Envelope used to contain the Bill of Sale for MATILDA

Date1894

Object number00046232

NameEnvelope

MediumInk on paper

DimensionsOverall: 383 x 495 mm

ClassificationsEphemera

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from the Estate of the late Keith Murray

Terms

HistoryWooden screw steamer MATILDA was built in 1874 by William Dunn at Lavender Bay on Sydney's North Shore. The registration certificate describes it as of 10.57 gross tonnage, and 7.19 registered tons (after a compulsory allowance of 3.38 tons under the tonnage deck to accommodate crew). It was 45.2 feet (13.78 m) long, 8.6 feet (2.61 m) in breadth, with tonnage depth of 4 feet (1.22 m). It had a single deck, no mast or rigging and a single link motion engine built in 1874 by Vale and Lacey of Druitt Street, Sydney. The engine was of 8 inch cylinder, and 8 inch stroke, producing 8 horse power. It was unenclosed, in open space. The Registration Certificate describes the ship as carvel built, with billet head and wooden framework. The MATILDA's first owner was the Australasian Steam Navigation Company, who sold it in 1875. It had many subsequent owners until it was bought by the North Coast Steam Navigation Company in 1891, and sold in 1894 to John Barrie and William Reynolds Cowdery.SignificanceN L McKellar, From Derby round to Capetown, the A.U.S.N. Story 1977, p 650