This month marks a big day in the history of the Shoalhaven, topped off with fireworks in the evening.
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The arrival of the first ocean-going steamer at Terara was a most significant occasion on Saturday, August 28, 1863.
The ship was the Illawarra Steam Navigation company's paddle wheel steamer, Mimosa that was carrying flags of all nations as it steamed up the river punctually at 2 o'clock to be moored at Adam's Wharf.
It had all been made possible by the bucket dredge Pluto that had deepened the shallows alongside Appletree Orchard Island near Greenwell Point.
The landscape had changed drastically during the 1860 flood, and there was deep water alongside the new wharf.
Proud captain of the Mimosa that day was almost certainly William Keft, an experienced skipper who had charge of the Currency Boy a decade earlier.
Within three weeks of its triumphant arrival at Tathra, the Mimosa foundered some seven miles north of Tathra. With Captain Keft at the controls, the vessel left Merimbula on September 18 in fine weather with 38 people on board, but very little cargo.
In the early evening it struck a rock, with passengers reporting that it resembled the tearing of some portion of the vessel's bottom.
Amazingly, the company had not insured the Mimosa that was valued at 11,000 pounds (approximately $20,000 in today's currency)
The engines were immediately stopped and reversed, but the damage had been done.
Captain Keft perceived the danger was immediate, ordering lifeboats to be lowered and he ran forward to call everyone up from below.
Passengers and crew hurried into the boats, with the captain and engineer last to go over the side.
They had scarcely moved clear when the steamer went down, just 10 minutes after the mishap.
It was some time before it was realised that two steerage passengers, Mr and Mrs Ivell were not accounted for and presumably drowned.
The two boats reached land in different places, but Captain Keft's party travelled six miles to the property of Isaac and William Polack where the survivors were given clothing and provisions.
William Polack rode 70 miles to Braidwood for a message to be relayed to authorities in Sydney. Twelve of the survivors drafted an ad in the Sydney Morning Herald, praising the efforts of Captain Keft.
The offending rock is still known as 'Mimosa.'
The 153-ton steamer had been built in Scotland in 1854 and at the time the Shipping Gazette described her as a "fast steamship and splendid seaboat" and her cabin accommodation as "very superior".
The length was 140 feet, and this would be increased by 24 feet in 1862, just months before it was wrecked.
Amazingly, the company had not insured the Mimosa that was valued at 11,000 pounds (approximately $20,000 in today's currency)
Information provided by Shoalhaven Historical Society.