Dictionary of Sydney

The Dictionary of Sydney was archived in 2021.

Dunbar shipwreck 1857

Shipwreck in which 121 people died, leading to the building of the Hornby lighthouse.

-33.842929471541, 151.28479599953

Milestone
Date of event
20 Aug 1857
Property
Comprises
Type

Dunbar shipwreck

CC BY-SA 2.0
,
2008

In stormy weather, in the dark, after 81 days at sea, the Dunbar hit the rocks below The Gap, breaking up immediately. All but one on board were drowned, in one of the worst disasters in Sydney's history.