The following extracts provide an insight into the transport issues of the time, the treachery of sea travel and the hope of quicker and less risky conveyance from the waters of Port Phillip Bay up the Yarra River to Melbourne via steamers. The treacherous loop or bend of the Yarra River at ‘Fishermen’s Bend’ was narrow and challenging to shipping until the canal was constructed in 1886.
Extract – Map of Melbourne – Plan No 18 – c 1852-53
” . . . The Patriot recommends the establishment of steam tugs and steam conveyance between Melbourne and Hobson’s Bay, calculating the present sum received from cargoes discharged by lighters, together with the amount of passengers’ money at the present time, at not less than £11,200. It is proposed to establish a company to effect his object with a capital of £5,000, in shares of £25 each . . . “
Source: Excerpt – Hobart Town Courier – Article ‘Port Phillip’ – published 7th February 1840
Hobart Town Courier – 7 Feb 1840
One has to comprehend that these ‘challenges’ to shipping occurred just 4½ years after John Batman had announced that “This will be the Place for a Village” in the June of 1835. How quickly his ‘village’ grew . . .
” . . . One of the earliest, if not the first, passenger vessel which arrived in Port Phillip was the ship ‘John Barry,’ from Sydney, which cast anchor in Hobson’s Bay, on 1st March 1839, after a fine run of 10 days.* She conveyed to this colony a large number of passengers, including Dr. Patterson, the first Immigration Agent here. A few weeks prior to this, a large number of emigrants had arrived in New South Wales, which caused employment to be very scarce; and, as the new settlement at Port Phillip was opening up then, the Government offered a free passage to any who wished to try their fortunes there. Some hundreds availed themselves of this opportunity and took passage in the ‘John Barry,’ and among these were natives of England and Wales, Ireland, north and south, with Scotland, including the Highlands. Amongst the Caledonians were five families named MacDonald, and the captain numbered them off as MacDonald No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. There was only one small steamer, named the ‘ Firefly,’ running from Hobson’s Bay to Melbourne and as the terms were too high, the captain landed the men and boys at Liardet’s Beach (now known as Sandridge) whence they walked into town; while the women, children and luggage were put in the largest ship’s boat and towed up the Yarra by a smaller craft manned by eight sailors. Their progress was slow, and it was 11 o’clock at night before the basin was reached . . . “
Source: Excerpt – ‘The Chronicles of Early Melbourne – 1835 to 1951 – Vol II’ – by Garryowen – published 1888
Hobart Town Courier – 7 Feb 1840
View other important events in the history of Australia’s International Shipping . . .
View other important events in the history of The Steamers of Port Phillip Bay . . .
