutherland Headland (Kingcliff) were the Clarence and Richmond River Steam Navigation CO, which later changed its name to Clarence River and Macleay Rivers Steam Navigation Company. However, due to capital and ship expansion there was, on August 13 1891, a merging of this company with John Dee and Co, to Form the North Coast Steam Navigation Company. This company was a leading trading force right through the year 1954 with the last sailing of the ship 'Wyangarie' under the company colours of blue and red.
Produce passed both down river and coastal runs with stoppages beginning at Murwillumbah with mail, dairy produce and timber. It then sailed on to Tyalgum and the Piggery Wharf at South Tweed for livestock and then stockpiling onto sea-going vessels, at the Caol and cane Wharf at Tweed Heads.
With the passing of the sea vessels, Kingscliff residents profited by setting out in whale boats their cargo of timber and personal mail for both Sydney and Brisbane bound ships. These ships would weight anchor just off the bombora at Kingcliff. This bombora signified the beginning of a spatteing of reefs just offshore the three, nine and twelve mile reefs. It comes as no surprise that these reefs have claimed many victims, the first being a 35 ton cutter "Jane Scott", lost of Fingal head in May 1849.
March 1878 saw the uncomfirmed loss of the schonner 'Settlers Friend' towards the mouth of the Tweed River. In 1886, the 166 ton "P.P. Kalara' while anchored off the tweed, struch her own anchor and foundered. On July 29 1887, the 24 ton 'P.S. Collector broke moorings and passed out to sea from the Tweed never to be seen again.
On July 21, year not known, between the Brunswich and Tweed Rivers the schooner 'Reliance' floundered along the coast, but the crew safetly arrived at Tweed heads. On October 19 1890, the 2214 ton 'S.S. Alberta', coal ladden and bound from Hong Kong for Melbourne, ran ashore at night. The weather was dark and cloudy, but moderate seas allowed the tug manned by Pilot McGregor and Captain Smith, which was stationed at Tweed River, to pick the crew up out of their life boat the next day. The mast of the ship had his license suspended for six months.
Friday evening of April 18 1907, saw the Norwegian steamer 'Fido', carrying 2000 tinnes of phosphute, strike the Cudgen Headland Reefs. Captain Larsen took immediate action and evacuated the ship. he and his wife, two passengers and crew of twenty-two reached the shore safely. For many months 'Fido' syuck fast to the reef causing considerable public interest. She finally broke up and sank after a gale.
But it is true to say that these lost vessels represent the small number which came to grief only near Kingscliff, and not the total losses for the Tweed bar which claimed many a ship as well.
In contrast, sea going people today can enjoy the safety of a fully serviced marine watch positioned at the Kingscliff Surf Club plus enjoyable fishing, scuba diving, surf and swimming beaches.