The Wallarahs
During the coal operations at CHB there were 4 colliery vessels named WALLARAH.
1st Wallarah:
was a screw-steamer launched in 1903 and was wrecked at Catherine Hill Bay on 16th April, 1914. After leaving the jetty for Sydney with a cargo of coal in a strong gale she went aground onto rocks near to the jetty, the crew was rescued but the vessel was not.
2nd Wallarah:
built in Glasgow in 1914 and traded till Dec 1946. It was mainly engaged in bunkering ships, punts and other customers around Sydney Harbour. It was sold to China.
3rd Wallarah:
built in 1952, Wallarah 3 had a pretty chequered career. She ran aground at the Catherine Hill Bay coal loading jetty on 28th June 1958. It was the last commercial hand-fired coal burning steam ship on the Australian coast and was taken out of service in 1970.
4th Wallarah:
was built in Japan and launched on 12th Jan 1986. “Wally 4” was a self-discharging bulk carrier. The maiden voyage from CHB to Newcastle was made on 25th May 1986 and the final voyage from CHB to Newcastle was on 9th April 2002.
*This marked the end of a 99 year run of the 4 Wallarah vessels out of Catherine Hill Bay, rumours at the time were that the “Wally 4” was not required by the company’s new owners (Lake Coal) due to downturn in the coal industry so it was sold.
*Written with permission and information and photos supplied by ELMHS.
Colliery Gallery
