Log books of a forgotten shipwreck
Did you know that your State Library loans collection items for research and exhibitions?
HMS Swallow, formerly the Marquis of Salisbury, was a 155-ton barque sold to the South Australian Company and registered as the South Australian in October 1836. She sailed from Plymouth under Alexander Allen and arrived at Nepean Bay on 23 April 1837. It was one of the first ships in a fleet of eight that was used by the South Australia Company to establish the colony of South Australia.
In the State Library's extensive Shipping Collection, we hold one of the two logbooks that chronicles this journey: the Log book of the proceedings on board the South Australian SLSA: BRG 42/78. The other is held by the Royal Geographic Society of SA, which contains the last entry in the logbook reporting foreboding weather on its way.
It became a forgotten shipwreck, until its rediscovery in 2018 through an interdisciplinary research consortium. The Australian National Maritime Museum formed part of the consortium and loaned the logbooks for an exhibition, and the State Library was happy to help.
Soon after the barque arrived at Kangaroo Island, the ship was converted for whaling and supported the whaling stations at Rosetta Harbour, located along the southern coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula. On 8 December 1837, it was lost near Victor Harbour.
More to explore
Bound for South Australia, magazine March 2002 - Australian National Maritime Museum
Image used on this story page is the last page of the first log book of the ship 'South Australian' 1 November 1836 - 25 October 1837 kept by John Anthony and David Findlay under the command of Alexander Allen. SLSA: BRG 42/78/134