James Craig, Barque, Sydney 1873-
Description
As an island continent, Australia since 1788 has been a nation heavily reliant on shipping to maintain its links with the rest of the world and to access ports around its extensive coastline The commercial success of its industry and movement of people - in particular immigrants, would not have happened without effective maritime services. The perfection of sailing ships and steamships occurred more or less simultaneously, beginning well before the mid-19th century, when the Tonnage Law of 1836 revised the measurement system to eliminate tax advantages for full-bodied ships. The bluff shaped bows of these vessels that were the first type of vessel to engage in the Australia trade gave way to vessels with sharper bows, streamlined hulls and the yards were constructed so they would brace around more with sails filled and allow closer sailing to the wind. It was at this time, in 1873 that Thomas Dunlop a Glasgow merchant and ship owner commissioned the construction of one such vessel - the SV [sailing vessel] James Craig which was destined to be one of the many “workhorses” that criss-crossed the seven seas to service the commercial needs of the British Empire. Over the 43 years she plied the trade routes of the world carrying general cargo she rounded Cape Horn 23 times, completed the round trip across the Tasman Sea 35 times and traversed Bass Straight many more times.
The James Craig is now the only19th century vessel of its type in survey left in the southern hemisphere and is one of only four operational 19th century barques left in the world. [ World Ship Review No.25 September 2001]
THE CEREMONY FOR THIS SITE HAS NOT YET OCCURRED. LIKELY TO HAPPEN LATER IN 2018.
Division
Marker Type
- EHNM: Engineering Heritage National M'arker (replacing EHNL From 2011)