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GOOLWA

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

Date1864

Object NameCLIPPER

MediumCOMPOSITE

ClassificationsShip

Dimensionslength 178.5' x breadth 30.6' x depth 18.8'
gross tonnage 717 tons

Object numberABDSHIP001125

Keywords

Aberdeen Built Ships

About MeYard: Alexander Hall & Co.
Yard Number: 237

Fate: Unknown, removed from the register of shipping of her home port in 1880.

Propulsion: Sail
Description: Ship rigged clipper

Owner:
1864: James Anderson, London (for the Orient Line)

General History:
13/06/1864:
A magnificent clipper ship named the GOOLWA has been launched from the building yard of Messrs Hall, Footdee, Aberdeen. The vessel is 717 tons register and will be classed 13 years as at Lloyd's. She will trade between London and Adelaide, Australia, and is the property of Messrs Anderson, Thomson and Co., London. She will be commanded by Captain Johnston. The GOOLWA is a composite ship and has all the new and improved apparatus for swift sailing.
(The Argus, Melbourne)

29/11/1866:
Left Adelaide, GOOLWA, ship, 717 tons, A. Johnston master, for London, 6 passengers, cargo - wool hides, bark, copper & wine.
(South Australian Register)

28/09/1869:
Deaths - John Walter Douglas, aged 28, chief officer on ship GOOLWA, washed overboard off Cape Horn, homeward bound from Adelaide.
(South Australian Register)

13/09/1869:
GOOLWA, ship, 717 tons, A. Johnston, departed Adelaide for London via Port Augusta (South Australia) to load wool. cargo tiles and copper.
(South Australian Register)

01/08/1872:
Departed Newcastle, New South Wales, GOOLWA, ship Johnston, for Wallaroo, South Australia with 900 tons coal.
(Sydney Morning Herald)

28/04/1875:
Civil action heard at Port Adelaide - cause of action arose in 1873 when capt. Johnston was in ship GOOLWA. Plaintiff, Mr Wilson, said he engaged to deliver 1000 pairs of parrots to Captain Johnston, when he arrived at port Augusta to hand over last 2 or 3 cages (670 pairs) the ship was gone and birds, in consequence of exposure, died. Mr Wilson claimed captain Johnston had told him the ship would leave on October 20th and that he was there on October 11th to deliver them. Captain Johnston claimed he had set no date for last delivery of birds, but had tried to contact Mr Wilson before sailing. Magistrate found for Captain Johnston.
(South Australian Register)

31/01/1880:
Port Adelaide Police Court - R. W. Farquhar, steward, was charged by J. T. Torkelson, master of ship GOOLWA, of refusing duty between 28th December and January 5th. He alleged steward would not weigh out flour to the crew, but estimated and on several occassions steward refused request to clean the cabin and told master to do it himself. Ordered to be imprisoned until rising of the court and to forfeit 5 days pay.
(South Australian Register)

03/06/1880:
GOOLWA, ship, arrived London 30th June from Adelaide, 2nd March.
(Sydney Morning Herald)

16/04/1884:
Adelaide Police Court - Capt. J. T. Torkelson stated his ship GOOLWA belonged London and arrived at port Adelaide 3rd April. He alleged the cook and steward had embezzled spirits, wines, beer and preserves valued at £3 from ship's stores. 2nd Officer at 12o'clock previous Saturday night had discovered them intoxicated near spirit locker, which was inspected and found to have been broken open. They were also seen trying to sell liquor to The Criterion Hotel. Sentenced to 12 weeks imprisonment.
(South Australian Register)

"During the sixties the Orient Line came to be known in Australia for the remarkable speed of its beautiful little composite clippers" [including GOOLWA] "Of the other Orient composites, the GOOLWA dissapeared from the register in 1880". [meaning the register of her home port London, rather than Lloyd's, in which she does not seem to feature]
Basil Lubbock (1948), "The Colonial Clippers" (Brown, Son & Ferguson, Glasgow), pp. 129, 131)

Note: Contract cost £14,445 or £20 per ton. (Builder's list held in the Lloyd's Library of the Aberdeen Maritime Museum).