A century-old shipwreck on the NSW Mid North Coast has been damaged by a stolen 4WD on a no-driving beach.
ABC News reported the perpetrators could face up to five years in jail, with fines of more than $20,000 for breaching The Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976.
The Buster is believed to be one of the best preserved shipwrecks in Australia, with the 39-metre Canadian vessel a firm fixture on the main beach for tourists and locals, ever since it washed ashore in 1893.
The protruding parts reportedly serve as signposts for the buried wreck, which is only fully exposed during major storms every few years. Two of the most prominent parts of the wreck were smashed off in the incident.
Police have publicly appealed for information about a group of people who drove a stolen, black Mitsubishi Pajero onto the beach on Monday night.
