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 early days. She arrived at Melbourne on 23 August 1850 under the command of Captain William John Cubitt with as many as 200 passengers on board.

She was built circa 1842 and when she arrived in Melbourne in 1850 Captain Cubitt had been her master for about five years, having made numerous voyages to places such as China, India, Mauritius, New Zealand and Trinidad.

Her London agents were Messrs. Fry and Davison of 5, East India Chambers, Leadenhall Street and J. H. Arnold of 3, Clements Lane, Lombard Street. She was originally advertised to set sail on 25 March 1850 from St. Katherine’s Dock in London for Adelaide and Port Phillip, and if there had been sufficient interest she would have continued on to Moreton Bay. She was described as being frigate-built, offering superior accommodation with a spacious poop deck and having a height of seven feet between decks. An experienced surgeon would be carried and passage to Port Phillip was offered for £20.

It was Saturday, 6 April 1850 before she eventually sailed from St. Katherine’s Dock, stopping at Gravesend from Monday, 8 April 1850 to Wednesday, 10 April 1850 before leaving the Thames. She also called at Portsmouth; Lymington and the Isle of Wight whilst passing through the English Channel.

The “Illustrated London News” of 13 April 1850 published a picture of her departure from London with flags flying and showing the Gravesend steamer, the “Star” alongside her. The “Star” had carried a party of well-wishers to the “Duke of Portland” to farewell the emigrants. This party included local clergy bidding adieu to members of their flocks and the Hon. Sidney Herbert, promoter of an charitable emigration scheme which had obtained passage for about 60 poor needlewomen for the voyage.

The accommodation on board consisted of cabin and intermediate class as well as a spacious steerage cabin for the needlewomen. The emigrants were said to be of very different ranks with a significant number whose dress and general aspect indicated they were not making the voyage because of pressing poverty. There were no government assisted immigrants on board.

The Hon. Sidney Herbert and his associates had provided a good supply of books on board for the voyage as well arranging for a Religious Instructor, accredited by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, to act as guardian for the needlewomen. This was William Behan who was accompanied by his family.

The voyage to Adelaide was largely uneventful with the passengers being unanimous in their praise of Captain Cubitt and his officers for their skill and conduct. Also, Messrs. Fry and Davison, the charterers of the ship, were thanked for having supplied provisions of excellent quality.

Dr. Cousins was the surgeon on board and he was regarded as being indefatigable in his care of the passengers. The health of those on board had generally been good, however two deaths occurred en route, one of whom was said to have been quite ill before boarding the ship. Mrs. Anna Maria Johnson, wife of Mr. Edward F. Johnson died on 23 June 1850 and a Miss Hague died on 16 July 1850.

The “Duke of Portland” arrived at Adelaide, South Australia on Friday, 9 August 1850 where her agents were Messrs. Were, Todd & Co., Gilbert Place Adelaide.

More than half of the needlewomen found positions in Adelaide and stayed there. Though one newspaper reported that there had only been a couple or so who could make a shirt, they did appear to be a useful lot of strapping lasses, average in appearance, in age, in character, and in qualifications. Just the same, a notice appeared in the Adelaide newspapers that Samson, Wicksteed & Co. were going to auction on 17 August 1850, ‘174 strong blue shirts,’ made by the emigrants on board the “Duke of Portland.”

While in Adelaide Captain Cubitt had six of his cotton shirts stolen. They had been washed by a Port Adelaide washerwoman named Mary Ann Sullivan and hung out to dry at the rear of her land-lady’s kitchen but disappeared overnight. The thief turned out to be a labourer named Daniel Langton. Fortunately he was soon caught and the shirts, still wet, were found under his bed and recovered.

The “Duke of Portland” continued her voyage and arrived at Melbourne, Port Phillip on 23 August 1850, having taken on additional passengers in Adelaide. Her Melbourne agents were Messrs. J. B. Were & Co.

On 29 August 1850 the “Melbourne Daily News” reported that ‘The needlewomen were landed on Monday last and about ten have been engaged, at wages varying from £12 to £16 per annum.’

( Source: Melbourne “Argus” of 30 August 1850 )

Notices also appeared in Melbourne newspapers that W. M. Tennent & Co. would be auctioning on 2 September 1850 at Raleigh’s Wharf ‘The surplus stores of the “Duke of Portland,” consisting of preserved meats, and soups, sugar, bread, peas, etc., together with the fittings, bedding, blankets, etc.’

The “Duke of Portland” was then advertised as being available for freight or charter and eventually departed Melbourne on 10 September 1850 bound for Guam. In the following years she made a number of voyages from Britain to New Zealand.

( Source: Melbourne “Argus” of 3 September 185

Contributed by Alexander Romanov-Hughes – PPPG Member No. 52