The John Pirie was a small but significant vessel in the early history of South Australia. As the third ship to sail settlers to the new colony, this modest schooner played a crucial role in the establishment of the Colony of South Australia in 1836.
Origins of the John Pirie
Built by Alexander Hall & Company in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1827, the John Pirie was a 19-metre-long schooner—by comparison, slightly longer than a modern articulated bus. Named after John Pirie, a London merchant and alderman, the ship initially traded between Britain and various locations, including Italy, Spain, Nova Scotia, and the Canary Islands.
John Pirie, a founding member of the South Australian Company, eventually became the sole owner of the ship. In 1835, he sold the John Pirie to the South Australian Company, which prepared it for the long voyage to the new colony.
The Journey to South Australia
The John Pirie was the first of the ships bound for South Australia to set sail, departing from London on 22 February 1836, just three days after the Letters Patent officially established the new colony. Under the command of Captain George Martin, the ship carried 21 passengers, supplies, and farm animals. The voyage was not without difficulties—four of the crew deserted at Dartmouth, requiring replacements before the journey continued.
Life on Board
Described as “only a washing tub with a tiller”, the John Pirie was not known for comfort. One passenger noted that it was built “for stowing rather than sailing,” a reference to its blunt bows that made it more buoyant in rough seas. Despite the discomforts, Captain Martin praised the vessel as a “better sea-boat” than many had expected.
Among the notable passengers was Henry Alford, who would later become South Australia’s first mounted police constable and a well-known publican. The Powell family was also on board, and an important event occurred during the voyage—the wedding of William Staple, a replacement crew member, and Mary Ann Powell, one of the passengers. This was one of the first two weddings in the new colony, performed by Captain Martin at Kingscote, Kangaroo Island.
Tragically, Elizabeth Chandler, one of the passengers, died at sea on 1 July 1836. Her husband, Charles Chandler, was left to care for their four children alone. After arriving in South Australia, he became a farmer in the area now known as Chandlers Hill.
Arrival and Further Voyages
After nearly six months at sea, the John Pirie arrived at Nepean Bay, Kangaroo Island, on 16 August 1836. The ship then continued its service, transporting supplies and settlers between settlements in South Australia and across to Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania), Launceston, Hobart, and Sydney.
In 1837, while anchored at Rosetta Harbour, Encounter Bay, the John Pirie was blown ashore in a storm but was later refloated. In 1841, another storm pushed the ship aground at Aldinga Bay, breaking both anchor lines. Again, it was salvaged and returned to service.
In 1844, Captain Henry Simpson, one of the ship’s former passengers, briefly became its owner before selling it. The John Pirie continued its work, carrying goods and passengers across Australian waters. In August 1848, it set sail from Hobart Town to Port Albert, Victoria, to collect cattle. However, by the end of 1848, the vessel was declared overdue. In October 1850, wreckage believed to be from the John Pirie was found on the southwestern side of Prime Seal Island in Bass Strait, marking the end of its storied career.
The Legacy of the John Pirie
The John Pirie was the smallest of the nine ships that brought settlers to South Australia in 1836, but its role in the colony’s foundation was significant. It was the only ship owned outright by the South Australian Company and played a key role in the company’s sealing and whaling enterprises.
The ship’s legacy lives on in the stories of the passengers who journeyed aboard her, including early police officers, settlers, and business figures who helped shape the new colony. While the John Pirie met an uncertain fate in the Bass Strait, its contribution to the history of South Australia remains an important part of the state’s maritime heritage.
Passenger List
James Cantillion (deserted at Dartmouth 10 April and replaced)
George Baker Clarke
John Gransmore (deserted at Dartmouth 10 April and replaced)
Robert Terence Martin
William Sinkson
William C. Staple (replacement)
Frederick Thompson
William Wood (deserted at Dartmouth 3 April and replaced)
Emigrants:
Henry Alford
John Brown
Charles Chandler
Elizabeth Chandler (died at sea 1 July) & 4 children
James Jones
Joseph Jones
George Martin Jr
John Nash
Samuel Neville
Mrs Neville
Charles Powell
Mrs Powell & child
James Powell
Mary Ann Powell
Stephen Sessions (deserted at Dartmouth on 3 April, and not replaced)
Thomas Tindall
Thomas Waldron
