Named after ships

Have you ever wondered why some of the streets in Blackwall begin with a 'W'?

I borrowed a book from Umina Library by Gwen Dundon, The Shipbuilders of Brisbane Waters NSW and discovered that they are the names of ships built by Rock Davis at his shipyard at Blackwall Point and one, Wallaby by his brother Ben at Davistown in the 1800 to 1900s.

Wallaby was a schooner of 78 tons built in 1864.

It was wrecked in that year leaving Ballina on the Richmond River.

Wyoming was a Ketch of 258 gross tons built in 1890, wrecked at Kioloa, southern NSW in 1910.

Warrigal was a Ketch of 205 gross tons built in 1901, wrecked near Norfolk island in 1918.

Wyalong, a steamship of 94 gross tons, built in 1903, wrecked at Tulagi, Solomon Islands, 1930.

So you can see it was a most hazardous undertaking at that time, most of the ships Rock built were lost at sea or overturned and their crews drowned in crossing the bar of northern rivers of NSW carrying cedar or turpentine timer or shells for lime burning.

It is recorded that Rock Davis produced 164 wooden vessels and possibly others that were not registered.

The trade carried out by those ships contributed to the prosperity of Brisbane Waters and Australia.

I believe we should have a memorial at Woy Woy to honour Rock Davis and the bravery of those men who lost their lives around Australia's shores.

I would suggest a ship's anchor and plaque might be an appropriate tribute.

Harry Strong, Blackwall