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STAR OF TASMANIA

Shipbuildervessel built by Alexander HALL & Co. (Footdee, Aberdeen)

Owner Captain Tulloch

Date1856

Object NameSHIP

MediumWOOD

ClassificationsShip

DimensionsLength 178.5 x Breadth 30.2 x Depth 18.0
Gross Tonnage: 781 tons

Object numberABDSHIP001090

Keywords

Aberdeen Built Ships

About MeYard: Alexander Hall & Co.
Yard Number: 202
Official number: 32220

Fate: driven ashore during a storm off Oamaru, Otago, New Zealand, 3 February 1868.

Propulsion: Sail
Description: Ship rigged clipper

Owner:
1856: S. Tulloch
Samuel Tulloch (1815-1904) was a Shetlander from Northmavine, resident at Launceston. He had the STAR OF VICTORIA built by John Smith in 1862 and also owned the HEATHER BELL, built by Duthie in 1855.

General History:
08/04/1856: Launched. Named by Mrs Tulloch, wife of the owner.
21/05/1856: Sailed from Aberdeen for London.
30/05/1856: At London from Aberdeen.
17/07/1856: Passed Deal from London for Launceston.
03/02/1868: Wrecked at Oamaru, 4 lives lost.

16/10/1856:
Arrival of clipper ship "STAR OF TASMANIA". Capt. Tulloch has kindly presented us with file of English papers to 15 July.
(Hobart [Tasmania] Courier)

24/12/1859:
Sailed Thursday ship "STAR OF TASMANIA" for London.
(Hobart Courier)

22/12/1860:
Ship "STAR OF TASMANIA" sails from Launceston this morning with full cargo of wool, etc. She is somewhat celebrated for having beaten clipper ship "HEATHERBELL", of Hobart, which will probaly sail about same time as the "STAR" [both for London].
(Launceston [Tasmania] Examiner)

24/09/1861:
"STAR OF TASMANIA" sailed from Gravesend 27 June, encountered strong westerly gale for 3 days in Bay of Biscay, got NE trades in 20 North and lost them in 10 North, crossed the line 21 July, got SE trades in 2 South and lost them in 20 South. Passed Tristan Da Cunha 16 August and Cape 23 August. Sighted King's Island 18 Sept., thus making splendid run of 74 days land to land.
(Launceston Examiner)

27/10/1861:
"STAR OF TASMANIA" with nearly 200 passengers bound for New Zealand gold fields, 31 horses and cargo chiefly of colonial produce, left at noon Saturday. Large no of persons assembled on boat wharf and on banks of river and joined with passengers in three hearty cheers when she weighed anchor. Decked with flags from stem to stern she glided downstream in tow of the "TAMOR" tug. Soon it was discovered that spontaneous combustion had taken place among blankets saturated in oil (for livestock). Some charcoal also ignited. Capt. Tulloch directed supply of water, brought by buckets into hold and extinguished fire. Besides water damage it is reported dozen packages were thrown overboard.
(Launceston Examiner)

07/12/1861:
"STAR OF TASMANIA" sailed yesterday with valuable cargo of colonial produce for Dunedin Gold Fields - 92 cart horses, 140 tons flour, 10 tons butter, 500 bushels wheat, 25 tons hay, large quantity of drays, carts etc. and drapery goods as well as 12 cabin and a few intermediate passengers.
(Launceston Examiner)

07/02/1868:
On Monday last, 3rd Feb 1868, it came to blow heavily from the E.S.E., and the sea rising rapidly. There were at the time lying in the bay the ships WATER NYMPH, official number, 21,579, 584 tons register, (Captain Edwin Sinel Babot) and the STAR OF TASMANIA (Captain Andrew Culbert), loading wool at this port for London, the former having 244 and the latter 2095 bales aboard. There were also two small craft, viz., the Otago, Captain Campbell and the Emu, Captain Morland. About noon the Blue Peter was hoisted at the flagstaff at the Esplanade, as a signal for the vessels to stand to sea. The Star was dragging, parted anchors and rapidly drove towards ashore. Came ashore about 7 p.m. broadside. The ship began to break up. Attempts were made to get a line ashore. A line from shore carried out by Duncan Young, in the employ of the Boating Company, reached the vessel. Twenty-two souls were on board, of whom eighteen were saved; those lost being Mrs Baker's two children and two sailors, viz., David Petrie, able seaman, aged 21 or 22, of Arbroath, Scotland, and William Brooks, of Blackwall near London, able seaman, about 32 years, married (wife lives lived in the neighbourhood of Blackwall), four children.
(North Otago Times)

Note: Contract cost £13,103 (builder's list held in the Lloyd's Library of the Aberdeen Maritime Museum)

See also: History (CS): - http://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?year_built=&builder=&ref=57480&vessel=STAR+OF+TASMANIA

Wreck (White Wings, volume 1, Brett): - http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Bre01Whit-t1-body-d105.html