The 110 ton Rainbow, Official Number 83682, was a 70hp wooden paddle steamer. Built in 1860 at the Macleay River, NSW, the 39 metre vessel was owned by the Clarence and Richmond River Steam Navigation Company.
The steamer, under command of Captain W. Petley, became a total loss at Sugarloaf Bay, Seal Rocks on 2 June, 1864. The Rainbow arrived at Seal Rocks Bay from Trial Bay on Thursday 2 June at 3pm and moored in the face of a strong southerly.
At 8pm, the crew put out more chain and by 10pm, the weather had swung around to the east and east-north-east. Captain Petley realised that the vessel was in serious danger and tried to get out of the bay under full steam. However, the port chain snapped, forcing the crew to unslip the starboard chain and attempt to run the vessel ashore. The Rainbow was carried broadside and soon smashed to pieces on the rocks on the west side of the bay. The cargo of pine logs were strewn along the beach and seven of the crew were drowned.
Download archaeological survey report by Sean McMahon (310kb pdf)
