Powerful surf in recent months has shifted large volumes of sand from the northern end of Maroubra Beach, uncovering a significant section of the Hereward, the three-masted iron clipper that ran aground more than a century ago.
Read: Maroubra Beach to Get Expanded Outdoor Gym Beside Skate Park
In the past two months, large surf events have removed enough sand to reveal a much larger portion of the Hereward’s hull than is typical. The wreck lies about 50 metres from shore in roughly three metres of water depending on the tide, and it sits under a surf break.
Lifeguards are advising caution: because of surf conditions and underwater structure, only snorkellers with good experience should consider approaching.
The Hereward has long been of interest to local heritage and maritime historians. When it was previously exposed in 2013, a bronze cannon was recovered and is now displayed at the Maroubra Seals Club. The wreck is protected under federal heritage legislation, and removal of any part is prohibited.
History of the Hereward
The Hereward was a full-rigged iron clipper built in Glasgow in 1877. It weighed around 1,513 tons and had three masts. The ship was making a coastal passage up the New South Wales coast on 5 May 1898 when it encountered a violent storm that ripped its sails to pieces.
Despite the chaos, the Hereward managed to avoid two rocky reef formations near Maroubra and came to rest on the soft sand at the beach’s northern end. Miraculously, all 25 crew members reached shore safely, reportedly making their way to a nearby wool-scouring works.
Attempts to refloat the vessel later that year were unsuccessful. Tugs pulled the ship off the beach, but another gale forced it back out, and subsequent wave action broke the hull into two. Over time, most of the wreck buried beneath shifting sand. By 1937, only a triangular “dorsal fin” of the hull was visible, according to historical records.
During the 1950s and 1960s, Randwick City Council and navy divers carried out controlled blasting of exposed metal to reduce danger to swimmers and surfers. Nonetheless, substantial parts of the wreck remain under the seabed, occasionally resurfacing when conditions permit.
Read: Bluebottle Research Aims to Protect Local Beaches, Including Maroubra
A Window into Maroubra’s Coastal Legacy
For residents of Maroubra, the re-emergence of the Hereward is not just a historical curiosity—it’s a tangible link to the suburb’s past and an ongoing reminder of the power of nature. As the ocean continues to reshape the beach, the Hereward periodically offers glimpses of a bygone era, resurfacing when the surf allows.
Published 17-November-2025
