Early Days
Newcastle's early years as a commercial port are dotted with shipwrecks and dramatic rescues. The first vessel to founder was the colonial schooner Francis which ran aground on the Oyster Bank in 1805. In total, some 59 ships have been lost within a 25 mile radius of Newcastle. The most recent was in 1974 when the bulk carrier Sygna was driven ashore on Stockton Beach by gale force winds and giant seas. |
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