Malabar, New South Wales Headland which features the Malabar Battery, a World War II fortification complex. Malabar was named after a ship called the "MV Malabar", a Burns Philp Company passenger and cargo steamer that was shipwrecked in thick fog on rocks at Miranda Point on the northern headland of Long Bay 2 April 1931. The ship itself was named after Malabar, a region in the Indian state of Kerala famous for its history as a major spice trade centre. Prior to the wreck, the suburb was known as either Brand or Long Bay. Long Bay is reputed to have been the local Indigenous
HMS Malabar (1804) From November 1806 to January 1807 "Malabar" was in Woolwich being fitted as a 20-gun storeship. In November 1806 she was commissioned under Captain John Temple, and after fitting out sailed for the North Sea. At a court martial on board "Gladiator" at Portsmouth on 1 June 1807, Lieutenant Pennyman Stevenson of "Malabar" was found guilty of neglect of duty and dismissed from the Navy. "Malabar" sailed for the River Plate later that month. "Malabar" was commissioned in May 1808 under J. Henzell (Master). "Lloyd's List" reported on 10 May 1808 that the Portuguese brig "Legeiro" had arrived at Portsmouth.