In May 1899 the Ohau departed Greymouth for Dunedin - foundered with the loss of the 22 crew.

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DescriptionIn May 1899 the Ohau departed Greymouth for Dunedin with 22 Crew , 800 Ton of coal and 13,000 feet of Timber. The Ohau was last sited by the Lighthouse keeper at Cape Campbell off Marlborough during a heavy storm. The Ohau foundered with the loss of the 22 crew.

Garry Jackson:
The Ohau was a steel screw Steamer of 740 Tons gross-411 Tons net.Built in Dumbarton in 1884,length-200ft,Beam-32.2ft,depth-15.4ft.Her engines were of 92hp - Was a sister ship to the Taupo,was under the Command of Captain Robert Brewer. The Ohau left Greymouth on Friday MAY 12 Bound for Dunedin with a cargo of 800 tons of Coal,and 13000 feet of timber. Ohau was believed to have foundered with a loss of her crew of 22 on May 14 - 1899,in the vicinity of Cape Campbell in a Terrific Gale,which compelled several ships to seek shelter and caused them to arrive at their destinations from two to four days behind schedule.Between May28-and june 29 quantities of wreckage including lifebuoys with the name Ohau were washed ashore at Akitio,flat point,and between Castlepoint and Cape Turnagain. At 1pm on the 13th she was passed by the Steamer Rosamind in the vicinity of the Brothers Island,and at 3pm the same day sighted by the lighthouse keeper at Cape Campbell.The Ohau was then 10 miles to the north of the cape and the keeper kept her in sight until darkness set in.At 5.20pm he saw her masthead light,but from then on nothing was seen of the ill fated Steamer.The steamer Brunner was despatched to search for the missing vessel,but despite a thorough search of the Coast no sign of the vessel or even wreckage was discovered.On May 26 the MAanagement of the union steamship Company the owners of the Steamer announced that all hope had been abandoned.Date of Photo1899Map^[1]ContributorTony Kokshoorn

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Location (city or town)GreymouthOrganisation (eg business)OhauEventIn May 1899 the Ohau departed Greymouth for Dunedin with 22 Crew....

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Date Created23rd July 2021CommentsDeb Corich
Did ships going to Dunedin ever go south? Or did they always travel through Cook strait and down the East coast?

Paddy Smith
Deb Corich They, of course, were going South via the East Coast route

Dennis Gibbs
Paddy Smith Yes, but did ships ever go the other way?

Geoffrey King
Dennis Gibbs well in the 50's they use to come from Port Chalmers round through Foveaux Strait.

Dennis Gibbs
Geoffrey King Thank you. Wasn't sure.

Peter Kerr
Loading coal at the gadget in Greymouth.

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In May 1899 the Ohau departed Greymouth for Dunedin - foundered with the loss of the 22 crew.

Editing is temporarily disabled