"Star Of Canada" 50th Anniversary

Fifty years have passed since the tragic night of June 23rd, 1912, when the S.S. Star of Canada, anchored in the roadstead off Gisborne, was driven onto the rocks at Kaiti Beach by a violent storm.

Today, the vessel's bridge-house, sitting in its pleasant surroundings on the corner of Cobden Street and Childers Road, serves as a graphic reminder to the people of Gisborne of their notable shipwreck.

To mark the anniversary, the ship-house was opened to public inspection for a week....the proceeds going to Greater Gisborne Inc..., and marker buoys were placed in the position where the vessel was wrecked, by the Yacht Club.

The ship-house, in its picturesque surroundings, being looked over by some of the 2000 people who went through it during the week

A queue of people patiently waiting their turn

Spectators' cars line the beach front, to see the scene of the shipwreck. The ship anchored in the roadstead is in a comparable position to that of the Star of Canada before she dragged her anchor, and the arrow indicates the buoys marking the spot where she was wrecked.

On the roof of the ship-house, a group of people examine the vessel's old compass.

A Sea Scout, acting as a guide, indicates the ship's nameplate to a sightseer.

Highlight of the inspection week was the arrival of Miss New Zealand, Miss Maureen Kingi. She is pictured in the Captain's cabin with the premise's owner, Mrs L. Woodfield.

Mr David Clarke (Public Relations Officer), Miss Maureen Kingi (Miss New Zealand), Mr Joe Brown (manager), and Mr Dennis Brown (tour manager), line the bridge-rail

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The Gisborne Photo News

No 97 : July 12, 1962

"Star Of Canada" 50th Anniversary