Flinders (schooner)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

HM Flinders was a sailing ship, built in 1863 at Brisbane Water as Jenny Cox,[1] purchased in Sydney in 1865 by the South Australian Colonial Government[2] and assigned to the Harbors Board, and completely refitted[3] She was used for

  • survey work
  • taking up heavy moorings such as those at Port MacDonnell and Port Elliot.
  • checking and servicing lighthouses etc.
  • transporting staff, supplies and horses to and from Port Darwin
  • ceremonial duties

She sprang a leak and sank while moored at Port McDonnell on 29 June 1873 and soon broke up. Only the chronometer and the lives of all aboard were saved.[4]

Commanders[edit]

  • June 1865 Daniel Murdoch Graham (previously captain of Government tender Blanche)
  • December 1865 John Melville (c. 1823 – 14 March 1895) (previously Licensed Pilot, later harbormaster at Port Augusta)
  • from early 1867 Colin McLachlan (1843 – 15 February 1920) served as chief officer, appointed commander January 1869

References[edit]

  1. ^ "SHIPS' MAILS". Sydney Morning Herald. 24 November 1863. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  2. ^ "MAILS BY THE BOMBAY". Sydney Morning Herald. 21 April 1865. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Shipping Intelligence". South Australian Register. Vol. XXIX, no. 5898. South Australia. 26 September 1865. p. 2. Retrieved 27 December 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "Wreck of the Government Schooner Flinders". South Australian Register. Vol. XXXVIII, no. 8309. South Australia. 4 July 1873. p. 5. Retrieved 27 December 2016 – via National Library of Australia.