The TSS Maianbar was a 493 ton steamship operated by the North Coast Steam Navigation Co during the first half of the 20th century. While under tow from Port Stephens

Port Stephens

Port Stephens is a large natural harbour located about north-east of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia. It lies wholly within the Port Stephens Local Government Area although its northern shoreline forms the boundary between the Port Stephens and Great Lakes LGAs...

 to Sydney

Sydney

Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...

 in 1940 it broke its towline and ran aground on Nobbys Beach in Newcastle

Newcastle, New South Wales

The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...

, New South Wales

New South Wales

New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...

, Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

.

History

The Maianbar was built in 1910 by Ardrossan Dry Dock & Shipping Co Ltd, Scotland and sailed under the flag of Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

. She was built to replace the one year old SS Minimbah, a 460 ton steamer that broke in half after unsuccessfully attempting to cross the Manning River

Manning River

The Manning River is a river in the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia that flows through the Manning Valley. It is one of Australia's few large river systems not to be dammed for water supply purposes anywhere along its catchment...

 Bar earlier that year. The engine and boiler recovered from the Minimbah were shipped back to Scotland and used in the construction of the Maianbar.

The Maianbar was beached at the entrance to Macleay River

Macleay River

The Macleay River is a major river on the Mid North Coast , Australia.The headwaters of the Macleay River rise as the Gara River on the eastern side of the Northern Tablelands near Armidale and Walcha, New South Wales. From here the Chandler River, Styx River and Apsley Rivers are important...

 in 1920 and defied attempts to refloat it for a month. After it was refloated it was sent to Sydney where a major overhaul was carried out and the ship was lengthened by cutting it in half and plating between the two halves.

The Maianbar was not as fortunate after its second grounding, which happened at Nobby's

Newcastle, New South Wales

The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...

. It was unable to be refloated and was broken up on site, not far from where the MV Pasha Bulker

MV Pasha Bulker

The MV Pasha Bulker is a Panamax bulk carrier of operated by the Lauritzen Bulkers Shipping company and owned by Japanese Disponent Owners. While waiting in the open ocean outside the harbour to load coal the Pasha Bulker ran aground during a major storm on 8 June 2007 on Nobbys Beach in...

ran aground many years later on 8 June 2007. Unlike the Pasha Bulker the Maianbar was grounded during fine weather after its towrope parted on its way to Sydney after being sold back to its original owners, the North Coast Steam Navigation Co.

External links

• Shipwrecks of the Newcastle Region including Oyster Bank and the Hunter River
• Encyclopaedia of Australian Shipwrecks
• SS 'Maianbar' aground at the New Entrance - South West Rocks, NSW
• H5327 Half-ship model, TSS 'Maianbar', wood / metal / glass, made by Ardrossan Dry Dock & Shipping Co Ltd, Scotland for the North Coast Steam Navigation Co, New South Wales, Australia, 1910