Herald of the Morning


Herald of the Morning was a three-masted square-rigged sailing ship, built in 1853 or 1854 at Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, expressly for the Australia run. A contemporary Melbourne press article described her as "a fine ship of 1292 tons register.
Wright claims she was built in 1853, but not registered until 1854, but some sources cite 1855 Port number 27, The ship was also owned by George King and John Storm. James Thompson

Voyages

Fire and wreck

In 1859, at the end of her second voyage to Australia, carrying 419 government immigrants, Herald of the Morning was anchored in Hobsons Bay when, at about 12:45 pm on 15 November, the captain awoke to someone yelling "fire!" The fire quickly spread through the entire vessel. Attempts were made to scuttle the ship by cutting holes in her side near the waterline, but she became lighter as she burnt and the scuttling holes rose above the water level. An effort was made to move the ship by slipping the anchor chains, but the heat drove the crew back. Finally, the vessel was cut through from the outside and towed ashore at Sandridge, by two tugs, Lioness and Sophia, where it was left to burn.
The tugs Sophia and Hercules later towed the ship to the beach between Sandridge and Williamstown where she continued to smoulder. In about 1889, the hulk was eventually removed and sunk at the end of Donaldsons jetty.
The wreck was advertised for sale on 28 November 1859. Included in the cargo was iron work intended for the Hawthorn Bridge and, while that was recovered, the fire had damaged it. It was subsequently salvaged and partly sold at auction eventually becoming the trusses for the Mia Mia Bridge at Redesdale.
The hulk appears to have remained sitting on the beach for many years until the Melbourne Harbour Trust Commissioners adopted the following recommendations of its Finance Committee: