The ship ‘Sussex’ was a Blackwall Clipper, built by Money Wigram & Son’s – Northem Yard, Southhampton in England.
Launched: March 1853
The ship ‘Sussex’ completed 28 voyages from England to Australia, transporting thousands of immigrants and tonnes of cargo.
” . . . ‘Blackwallers’ were a distinctive class of vessel built for the East Indies trade, deriving their name from the fact that a number of famous shipbuilders had yards at Blackwall on the Thames River, including Money Wigram & Sons’ shipbuilding yard. This yard was begun by Robert Wigram (1743 – 1830), who was later made a lord and baronet and Chair of the East India docks, and had seventeen sons. One of these sons Money Wigram went on to take over the Blackwall Yard, and built the Sussex in 1853 (Lubbock, 1973: 30-36). In fact the Sussex was actually built at Money Wigram’s Northam Yard which he acquired in 1850 (Rance, 1981), but in build and appearance it was a Blackwall vessel. Money Wigram & Sons specialised in building vessels for the Australian gold rush passenger trade. The Blackwallers were favoured by first and second class passengers even though they were smaller than the later, larger and faster Liverpool owned clippers, because they were not as crowded. The Sussex had a sister ship the Norfolk. It had previously made a number of voyages to Australia including Port Adelaide and Port Phillip, and was described as “..one of the most popular vessels in Messrs. Money Wigram’s Anglo-Australian line” (Argus 2/1/1872) . . . “
Source: Excerpt – Website – ‘Victorian Heritage Database – Shipwrecks – Sussex’
Tonnage: 959.7
Length: 174 ft 1 in (53.06 m)
Beam: 29 ft 5 in (8.97 m)
Draft: 20 ft 11 in (6.37 m)
Propulsion: Sail – 3 Masts
Off Number: 23328
Decks: 2
Hull: Wood, sheathed with yellow metal, copper fastened
Crew: 55
Passengers: 496
.
Timeline:
The Blackwall Clipper ‘Sussex’ sailed the long and arduous journey from London, England to Melbourne, Australia some 28 times carrying passengers and cargo.
It was to be an error of judgement of their location by the captain, who had completed the journey at least 6 times prior to this one, that would result in her demise . . .
Some of her career is summarised below:
12th Apr 1853 → the ‘Sussex’ was registered in London – No. 187 – in the names of Money, Charles Hampdon & Chilford @ 48/64 shares and Henry Loftus @ 16/64 Shares
6th Apr 1853 → Certificate of Registration granted
May 1853 → sailed from the ‘East India Docks’
4th Jun 1853 → sailed from London for Melbourne with 85 passengers on board
17th Aug 1853 → sailed from Melbourne for London
14th Oct 1854 → sailed from London for Melbourne – Captain: A. Scanlan of London
29th Dec 1854 → arrived in Melbourne
18th Feb 1855 → sailed from Melbourne for London
10th Aug 1855 → sailed from Plymouth, England for Melbourne
30th Oct 1855 → arrived at Port Phillip, however, due to an outbreak of smallpox on board, the ship was placed in quarantine
12th Nov 1855 → sailed from the Quarantine Station, Point Nepean to Hobson’s Bay, Melbourne
15th Dec 1855 → sailed from Melbourne for London
6th Oct 1856 → sailed from London for Melbourne
14th Oct 1856 → put into St. Helen’s Roads and after communicating with the shore, proceeded on her voyage for Melbourne
10th Jan 1857 → arrived at Port Phillip
17th Jan 1857 → ‘Willamstown Police Court’ – Alexander Morrison, a cook on board the ship ‘Sussex’, was charged with striking an officer belonging to his ship – he was fined five shillings
6th Mar 1857 → sailed from Melbourne for London – with exports on board: 811 bales wool, 66 packages gold, containing 47,844 ozs, 7 dwts 1,839 bags of copper ore, 19 packages British goods, 60 cases champagne
11th Mar 1857 → ‘Willamstown Police Court’ – crew member Robert Thompson was charged with insubordination on board ship – he was sentenced to 6 weeks imprisonment, with hard labour
30th Jun 1858 → sailed from Melbourne for London
20th Sep 1858 → sailed from London for Melbourne – Captain: WF Fothergill
21st Dec 1858 → arrived Melbourne, from London
28th Jun 1859 → sailed from Plymouth, England for Melbourne – Captain: WF Fothergill
18th Aug 1859 → experienced heavy gales off the Cape of Good Hope – 43° S, the ‘Aurora Australis’ was observed, forming a perfect arc in the heavens
20th Sep 1859 → moored at Railway Pier, Melbourne – discharged her cargo
23rd Aug 1860 → sailed from Melbourne for London
11th May 1861 → sailed from Melbourne for London with full complement of passengers and cargo including: 37,00 ounces of gold, wool and copper valued at £12,500
19th Sep 1861 → arrived at Portsmouth, England from Melbourne
1862 → sold to Charles, Clifford & Robert Wigram
10th Feb 1863 → sailed from Melbourne for London – Captain: JS Attwood
