Ex-tropical cyclone Alfred has dramatically revealed a shipwreck dating back 180 years, identified as the Comet, an 1843 wooden schooner located near Ballina in northern New South Wales. Built at the Williams River port, the Comet weighed 34 gross tons and measured approximately 14.5 metres in length. Owned by Hugh Brodie and Archibald Craig, the ship met its fate on March 30, 1851, when it sank while attempting to cross the Tweed River bar.
Ron Creber, curator at the Ballina Naval and Maritime Museum, confirmed that part of the Comet’s hull has emerged at Shelley Beach, a discovery made following the cyclone. Observing changes in the tide, Creber noted that the wreckage had previously been partially exposed and then buried again until now. Another section of debris has recently appeared, drawing attention to the area’s historical maritime activity.
The region is not unfamiliar with shipwrecks; for instance, the Tomkey sank near the Richmond River breakwater in 1907. The museum often witnesses increased visitor interest whenever wrecks become visible, prompting public curiosity about local maritime history. Creber mentioned that remnants of other nearby wrecks, such as the Dicky, an iron-hulled steamer that ran aground during a cyclone in 1893, periodically resurface as well.
Local authorities maintain strict regulations surrounding shipwrecks, prohibiting any disturbance or removal of debris to preserve these historical sites. The ongoing erosion and storms continue to reveal these remnants, providing unique glimpses into the maritime past of the region.