Page "Richmond River" Paragraph 5

At the time of its discovery in 1828 and until the late 1890s the river had a treacherous mouth of shifting sand bars, and many ships and lives were lost on it.

Understandably, a decision was made to construct two breakwaters to channel the river's flow and these were completed in the early 1900s.

The construction of the breakwaters also led to the formation of Shaw's Bay ( after sand built up behind what is now called Lighthouse or Main Beach ).