A Christmas Shark Encounter
Sydney Morning Herald 27 December 1930 p.9
When James Knight, a florist of Parramatta Road Homebush, went for a dip in Powells Creek during the afternoon of Christmas Day 1930, he certainly got more than he expected. The weather was oppressively hot that Christmas Day and the creek was crowded with swimmers – mostly children. Knight had become separated from the rest of his party when he felt a bump and saw the fin of a shark. As he screamed ‘shark’ he kicked and lashed out. Three times the shark lunged for him and missed, each time lacerating him with its rough skin as it brushed past him. He was saved by the murky water which made it difficult for the shark to get a grip on him. The muddy water was further churned up as desperate swimmers raced to the edge of the creek. Eventually the maddened shark made its escape, as did Knight who was suffering from shock. He was helped to a car and driven home.
Born in Homebush, James Hilton Knight, a gardener, had enlisted for World War I in May 1916, although he was discharged as medically unfit – with rheumatism – during August 1916. He was then aged 36. He listed his brother Alderman George Knight of Homebush Council as his next of kin. Alderman Knight had the honour of being one of the first aldermen elected to the newly established Homebush Council in 1906, and also of serving on the last Homebush Council before its amalgamation with Strathfield in 1947.
James Knight also had a twin brother, William J. Knight. Alderman Knight owned a nursery business on Parramatta Road Homebush, known as George Knight and Sons. It seems likely that James worked with him there. George Knight was a rose breeder of some repute and the nursery often won awards at the Royal Easter Show for its roses and other flowers. In 1934 it also received a special prize for the most successful exhibitor of roses.
Daily Telegraph 11 May 1929 p.20
Sydney Mail 29 March 1933 p.36
Of the 83 shark attacks recorded in the Sydney Region between 1852 and 2014, all but two of them occurred between the months of November and April when the East Australian Current moves warmer water down the east coast of Australia. Most incidents, often retrospectively, have been attributed to the bull shark.
Between 1852 and 1988 two large abattoirs operated on Sydney’s waterways – firstly at Glebe Island, from 1852 to 1915 and later, at Homebush from 1916 to 1988. Blood and offal were regularly discharged into the water. This, along with sewage and other pollution, is thought to have increased the presence of sharks in inland waterways. John West, for many years curator of the Australian Shark Attack File, asserts that algal blooms were ‘abundant’ in Homebush Bay during the 1930s due to pollution from the carcases at the abattoir.
Homebush Abattoirs, 1937. Courtesy State Library of NSW
A year before James Knight’s Christmas dip, Joe Neilly caught a whaler shark measuring nine feet and six inches close to the Silverwater baths and Newington ferry wharf. It was taken to the Royal Hotel, Auburn where it was displayed in the grounds for the curious to visit. More than 2000 people viewed the shark during the next few days and £32 was raised for local hospitals.
The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate 9 January 1930 p.18
In 1932 , a journalist from The Sun interviewed Mr R.E. Gale, a well-known fisherman of Meadowbank, who boasted that he had caught more than 200 sharks in the Parramatta River over 30 years. The jaws of many of these were proudly displayed in his shed. He also claimed to have seen more than 20 dogs taken by sharks.
The Sun 4 November 1932 p.9
James Knight reported having seen sharks in Powells Creek on other occasions, especially when mullet numbers were high. Dr Colin Templeman, who treated Knight after the attack and was also a friend, reported that ‘Jim makes light of the whole matter.’ He also noted that Jim maintained that he would swim in Powells Creek again.
James Knight died in November 1946. Alderman George Robert Knight died in January 1961.
by J.J. MacRitchie
Local Studies Advisor
References
Glen Innes Examiner 30 December 1930 p.6 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/182517203
Australian Shark Attack File http://www.sharkattackfile.net/spreadsheets/pdf_directory/1930.12.25-Knight.pdf
http://www.sharkattackfile.net/spreadsheets/pdf_directory/1930.12.25-Knight.pdf
Daily Telegraph 4 April 1934 p.9 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/246436645
West, John A Review of Shark Attacks in the Sydney Region https://taronga.org.au/sites/default/files/content/pdf/Review_of_Shark_Attacks_Sydney_2015.pdf
The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate 2 January 1930 p.6 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/103855098
The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate 9 January 1930 p.18 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/103855545
The Sun 4 November 1932 p.9 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/230564455
Other reading
Denness, Callum Sharks: a history of fear in Australia. South Melbourne: Affirm Press, 2019
West, John G. ‘Changing patterns of shark attacks in Australian waters’ in Marine and Freshwater Research Vol.62 2011 pp.744-754 https://www.publish.csiro.au/mf/pdf/MF10181