31st May 1863 → passed Plymouth en route for London – full cargo including: 29,140 ounces of gold, 980 bales of wool – passengers: 24 chief cabin and a large number of 2nd and 3rd class passengers
12th Jun 1866 → Sailed up the Channel under Captain Robert Ridgers for London – Cargo: 34,420 ounces of gold dust, valued at £136,700, 665 bales of wool, 17 casts of black sand, 5 bales sheep skins, 20 bales leather, 208 pieces Myall wood, 76 bags of bark, 15 bundles of old copper sheathing, 27 cases of merchandise, 200 casks molasses, and 3,000 bags of copper ore
21st Jul 1866 → sailed from Plymouth, England for Melbourne – Captain: Robert Ridgers
20th Mar 1867 → sailed from London to Melbourne – Captain: G Mant Miller – Passengers: 40 x 1st Class and 60 x 2nd Class, and a number of 3rd class passengers
31st Oct 1867 → sailed up the Channel for London, from Melbourne – landed at Plymouth by No. 5 pilot boat
21st Dec 1867 → sailed from London for Melbourne – Captain: G Mant Miller
21st Sep 1868 → sailed from London for Melbourne – Captain: G Mant Miller
25th Jan 1869 → sailed from Melbourne for London
25th Feb 1869 → rounded Cape Horn
26th Mar 1869 → crossed the Equator
21st Apr 1869 → passed ‘Eddystone Lighthouse’, sailing up the Channel under all studding sails at 5 knots, with 178 passengers, a cargo of wool and 13,000 ounces of gold on board
20th Jul 1869 → sailed from London for Melbourne – Captain: J Denne Collard
21st Apr 1870 → sailed from London for Melbourne – Captain: J Denne Collard
20th Dec 1870 → sailed from London for Melbourne – Captain: J Denne Collard
25th Sep 1871 → sailed from London for Melbourne – Captain: J Denne Collard
31st Dec 1871 → on her 28th voyage to Australia and after 82 days at sea, the ‘Sussex’ was wrecked at Barwon Heads, just outside Port Phillips Heads . . .
Source: Excerpts – Website ‘Historic Shipping UK – Sussex’
” . . . The startling intelligence of an inward bound ship having gone ashore at Barwon Heads ushered in the new year. Everything at first was vague and most unsatisfactory, as two ships, names unknown, but supposed to be the Kosciusko and Sussex from London, passed Cape Otway on Sunday. The news was brought to Queenscliff, at 3 a.m., by a trooper, who could only give the intelligence that a ship was ashore and required assistance. Captain Payne, the chief harbour master, was at once place in possession of the information, and immediately proceed to the scene of disaster to render assistance . . . “
At 1 p.m., the wires announced that the ship was the Sussex, from London, and that the vessel went ashore at 9.30 p.m. on Sunday, one mile west of Barwon Heads, and that the third officer with six men had been sent to Queenscliff for assistance. They left the ship at midnight, and had not up to 6 p.m. yesterday been again heard of or seen. At about eleven a.m., the passengers and crew, having secured all their effects and luggage, with the exception of that which was stowed away in the hold, went on board the Warhawk (abandoning the ship, she being then full of water), and came up to Hobson’s Bay where they arrived shortly after three o’clock. It then transpired that the error of judgement made was that Capt. Collar, considering he had run his distance from the Otway, mistook the flash light of the pilot vessel for that of Cape Schank, and accordingly hauled up for what he supposed to be Port Phillip Heads, but which as shown proved to be Barwon Heads. On observing the breakers shortly afterwards, the helm was put down to stag the ship,m but before she had time to come round she struck, and that so heavily that the well – which was at once sounded – showed three feet of water in the hold . . . “
” . . . As regards the missing boat’s crew, we give the following telegram, which for a time gave rise to hopes that the crew had not met with the fate that was supposed, as it was feared that the boat was drifted and was probably by the heavy surf which almost always makes there ; for had she been capsized the two oars and three buckets that were found in her must have been washed out.
The following are the names of those that went in the boat: – Mr Flaherty, third officer ; Labdon, Feast, Coke, Churcher, Graham, and Salker [?].
Telegram. – Missing boat from Sussex has been found by constable Collin, one mile this side of Barwon Heads, with two oars and three buckets in her. She was broadside on to beach. Nothing seen of officer and crew that went in her. I have requested constable to revisit the spot and search the bush, and also give information to the fishermen. I will go to her in the steaming Challenge. – (signed) C B PAYNE . . . “
Source: Excerpts – ‘Portland Guardian & Normanby General Advertiser (Vic) – Article “Wreck of the Ship Sussex from London, off Barwon Heads” – published 29th January 1872
View other important events in the history of Australia’s International Shipping . . .