PS Clonmel
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Clonmel was a three-masted wooden paddle steamer built in Birkenhead, England, in 1836. Clonmel was one of the first steam-powered vessels on the Australian coast. It ran aground in the early hours of 2 January 1841,[1] or the 3rd.[2] and was wrecked on what is now known as Clonmel Island in Corner Inlet, Victoria.[3] This was only its second voyage from Sydney.[4]
The wreck of the Clonmel, and the subsequent exploration of Corner Inlet, led to establishment of the towns of Port Albert, Tarraville and Alberton.[4]
Clonmel was built in England and launched in 1836, at Birkenhead, near Liverpool. She was 155 feet (47 m) long and about 40 feet (12 m) broad across the paddle boxes. She had two 110 horsepower engines, and was rated at 500 tons burthen, so with 300 tons of cargo she could steam for five days.
She ran around the British Isles for about 15 months before being sold to Sydney owners, was newly copper sheathed and despatched under Captain Tollervey, leaving The Downs on 20 May and arriving in Sydney on 5 October 1840.[5] She had been purchased to run between Sydney, Melbourne and Launceston, with the first trip scheduled for 17 November, but was postponed several times for modifications, notably to allow for the smaller size of coals from Newcastle.
