On the 16th February 1868 a brig called the Esperenza of Melbourne foundered during a S.E. gale to the leeward of Bird Island. Ten men out of the eleven in the crew were drowned, the other swam ashore
Bird Island
The image is Bird Island about a kilometre off the coast of Budgewoi Peninsula. Seen here looking east from Ocean Street observation platform near Podgewoy Reserve
(The Brisbane Water Story. pt.4 page 101. C. Swancott, R.A.H.S. Printed by Brisbane Water Historical Society. 1955)
Image of the brig type of ship
The image to the right is a sea-going brig of the type in the story. The image is borrowed from Wikipedia