Bawley Point Gantry has been taken by the high tides and wild seas

After standing strong for more than 100 years the gantry has been lost to record king tides in what locals are describing as the biggest swell in memory.

Swells of six metre battered the Shoalhaven coastline, with 11 metre rogue waves recorded, and a 1.43 metre king tide peaking at 10:30pm on Sunday night.

The gantry was the remains of a jetty, built in the late 1800’s by a timber mill and used to load cedar onto ships.

“The actual crane part of the gantry was taken out in the 1974 cyclone swell,” Bawley Point local Nurk Daddo explained.

“I can remember sitting in the lounge room at Harrington Cr, Bawley Point watching the giant waves cresting and breaking on the north side of Bawley Point.

“Locals say these are the biggest seas they've seen since that 1974 event.”

The community has taken to Facebook to express their sadness and disbelief at the loss of a local icon. 

Known as a ‘jump spot’ and enjoyed by generations of locals, nostalgia has been strong as people reminisce on their memories of the gantry. 

“That is just so sad, considering it stood there for such a long time,” Angela Doege Hocking, Facebook.

“Oh no! That was such an iconic feature of Bawley. I loved going there,” Terri Yabsley, Facebook.

“So sad to see the gantry destroyed. We spent some great days there,” Gemma Afflick, Facebook. 

“I hope it gets rebuilt!! It’s was [sic] a local icon,” Jy Roges, Facebook.

“Loads of good memories of my girls and then their kids jumping off the Gantry ... Hope it gets rebuild [sic] for future generations to enjoy,” Pauline O’Brien, Facebook.

“Hectic,” Jacob Sentance, Facebook.

Shoalhaven City Council has made no decisions on the future of the gantry.