Malabar Photo de Surf: 'The wreck of MV Malabar, 2 April 1931.' par Elizabeth Lloyd

Malabar Photo de Surf: 'The wreck of MV Malabar, 2 April 1931.' par Elizabeth Lloyd

On 31 March 1931, under relief skipper Captain George Leslie, the Malabar left Melbourne for Singapore on her 32nd trip. At 6:45 am on 2 April 1931, the Malabar was one mile abeam of Cape Banks, with hazy weather, flat seas and a noticeable swell at high tide. The vessel's course was altered, and upon entering dense fog it ran aground on the northern side of Long Bay, 14 kilometres south of Sydney Harbour. The Malabar's crew was a mixture of Chinese cooks, Indian cleaners and engine room staff, and Malay deckhands. Police suspected some of the Chinese crew of importing opium into Australia and were awaiting the arrival of the ship on the day it wrecked. Officers rushed to Long Bay, and after following some crew members to Chinatown and searching the premises, and finding quantities of opium, a number of people were arrested, including some of the Malabar's crew.