(header photographs by Harry Waite 1912-2011)

The Myth of the Sacred Brumby

 

 

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BOUDDI NATURAL PARK. - 1940

Until the end of last century probably no one had thought much about Maitland Bay. It was merely one of the many "boat harbours" marked on the map, differing only in being bounded by a headland called "Bouddi," which is probably synonymous with Bondi, and means a "nose."

Then on the fateful night of May 5, 1898, Captain Skinner steered his paddle steamer, the "Maitland" (880 tons), out of Port Jackson into a black and stormy ocean. The ship steamed north in a blinding south-easterly gale, which hid even the red light of Barrenjoey. But no lighthouse would have saved the "Maitland." Waves mountains high hurled themselves upon the ship, tearing away the starboard paddle box and pouring into the engine-room so that the fires went out. The ship was soon tossing helplessly on the inky waters and drifting impotently towards its doom.

With an inevitable crash the boat struck the bombora off Bouddi Head, and many were thrown overboard to be seen no more. That the loss of life was not heavier was due to one Russell, who eventually got ashore with a lifeline, and two by two passengers and crew were taken across the roaring waters. The task was all but finished ; there were three on the line, and only four left on the boat, when the line broke. The three on the line perished. The captain, the mate, a fireman, and a baby girl were marooned on the gradually disintegrating vessel. For a day and a half they lived on biscuits and water, and tried in vain to quell the wailing of the child. At length, on the second day, those on shore got a fresh lifeline across to the ship, and first the fireman, then the mate with the baby strapped on his back, and, lastly, the captain, were taken safely ashore. One can imagine the feelings of the mother as the baby was restored to her alive. Thirty-nine people survived the \wreck but twenty-four lives were lost. And that is the story of those ancient boilers that have lain rusting on Bouddi headland for more than forty years.

After the wreck the bay and its environs passed into oblivion, and fishermen alone knew its beauties.

The first recorded bushwalking expedition there was that of Miss Marie Byles, who struck into those unknown hills in 1922 accom­panied by three other girls and an enormous Coults automatic pistol ! The party did, in fact, have quite a lot of adventures, but it is not suggested that the pistol played any part in them.

The bushwalkers proper came on the scene in February, 1930, with Miss Dorothy Lawry, who originated the name Maitland Bay, pointing out that there were many "boat harbours," but only one near which the "Maitland" was wrecked. The name has stuck.