Ships of the Clarence River

Author: Jeff + Claude AI

Genre: Ships

Date: 28th March 2026

Description: Journey up one of northern New South Wales' great waterways in this vivid maritime history of the Clarence River and the vessels that shaped its fortunes. From the treacherous river mouth that tested every captain's skill, to the cedar getters, paddle steamers, and screw-driven ships that carried commerce inland, this book charts the rise of a bustling river trade and the shipbuilders who supplied it. Along the way, readers encounter dramatic strandings, forgotten loading points, and the eventual transformation of a working river into something altogether different. A richly detailed tribute to the ships, ports, and people of the Clarence.

Summary

Ch1. River Mouth and the Challenge of Entry

Ch2. Cedar Getters and Early Navigation

Ch3. The Paddle Steamer Era

Ch4. Shipbuilding on the Clarence

Ch5. Disasters and Strandings

Ch6. The Screw Steamers Arrive

Ch7. Ports and Loading Points

Ch8. Decline and Transformation