QUEEN OF NATIONS

BUILT IN 1861 BY WALTER HOOD & CO OF ABERDEEN.SHE WAS A VESSEL OF 878 TONS.

INITIALLY USED ON THE CHINA TEA READE

SHE MADE ONLY ONE VOYAGE TO NEW ZEALAND WHICH WAS FROM BELFAST TO AUCKLAND IN 1874. THE CAPTAIN AT THIS TIME  WAS CAPTAIN DONALD.

IN 1874 SHE WAS RE RIGGED AS A BARQUE

SHE WAS WRECKED NEAR WOOLLONGONG IN MAY 1881 WHEN ON VOYAGE FROM THE LONDON UK TO SYDNEY. THERE WAS ONE CASUALTY THE REST OF THE CREW BEING SAVED.

THE VESSEL WAS COMMANDED AT THE TIME OF HER LOST BY CAPTAIN  BACHE BEING DRUNK AT THE TIME ( AS WAS THE CHIEF OFFICER )  WHO MADE A SERIOUS ERROR OF NAVIGATION MISTAKING A FIRE BURNING AT A COAL MINE AT MOUNT KEIRA FOR THE LIGHT AT PORT JACKSON SOUTH HEAD AND CONSEQUENTLY RAN THE VESSEL UP ONTO CORRIMAL BEACH

SHE WAS CARRYING A CARGO OF WHISKY AMONGST OTHER THINGS.BOTTLES WERE STILL  WASHING UP ON THE BEACH A 100 YEARS LATER.

CAPTAIN BACHE WAS FROM A FRENCH NOBLE FAMILY WHO BOUGHT HIS WAY OUT OF ANY REPRECUSSIONS. HE THEN  RETURNED TO FRANCE & THEN MARRIED