On This Day
1770-1849 > First Fleet and RN
On This Day - 1770-1849
- August 22, 1848
An historic tug-of-war between HMS BASILISK, (paddlewheel sloop), and HMS NIGER, (screw sloop), was conducted to prove the relevant efficiency of the two systems of propulsion. NIGER won the contest. Both vessels later served on the Australia Station.
- May 17, 1843
The first war vessel built in Australia, the schooner ELIZA, (119 tons schooner), patrolled the estuary of the Derwent River, TAS, to put down smuggling, and prevent the escape of convicts from the colony. ELIZA was built at Port Arthur, TAS.
- January 11, 1843
LEUT Charles B. Yule, RN, of HMS BRAMBLE, discovered and named Heron Island.
- October 12, 1836
The schooner HMCS ISABELLA, (LEUT Charles Morgan Lewis, RN), arrived in Port Jackson, NSW, with one survivor and 45 skulls from the barque SIR CHARLES EATON, wrecked on Aureed Island, Torres Strait, in 1834. The crew and passengers of the barque had been massacred by natives.
- September 11, 1836
CAPT Thomas Lipson, RN, was appointed Naval Officer, Port Adelaide, SA.
- August 1, 1831
The NSW Government Gazette announced that officers of the Royal Navy and Marines, retiring from the service or going on half-pay, (in Australia), would be entitled to the following remissions when purchasing Crown land:- Those who had served 20 years and upwards; £300; 15 years and upwards; £250; 10 years and upwards; £200; 7 years and upwards; £150.
- June 30, 1831
HMS COMET, (sloop, 18 guns), was stationed at Port Jackson, Sydney. The vessel was used for punitive expeditions in the Pacific Islands.
- March 6, 1827
CAPT James Stirling, RN, in HMS SUCCESS, named Garden Island, at the mouth of the Swan River, WA, where Fremantle now stands. Garden Island became HMAS STIRLING, (Fleet Base West), and forms part of Cockburn Sound, named by Stirling after RADM Sir George Cockburn, RN.
- December 4, 1824
HMC Ship AMITY, (brig), returned to Sydney after conveying the Governor of NSW, Sir Thomas Brisbane and his staff, to the Brisbane River, for the founding of the settlement which was named in his honour.
- January 11, 1824
The following monthly rates of pay for naval officers were fixed by the Admiralty:- £61 7s 4d (1st rate ship); £23 0s 4d (sloop); First Lieutenant £11 10s 0d (1st rate ship); £9 4s 0d (sloop); Lieutenant £9 4s 0d (1st rate ship); £7 13s 4d (sloop); Master £ 13 0s 8d (1st rate ship); £7 13s 4d (sloop); Midshipman £2 8s 0d (all ships); Chaplain £12 5s 4d (all ships); Surgeon £12 5s 4d (all ships); Assistant Surgeon £9 4s 0d (all ships); Purser £7 0s 0d (all ships); Second Master £5 9s 4d (1st rate ship); £4 14s 0d (6th rate ship).