Deep-sea whaling from Sydney, Australia, peaked in the 1830s. Three master mariners who commanded... more Deep-sea whaling from Sydney, Australia, peaked in the 1830s. Three master mariners who commanded Port Jackson during that period were twin brothers George and Richard Banks, and their brother-in-law Thomas Cotterill. The details or their whaling career during that decade shed light on the risks and rewards of this once important industry in the colonies.
A list of logbooks, journals and other contemporary accounts of voyages made by British whalers t... more A list of logbooks, journals and other contemporary accounts of voyages made by British whalers to the South Seas between 1775 and 1859.
The literature on British South Sea whaling tends to focus on the vessels involved with little wr... more The literature on British South Sea whaling tends to focus on the vessels involved with little written about the ship-owners themselves. One of these was Thomas Sturge (1787-1866) in London who owned at least 22 vessels most of them engaged in South Sea whaling. He took a close interest in how they operated and ensured they were in good repair and well provisioned for their long and ardious voyages. He advised his captains where to "fish", and gave them instructions on how to treat their crewmen. Sturge was also part owner of two vessels that made signifcent voyages of discovery to the Antarctic. He was involved in a number of other commercial ventures and active in the wider community as a social reformer and philanthropist.
The bibliography deals with Australian pelagic and bay whaling in the nineteenth century. It star... more The bibliography deals with Australian pelagic and bay whaling in the nineteenth century. It starts with some general works on the subject, followed by entries on whaling in each of the colonies. It ends with a section on Australian whalers in New Zealand and another on scrimshaw. Most entries are for books, chapters in books or journal articles. Some unpublished items are also listed, such as university thesis and archaeological reports, as well as a few newspaper articles and web sites. Some important reference works, such as published lists of ship arrivals and departures for major whaling ports, are also included.
The first essential for a whaling voyage was a good captain. The success of the cruise and the sa... more The first essential for a whaling voyage was a good captain. The success of the cruise and the safety of the ship and crew relied on his skill. He had to be an experienced mariner with a good knowledge of navigation, ship management, and an understanding of the sea, as well as the location of the various whaling grounds and the best time of the year to visit. He also had to be a good leader. Large crews of more than thirty men were necessary to man the whaleboats. Some would be apprentices and ordinary seamen and need considerable instruction before they became an asset to the ship. An appendix lists the names of all Sydney whaling captains, their ships and period in command.
Herman Melville served on three whaling vessels in the Pacific in the 1840's one of which was an ... more Herman Melville served on three whaling vessels in the Pacific in the 1840's one of which was an Australian vessel the Lucy Ann. He and ten other crewmen left the ship at Tahiti after becoming involved in mutiny. The circumstances surrounding the event are discussed here. To put the incident in context there is first a discussion of the Sydney whaling fleet, the difference between Australian and American whalers and the cause of crew problems on such vessels generally.
Sydney was once a major whaling port. This began in the 1790's when British and American whalers ... more Sydney was once a major whaling port. This began in the 1790's when British and American whalers began to call at Port Jackson. Then, in 1805, Sydney began to send out her own whalers. By the time the last such vessel returned in 1796, local whalers had made more than 700 whaling voyages from Port Jackson.
Tallow was an important export commodity for rural Australia in the 1840s. It was particularly si... more Tallow was an important export commodity for rural Australia in the 1840s. It was particularly significent as it developed at a time of severe economic depression, when most other sources of income for pastoralists had dried up, and the immediate economic future seemed bleak. It provided a way for squattors to obtain at least some income for their cattle and sheep which otherwise had little value. The price of wool had fallen low, while the sale of livestock to new settlers wishing to stock their runs was at a standstill due to the depression. When the pastoral economy was stagnant and recovery seemed years away, the tallow trade came to the rescue.
Sumarizes references to British South Sea whaling ships in Australian newspapers in the 19th cent... more Sumarizes references to British South Sea whaling ships in Australian newspapers in the 19th century.
