Duke of Portland

The “Duke of Portland” 533 tons As She Prepares to Leave for Australia( Source of Image: “Illustrated London News” of 13 April 1850 ) The “Duke of Portland” was one of the better ships that brought settlers to Port Phillip in the...

Overses shipping to Port Phillip 1839

In 1839, less than four years after the first European settlers arrived at the site of present day Melbourne, large numbers of immigrants began to arrive at Port Phillip from the British Isles. Some of these arrived direct while others called at Adelaide or Launceston...

The Mystery: Voyage 1854-55

So many of us are in awe of our amazing ancestors and their various voyages, however there is another voyage that exceeds all those great feats. Having watched an excellent documentary on SBS television, that has left me mesmerised by its feat. It was a voyage of...

The Yacht ‘Lady of St Kilda’

The “Lady of St. Kilda” was a yacht of about 136 tons that was launched in 1834 in Dartmouth, Devon, England and wrecked in 1844 at Tahiti in the South Pacific Ocean. During those ten years she had an eventful life and is today remembered in the name of a...

The ‘Childe Harold’ Incident 1838

The first indication that anything was wrong was when Lewis Pedrana, overseer of Government works at Melbourne, discovered four convicts missing on the morning of Monday, 5 February 1838. They were William Trigg (sawyer), William Lavender (bullock driver), William...

The Alma Doepel – Tall Ships and Youth Training

Steam ships appeared in Australia in the 1830’s but until the early 1950’s both steam and sailing vessels worked the coasts of Australia. Gradually steam vessels took over transporting passengers, mail and important cargo whilst sloops and schooners were...