During a cyclone in 1922 the ship, SS Wollongbar, broke free from the old Byron Bay Pier and sank just offshore at Belongil Beach. The Wreck lays there to this day and is a well - liked surfing spot with excellent surf breaks. Whilst walking past the wreck recently I was struck at how low the tide was, exposing the boilers against the crashing waves with Julian Rocks in full view in the background. The low tide gave me the opportunity to get in close, I could almost touch it.

I got as close as possible then quickly had to retreat because of the incoming tide which was starting to cover the ships boiler again. I noticed the boiler, dotted with crustations and shells, slowly decaying. I often think about how the wreck is a link to the history of Byron Bay. This was an image etched in my mind, I returned to the studio and started to paint what I saw and felt. Painting ‘The Wreck’ was a very rewarding experience, I had discovered a day when all the elements of nature presented the perfect painting opportunity.

The positive raw energy, the extremely low tide, the ambient light, the swirling waves and whitewash of water flying across the boiler into the sky offered me a new way of observing The Wreck, I felt like I was part of it, I stood in knee deep water not thinking too much about process, but more about not losing the feeling of awe at that moment. I wanted to allow this experience to morph into my vision for the painting, holding that vivid memory and feeling is the most exciting part of the process for me, finding these moments is a magical experience.  I walk past the old wreck most days yet it took a combination of elements and my mood to ignite a creative urge, a feeling that the scene had to be interpreted.

"The Wreck"  99  x 130cm acrylic on canvas. 2009   Visit online gallery

Comment

Hi Sean...thought I would drop you a note to let you know "The Wreck" looks great in our lounge room.  Like you, I think of the boilers and the stack as being the defining element of that end of the beach. When I was a kid my mum would not let me swim out to the boilers as she was worried a shark would eat me. 30 years later my 4 year old daughter is very excited about going to see the wreck next time we go to Byron.

John  Murphy