The Summer Cloud, a three-masted wooden barque of 355 tons and 39 metres, was built in 1855 at Miramichi, New Brunswick, Canada by Henderson Phillips.
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The barque Summer Cloud came to Australia some years after it was built but was damaged by fire upon arrival in Port Adelaide, it was subsequently sold to Thomas Trelevean of Newcastle.
The last voyage of the Summer Cloud on October 5, 1870 from Melbourne to Newcastle with a cargo of sixty tons of salt and ballast, commanded by Captain Anthony, the Summer Cloud ran into worsening sea conditions as it came up the coast, and the vessel laboured against strong winds and overcast conditions.
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When land was observed on October 10, it proved to be the eastern arm of Wreck Bay.
Captain Anthony was forced to run the barque ashore on a gently shelving beach close by but before the barque was beached it grazed over a shallow reef.
The crew with the captain`s wife managed to reach the shore after a deal of difficulty.
Captain Anthony stated when he left the vessel on the 21st it was lying high and dry at low water, apparently undamaged, with about two feet of water in it.
The wooden schooner Maid of Riverton was employed in salvaging the wreck and was also lost in the attempt.
The Summer Cloud became a total wreck and today, part of the vessel's ballast and anchor chain cable can be observed northeast of the Summercloud Bay boat ramp.
Information thanks to Shoalhaven Historical Society
