THE VOYAGE of the "AUSTRALIA" 1849Built about 1837-38 the "Australia" was approximately 43 yards (40 metres) long and nine yards (8 metres) wide, depth approximately 5 metres. The ship was brought from U.S.A. in 1848 by Godeffroy's and Son. The agents at the time were C. & F.J. Beck.She departed Hamburg on May 2nd, 1849 via Rio de Janeiro with Captain W.H. Sleebom, arrived Port Adelaide on 10-09-1849 The first few days of the journey were no doubt filled with a certain amount of suspense for the ships of Denmark were supposed to be blockading the Port. The "AUSTRALIA" previously named the "EDMUND PERKINS" successfully overcame the blockade and steered a course for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. After about 20 days in Reo de Janeiro, she left on July 23rd, 1849, bound for Port Adelaide. The vessel was a big ship of 695 tons, well built and being of greater tonnage sailed along more smoothly, but it still tossed about in heavy seas, and brought much discomfort to its passengers. After weeks of sailing they would have entered that stormy tract in the Atlantic Ocean between 40 and 50 degrees N. latitude where the Roaring Forties would take them along a more direct passage to the Australian Coast. It may not have been all "plain sailing" but it appears that nothing conspicuously untoward or even fatal occurred on the voyage. Ref: Mortlock Library, Migrant Ships for South Australia 1836-1860 by Ronald Parsons.
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