The PS ‘Lonsdale’ was a combined paddle steamer / 3 Masted Schooner, built by Messrs. Robert Steele & Co., in Greenock, Scotland, in 1882.
” . . . The paddle steamer Lonsdale, which is being built at Greenock by Messrs, Robert Steele and Co., under the supervision of Captain Deane, of Melbourne, will be completed shortly. She has been built and fitted up expressly as an excursion steamer, and will run between Melbourne and the watering places on Port Phillip Bay . . . “
” . . . She is being rigged as a three masted schooner, and will have ample sail power for the voyage out . . . “
” . . . The after part of the vessel has been handsomely fitted up for the accommodation of first-class passengers. The dining saloon presents an elegant appearance, the sides being panelled with bird’s-eye maple, with a border of Hungarian ash. The ladies’ cabin, which is in the deckhouse, has also been handsomely fitted up. The fore-saloon is intended for second-class passengers. On the main deck forward there is a smoking room. The hurricane deck extends from the forecastle to the after-saloon, and canvas awnings will be supplied for the whole length of the vessel. A steam windlass is fitted forward for the working of the cables and anchors, and the steamer is equipped with both steam and hand-steering gear. The electric light will be fitted all over the vessel, in the saloon and on deck. In the saloons and deckhouse the seats will be of cane work with morocco-covered cushions . . . “
Source: Excerpts – Portland Guardian (Vic.) – Article “The Excursion Steamer Lonsdale” – published 5 Dec 1882
” . . . The machinery, which is also by the builders, consists of a pair of direct acting inclined surface condensing compound engines, having two cylinders 34 in. and 62 in. in diameter and 6 ft. stroke. Steam of 90 lb. working pressure is supplied by two double-ended steel boilers, having eight furnaces and two funnels. Both the vessel and her machinery have been constructed under the superintendence of Mr. J. F. Spencer C.E., the owner’s consulting engineer assisted during a portion of the building by Mr. R. Warnock, Captain Deane’s resident engineer at Melbourne . . . “
Source: Excerpt – ‘Williamstown Chronicle’ – Article “The Excursion Steamer Lonsdale” – published 10th Feb 1883
Gross Tonnage: 451.81
Net Tonnage: 129.73
Length: 200 ft (60.96 m)
Beam: 25 ft (7.62 m)
Draft: 12 ft 10 in (3.91 m)
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Timeline:
1882 → the PS ‘Lonsdale’ was built by Messrs. Robert Steele and Co. in Greenock, Scotland for James Deane, of Melbourne
22nd Dec 1882 → the paddle steamer PS ‘Lonsdale’ was taken for her first trial run on the measured mile ” . . . with highly satisfactory results . . . “
” . . . The Lonsdale’s official test consisted of a run down the Firth of Clyde, and a full speed trial on the measured mile. The vessel left the “Tail of the Bank” about noon . . . “
” . . . The weather was far from being favourable fro the trial of the light draught vessel, a strong head wind and a heavy sea prevailed during the entire day. Notwithstanding these drawbacks the trials were fully carried out, the Lonsdale steaming down the Firth of Clyde as far as Rothesay Bay. On the measured mile at Skelmorlie a speed of 13 knots or 15 miles an hour was attained, the number of revolutions per minute being 39, and the indicated power of the engines 1,160 h.p. Considering the rough weather, the results obtained were highly satisfactory. The machinery worked easily, and there was a marked absence of vibration in the vessel. On the return run to Gresnock in the the evening the vessel was brilliantly lighted with the electric light. She ill steam out to Melbourne via the Suez Canal, in charge of Captain Foster . . . “
Source: Excerpts – ‘Williamstown Chronicle’ – Article “The Excursion Steamer Lonsdale” – published 10th Feb 1883
1883 → acquired by the ‘Port Philip Steamship & Hotel Company’
10th Feb 1887 → the PS ‘Lonsdale’ ran aground on the St. George’s bank for ” . . . nearly eight hours and a half . . . “:
” . . . the Londale left the Moorabool-strect wharf with 710 passengers. Everything passed right merrily until six o’clock in the evening, when the vessel was returning with her living freight to this port. The atmosphere was rather thick with smoke from bush fires, and there was a slight haze on the surface of the water, but at a distance of over three miles there was no difficulty of discerning objects ahead. Hugging the coast all the way from the ‘Cliff, Captain John Richardson kept the Lonsdale in shallow water, and, missing one of the buoys marking off the deep water, he landed the steamer on St. George’s bank, a large patch of sand extending from the shore to about three-quarters of a mile into the sea. The vessel was travelling at the rate of eleven knots per hour, and had reached a position about mid-way between St. Leonards and Portarlington, the latter township being nearly three miles distant. The steamer bumped heavily on the ground three times before she came to a standstill by planting her prow well into the sandy bottom . . . “
Source: Excerpt – ‘Geelong Advertiser’ – Article “Aground on a Sandbank” – published 12 Feb 1887
For the full article reporting this incident, the extent of works, etc., click here
PS ‘Lonsdale’ – broke Moorings during a Gale & washed Ashore in Port Melbourne – 14 Jun 1889
14th Jun 1889 → the PS ‘Lonsdale’ broke her moorings during a gale and was driven aground and stranded on Port Melbourne beach
” . . . The boisterous weather which prevailed in town yesterday was palpably brought under the notice of pedestrians, but was still more severely felt by those on shipboard, and the shipping in Hobson’s Bay received some damage. The most serious mishap which occurred was the stranding yesterday afternoon of the steamer Lonsdale, belong to the Port Phillip Bay Excursion Company. The Lonsdale, which is a two funnelled paddle composite steamer, was brought to this port about six years ago, to be used as an excursion steamer in Port Phillip Bay. For about four years she made pleasure trips to Queenscliff and other places of holiday resort . . . “
Source: Excerpt – ‘Age’ (Melbourne) – Article “The Rough Weather – Damage to Shipping in the Bay – The Steamer Lonsdale Driven Aground” – published 15 Jun 1889
For the full article reporting this incident, the extent of works, etc., click here
1889 → acquired by the ‘Colonial Bank of Australia’
13th Jan 1891 → the PS ‘Lonsdale’ was refloated, however, it was determined that the costs to repair the steamer were too great – she remained in lay up, unrepaired . . .
1900 → acquired by ‘T. McPherson, Melbourne’ and broken up
Additional Resources: Websites: ‘Flotilla Australia’, ‘The Clyde Built Ships’, ‘Shipwrecks of Port Phillip and The Rip’
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View other important events in the history of The Steamers of Port Phillip Bay . . .
