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The Fleets
Australian Royal
Mail Steam Navigation Co. 1852-1860
The first regular steamship service between the United
Kingdom and Australia via the Cape was inaugurated in 1852 by the Australian
Royal Mail Steam Navigation Co. which had been awarded a contract for
the carriage of mails by that route.
The service proved so unreliable
that the contract was withdrawn in April 1853.
The outbreak of the Crimean
War in March 1854 brought the company’s withdrawal from the trade as
four ships were chartered by the British Government for troop transport.
In 1857 the ships were returned to the Australian Royal Mail Steam Navigation
Co. and laid up awaiting disposal.
In 1860 the company was finally wound
up and the remaining ships were sold.
Many thanks to Henk Jungerius and Ted Finch for their assistance
in collecting this data. The following list was extracted from various
sources. This is not an
all inclusive list but should only be used as a guide. If you would like
to know more about a vessel, visit the Ship
Descriptions (onsite) or Immigrant
Ship web site.
| Vessel |
Built |
Years in Service |
Tons |
| Adelaide |
1852 |
built by J. Scott Russell, Millwall | 1854 became
transport, 1860 sold. |
1,859 |
| Australian |
1852 |
built by W. Denny & Bros., Dumbarton | 1854 became
transport, 1857 sold to the East India Co., 1863 sold to British
Steam Nav. Co., 1866 sold to Egyptian Government, fate not clear
wrecked 1868. |
1,392 |
| Melbourne |
1849 |
built by Scott & Co., Greenock | ex- Greenock, screw
frigate, 1852 purchased from Admiralty renamed Melbourne, 1854 sold,
1858 property of Martin & Co., converted into a sailing vessel, later
sold to Edward Bates, Liverpool. |
1,450 |
| Sydney |
1852 |
built by W. Denny & Bros., Dumbarton | 1854 became
transport, 1857 sold to the East India Co., 1863 sold to British
Steam Nav. Co., 1866 sold to Egyptian Government, fate not clear. |
1,391 |
| Victoria |
1852 |
built by J. Scott Russell, Millwall | 1854 became
transport, 1858 chartered by the European & Australian
Royal Mail Co., 1860 sold. |
1,877 |
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Last updated: June 02, 2009 and maintained by
and M. Kohli
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