''Francis'' was a 41-ton (bm) colonial
schooner that was partially constructed at the
Deptford Dockyard, England, and sent in frame aboard the
''Pitt'' to Australia to be put together for the purposes of exploration. The vessel had originally been designed for
George Vancouver’s discovery voyage of the west coast of North America.
It is generally regarded as the first ship built in Australia. For some years it was the only
government vessel available to the governor. Although it arrived in frame in February 1792, assembly was not complete until 17 months later.
''Francis'' was launched at
Sydney Cove,
Port Jackson on 24 July 1793.
She left Port Jackson on 8 September, with
''Britannia'' to
Dusky Bay, New Zealand on a survey and sealing expedition. ''Francis'' made a survey of
Port Stephens in February 1795 under the command of deputy surveyor-general
Charles Grimes. The vessel also sailed regularly between Sydney and the settlement on
Norfolk Island from 1794 to 1804. It was the only government vessel available to make the Norfolk Island run unless a
convict transport or supply ship happened to be in Port Jackson.
''Francis'' was sent on three rescue voyages in 1797, to the
''Sydney Cove'' wreck in the
Furneaux Group of islands,
Tasmania
Tasmania (; palawa kani: ''Lutruwita'') is an island States and territories of Australia, state of Australia. It is located to the south of the Mainland Australia, Australian mainland, and is separated from it by the Bass Strait. The sta ...
.
While in the Furneaux Group,
Matthew Flinders undertook a survey of the islands. She accompanied to
Newcastle in 1801 and collected 75 tons of coal.
In June 1801 ''Francis'' sailed to the Coal River (Hunter River). She returned to Sydney with 150 tons of coal from
Newcastle, New South Wales
Newcastle, also commonly referred to as Greater Newcastle ( ; ), is a large Metropolitan area, metropolitan area and the second-most-populous such area of New South Wales, Australia. It includes the cities of City of Newcastle, Newcastle and Ci ...
. This was loaded on the
''Earl Cornwallis, which took the coal to Whampoa. This is believed to have been the first export of coal from Newcastle.
[Free Settler or Felon? - Convict Ship Earl Cornwallis 180]
- accessed 18 November 2014.
In 1803 ''Francis'' picked up survivors and cargo from , which had been wrecked on the
Wreck Reefs. ''Francis'' travelled to the reefs in company with the ''
Rolla'' and ''
Cumberland''. In November 1804 Francis was one of small fleet of ships embarking with a party of 181 persons to form a new Settlement at
Port Dalrymple. She was in the company of , His Majesty's Armed Survey Vessel , and .
Fate
She was wrecked on 21 March 1805, north of the
Hunter River, Newcastle, on the Oyster Bank. Her master at the time was Captain Edwards, and there were no casualties.
[Bateson, Charles (1982), ''Australian shipwrecks, Vol One, 1622-1850'', Sydney, Reed, p.38-9. ]
Citations
{{coord missing, New South Wales
1793 ships
Ships built in New South Wales
Maritime incidents in 1805
1805 in Australia
Shipwrecks of the Hunter Region
Schooners of Australia
1788–1850 ships of Australia