Tas That Was – ‘Lady Nelson’

When you walk along Hobart’s waterfront, you’ll come across a two-masted, square-rigged tallship. This is a replica of HMS Lady Nelson, which featured in Tasmania’s early colonial history.

Built in 1798 at Deptford in England, the ship was intended for use by the British Admiralty on the River Thames. This quickly changed, however. Due to a shortage of vessels in the newly established British colony of New South Wales, the Lady Nelson was dispatched there to assist with transport and survey work.

When the Lady Nelson reached Sydney in December 1800, she was immediately put to use exploring several parts of the east coast of Australia, including King Island.

In 1803, the Lady Nelson (along with another ship called the Albion) was tasked with transporting British Royal Navy officer John Bowen and a group of convicts and free settlers to Risdon Cove, where they established Tasmania’s first European settlement. (Bowen had been appointed as the person in charge of this endeavour by the third Governor of New South Wales, Philip Gidley King.) The Lady Nelson later assisted in the evacuation of the first (and unsuccessful) settlement at Port Phillip in modern-day Victoria. British Royal Navy officer David Collins, who had served as lieutenant-governor of this settlement, was appointed by Philip Gidley King as the new Lieutenant-Governor of Van Diemen’s Land. King also tasked him with resettling his original Port Phillip party at Risdon Cove. Upon arrival, Collins was disappointed: the site was not suitable for a town, and the progress of Bowen’s settlement had therefore been slow and arduous. Collins immediately decided to relocate to a more adequate spot, and soon chose Sullivans Cove, where Hobart is now situated. He utilised the Lady Nelson throughout the relocation process.

Afterwards, the ship went on several voyages between Van Diemen’s Land and Norfolk Island, and made a few other sailings as well.

In 1825, the Lady Nelson set sail from Koepand in Timor and was not seen or heard from for some time. She was eventually spotted on an island 120 miles from Timor, having been plundered and burnt by pirates from Malay (her name was still legible on the stern).

The replica of the Lady Nelson that’s moored in Hobart’s waterfront area was built in 1986 and is crewed by volunteers. It goes on regular sailings, and takes part in events, including the Wooden Boat Festival.

A Short Voyage on the Lady Nelson (Vlog)

A Short Voyage on the Lady Nelson (Vlog) (Extended Edition)

Tas That Was is a column that includes:

• anecdotes of life in Tasmania in the past;
• historical photographs of locations in Tasmania; and/or
• documentaries about locations in Tasmania.

If you have an anecdote or photograph you’d like to share with us, please send it to submit@tasmaniantimes.com.

Callum J. Jones is passionate about telling stories. He studied English, History, and Journalism at the University of Tasmania and lived in Western Sydney from 2022 to 2024 while working as a journalist for Professional Planner, a leading online publication for financial planners. Callum has written for Tasmanian Times since 2018 and has also been published in a range of other outlets, including Quadrant and the BAD Western Sydney anthologies.