mortsdock

The launch was on Wednesday, 7 December 1892, at Mort's Dock (Balmain). Read all about it - SMH 8/12/1892 pp.5-6 - trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/13889051

'Captain Cook II' in operation -

beachcomber australia Thank you, that is wonderful! We'll update our captions and dates. I have also added a larger version here so we can see more detail. The officials could be in that smart little group to the right of the ship. AB From the newspaper article: "...his Excellencv the Governor proceeded to launch in the presence of about 1000 onlookers, and as the blocks were driven awayand the craft began to make for the water he broke a bottle of wine over her bows, and amidst loud cheering christened the new pilot steamer '"Captain Cook." ...her elegant proportions wore displayed to the spectators. ...The vessel was designed by and built under the superintendence of Mr W D Cruickshank, the senior Government engineer surveyor, and is a very handsome model, with good lines for speed. She is constructed of steel in accordance with Lloyd's highest requirements. Her principal dimensions are -length between perpendiculars, 155ft ; length overall, 180ft; beam moulded, 25ft; depth, moulded, 15ft. ..."

Museums of History NSW - State Archives Collection Yes, the old newspaper reports (when you can find them) really give life and reason to otherwise ho-hum old photographs. The amount of detail (names, ship's specifications, dignitaries' pompous and boring speeches) recorded is amazing, and sometimes I feel as if I was there. Time travel via flickr! Also buried in the newspaper article is a description of the figurehead (of Captain Cook) "cast in one piece with great success. It is the first attempt that has been made at a statuary founding in the colonies."

Three years later Mort's was used in the repairing of the steamer 'Cammeray' which sunk after a collision with the steamer 'Sydney'. The Contract was issued to my Ancestor Alfred Whetton and Sons. Cite: The Sydney Morning Herald. (1895, June 26). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 7. from nla.gov.au/nla.news-article14009150

Wonderful detail in the large size - you can almost smell the place - great period details of a working dock. See comments and links on www.flickr.com/photos/anmm_thecommons/8160269125/ - likely to be a different day because of the ships involved, c.1902 December. The photographer must have been up a ship's mast to get this shot - there are no tall buildings or hills close by. Hence the slight tilt.

beachcomber australia re the 'windmill' that has our curators a bit stumped. A bit impractical for voyages but is perhaps set up to work as a pump pumping water or air...

Australian National Maritime Museum on The Commons Yes, it struck me as unusual. Looks like a permanent fixture on the ship.

Spent nearly all day looking for this........ I had seen windmills on a couple of early Antarctic ships, one said to supply electric lighting. But I suspect to supply battery charge for a HF radio ;-) Photo of the 1907 Antarctic expedition ship 'NIMROD' ( 1865-1919) in Mort's Woolwich Dock. www.photosau.com.au/cos/scripts/ExtSearch.asp?SearchTerm=... Further searching has shown that 'NIMROD' didn't visit Australia in 1907 before the Antarctic expedition. 'NIMROD' did arrive in Sydney on the 20 April 1909, after the Antarctic expedition. 'NIMROD' left from Sydney on the 8 May 1909. While in Sydney there were numerous mentions of 'NIMROD' in Harbour movements, non mention her at Woolwich Dock.

Good example for the era of the busy 'working harbour' and, when you lived close to your place of work..

Andy Brill It is good to see the rough underbelly of Sydney, warts 'n' all. The WANDRA (see note) had a short and accident-prone life. "A wooden twin-screw steamer, built at the Manning River in 1907" and wrecked off Jervis Bay in December 1915. See SMH 17/12/1915 p.10 - trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/15632074 . There are several reports of mishaps with propellers etc in between those dates, which might explain the ship being near Mort's for repairs. Which puts this photo between 1907 and 1915. So far ...

Wait Up! Is that the THODE FAGELUND on the left being repaired at Mort's Dock? trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/14943803 So February / March 1908?

beachcomber australia Good observation - looks identical .

beachcomber australia Andy Brill Wasn't that well timed regarding our other images of THODE FAGELUND here. Thanks Beachcomber for lending your eagle eye once again, our records have been tidied :)