FathomOz

Divers visited the shipwreck site, just off the entrance to Sydney Harbour and under the cliffs of Dover Heights back in 1955 and regularly afterwards.  The silver coins shown below are part of Gillies Gold – the collection recovered by John Gillies over many years working the site.

Holes drilled in the coins suggest these were being worn as security against theft by some of the 121 persons who drowned in 1857 during a cold winter morning. The ship arrived at Sydney during fog and heavy seas to be wrecked after a long voyage from England.

A disaster so close to their destination after months at sea.

Pictured above is Wally Gibbins – a salvage diver known for his work on Solomon Island wartime ship wrecks, especially a submarine he blew apart using depth charge and live torpedo’s.  Nobody was injured onshore despite slanderous rumors to the contrary.

A large chunk of metal fell through the roof of a native hut where it remains today, used as a table.

Also a champion with spear fishing and shark hunting exploits during the pioneer era.

John Gillies speared this record-sized Bonito at Long Reef, Sydney.

Photographed in 2002 by John Harding

The wreck has changed significantly over the years

The cleaned bell was given a dip off the Coffs Harbour Jetty for these pictures by John Harding (1988)

The Yongala bell was discovered and salvaged by Wally Gibbins while in the company of Ben Cropp circa 1971.

Displayed for many years in Wally Gibbins former sea shell and diving artifacts museum it eventually was sold for $6,000 to the maritime museum at Townsville, Queensland where it is the prize exhibit.

When found the bell was completely encrusted in barnacles and had fallen onto the sand thereby becoming overlooked by local Queensland divers.

Wally knew the layout of the ship and where the bell should have been. He spotted the clump of barnacles on the sand and concluded this to be ‘the prize’.