An index to news stories relating to the Pacific islands that appeared in the Shipping Gazette a... more An index to news stories relating to the Pacific islands that appeared in the Shipping Gazette and Sydney General Trade List newspaper (1844-1855)
Describes an incident at the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, in 1840, involving the crew of an Austr... more Describes an incident at the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, in 1840, involving the crew of an Australian whaling ship.
Whaling ships in the nineteenth century usually carried a cooper aboard to assemble, maintain and... more Whaling ships in the nineteenth century usually carried a cooper aboard to assemble, maintain and repair the oil, water and provision casks. The duties of these tradesmen are discussed. Also discussed is the work of those who made the casks ashore and worked on the docks when the barrels were landed and were available to make any necessary repairs.
The author of an open letter in the 1830s encourages Australian whalers to become the leaders of ... more The author of an open letter in the 1830s encourages Australian whalers to become the leaders of British whaling in the Pacific.
Concerns the wreck of the Canadian vessel William Saltmarsh just inside Port Phillip Heads in the... more Concerns the wreck of the Canadian vessel William Saltmarsh just inside Port Phillip Heads in the 1840s.
Coopers made oil casks for storage purposes on whaling ships. Other coopers sailed on such vessel... more Coopers made oil casks for storage purposes on whaling ships. Other coopers sailed on such vessels to assemble, repair and maintain the casks. Others employed by dock companies were on hand to repair them if needed when they were unloaded at voyages end.
Deep-sea whaling from Sydney, Australia, peaked in the 1830s. Three master mariners who commanded... more Deep-sea whaling from Sydney, Australia, peaked in the 1830s. Three master mariners who commanded Port Jackson during that period were twin brothers George and Richard Banks, and their brother-in-law Thomas Cotterill. The details or their whaling career during that decade shed light on the risks and rewards of this once important industry in the colonies.
A list of logbooks, journals and other contemporary accounts of voyages made by British whalers t... more A list of logbooks, journals and other contemporary accounts of voyages made by British whalers to the South Seas between 1775 and 1859.
The literature on British South Sea whaling tends to focus on the vessels involved with little wr... more The literature on British South Sea whaling tends to focus on the vessels involved with little written about the ship-owners themselves. One of these was Thomas Sturge (1787-1866) in London who owned at least 22 vessels most of them engaged in South Sea whaling. He took a close interest in how they operated and ensured they were in good repair and well provisioned for their long and ardious voyages. He advised his captains where to "fish", and gave them instructions on how to treat their crewmen. Sturge was also part owner of two vessels that made signifcent voyages of discovery to the Antarctic. He was involved in a number of other commercial ventures and active in the wider community as a social reformer and philanthropist.
The bibliography deals with Australian pelagic and bay whaling in the nineteenth century. It star... more The bibliography deals with Australian pelagic and bay whaling in the nineteenth century. It starts with some general works on the subject, followed by entries on whaling in each of the colonies. It ends with a section on Australian whalers in New Zealand and another on scrimshaw. Most entries are for books, chapters in books or journal articles. Some unpublished items are also listed, such as university thesis and archaeological reports, as well as a few newspaper articles and web sites. Some important reference works, such as published lists of ship arrivals and departures for major whaling ports, are also included.
The first essential for a whaling voyage was a good captain. The success of the cruise and the sa... more The first essential for a whaling voyage was a good captain. The success of the cruise and the safety of the ship and crew relied on his skill. He had to be an experienced mariner with a good knowledge of navigation, ship management, and an understanding of the sea, as well as the location of the various whaling grounds and the best time of the year to visit. He also had to be a good leader. Large crews of more than thirty men were necessary to man the whaleboats. Some would be apprentices and ordinary seamen and need considerable instruction before they became an asset to the ship. An appendix lists the names of all Sydney whaling captains, their ships and period in command.
