解:过点$A$作$AD⊥ BC$于点$D,$
设$BD=x,$则$CD=6-x,$
$ $在$Rt△ ABD$中,
$AD^2=AB^2-BD^2=5^2-x^2,$
$ $在$Rt△ ACD$中,
$AD^2=AC^2-CD^2=(\sqrt {13})^2-(6-x)^2,$
∴$25-x^2=13-(36-12x+x^2),$
$ 25-x^2=13-36+12x-x^2,$
$ 25=-23+12x,$
$ $解得$x=4,$
∴$AD=\sqrt {5^2-4^2}=3,$
∴$S_{△ ABC}=\frac {1}{2}× BC× AD=\frac {1}{2}×6×3=9.$