Herman Melville served on three whaling vessels in the Pacific in the 1840's one of which was an ... more Herman Melville served on three whaling vessels in the Pacific in the 1840's one of which was an Australian vessel the Lucy Ann. He and ten other crewmen left the ship at Tahiti after becoming involved in mutiny. The circumstances surrounding the event are discussed here. To put the incident in context there is first a discussion of the Sydney whaling fleet, the difference between Australian and American whalers and the cause of crew problems on such vessels generally.
Sydney was once a major whaling port. This began in the 1790's when British and American whalers ... more Sydney was once a major whaling port. This began in the 1790's when British and American whalers began to call at Port Jackson. Then, in 1805, Sydney began to send out her own whalers. By the time the last such vessel returned in 1796, local whalers had made more than 700 whaling voyages from Port Jackson.
Tallow was an important export commodity for rural Australia in the 1840s. It was particularly si... more Tallow was an important export commodity for rural Australia in the 1840s. It was particularly significent as it developed at a time of severe economic depression, when most other sources of income for pastoralists had dried up, and the immediate economic future seemed bleak. It provided a way for squattors to obtain at least some income for their cattle and sheep which otherwise had little value. The price of wool had fallen low, while the sale of livestock to new settlers wishing to stock their runs was at a standstill due to the depression. When the pastoral economy was stagnant and recovery seemed years away, the tallow trade came to the rescue.
Sumarizes references to British South Sea whaling ships in Australian newspapers in the 19th cent... more Sumarizes references to British South Sea whaling ships in Australian newspapers in the 19th century.
An index to news stories relating to the Pacific islands that appeared in the Shipping Gazette a... more An index to news stories relating to the Pacific islands that appeared in the Shipping Gazette and Sydney General Trade List newspaper (1844-1855)
Describes an incident at the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, in 1840, involving the crew of an Austr... more Describes an incident at the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, in 1840, involving the crew of an Australian whaling ship.
Whaling ships in the nineteenth century usually carried a cooper aboard to assemble, maintain and... more Whaling ships in the nineteenth century usually carried a cooper aboard to assemble, maintain and repair the oil, water and provision casks. The duties of these tradesmen are discussed. Also discussed is the work of those who made the casks ashore and worked on the docks when the barrels were landed and were available to make any necessary repairs.
The author of an open letter in the 1830s encourages Australian whalers to become the leaders of ... more The author of an open letter in the 1830s encourages Australian whalers to become the leaders of British whaling in the Pacific.
Concerns the wreck of the Canadian vessel William Saltmarsh just inside Port Phillip Heads in the... more Concerns the wreck of the Canadian vessel William Saltmarsh just inside Port Phillip Heads in the 1840s.
Coopers made oil casks for storage purposes on whaling ships. Other coopers sailed on such vessel... more Coopers made oil casks for storage purposes on whaling ships. Other coopers sailed on such vessels to assemble, repair and maintain the casks. Others employed by dock companies were on hand to repair them if needed when they were unloaded at voyages end.
The discovery of gold in 1851 ushered in a period of profound change in Australian society. There... more The discovery of gold in 1851 ushered in a period of profound change in Australian society. There was a rapid increase in population and wealth and the suddeness of these changes led to a period of social and economic disturbance. One area of change was in liquor retailing, which experienced a steep rise in the number of places where alcohol was sold, and in liquor sales generally. These changes are examined, with particular reference to a Geelong wine and spirit store owned and operated by George Thomas Lloyd in the 1850s.
In the middle of the nineteenth century there developed among some of the leading Anglican clergy... more In the middle of the nineteenth century there developed among some of the leading Anglican clergy in Tasmania a sense of missionary purpose toward the people of part-aboriginal descent living on the islands of Bass Strait. An early expression of this came in 1832 when the Missionary Society of Tasmania included among its founding resolutions a proposal that the islanders of the strait should have a claim on any missionary program organised by the society. The Bishop of Van Diemen’s Land, the Right Reverend Francis Nixon, appears to have supported the idea and made a visit of his own to the islands in 1854. The next voyage for which a record survives was that led by Archdeacon Thomas Reibey in 1862.
Uploads
Papers by Mark Howard