The Logbooks of the Lady Nelson | Page 3

Armed Surveying Vessel Lady
Nelson: Lieutenant James Grant Commander. In June and July 1801,
by Order of Governor King.
High Water Full and Change in the Harbour 9 hours 45 minutes. Rises
6 feet.
Remarks on Hunter's River: The entrance of Hunter's River is in
latitude 32 degrees 57 minutes south, distinguishable by an Island on
the south-east side of its entrance which in coming from the northward
appears like a castle, being perpendicular on the south-east side and
203 feet high: the north side is steep and covered with grass. It is the
northernmost high land from Sydney to the Heads of Port Stephens
from which it lies north-east 6 leagues. The intermediate space being a
sandy beach. The tides both in the harbour and entrance runs very
strong, and in some places not less than four miles an hour and
sometimes from four to five. The ebb in general is much stronger than
the flood: 9 3/4 hours in the harbour makes high water full and change,
and rises six feet perpendicular where the Lady Nelson anchored, and
four feet when she was higher up the river. In the harbour there is good
shelter from all winds and plenty of room for more than 100 sail of
shipping. There is plenty of water to be had on the north shore by
digging a very little way down. There are three wells already dug, and

the water is very good. On the south shore there are plenty of runs of
fresh water.
For further information refer to Colonel Paterson and Lieutenant
Grant's Narrative.
8. ROUTE OF H.M.A.S. VESSEL LADY NELSON ALONG THE
COAST OF NEW SOUTH WALES ON A VOYAGE OF
DISCOVERY IN 1801, undertaken by Command of His Excellency
Governor King. By Jno. Murray Acting Lieutenant and Commander.
Note the Coast is according to Captain Cook. Jarvis Bay was visited by
ye Lady Nelson in March 1801. Twofold Bay is from Bass's track in
the Whale Boat.
9. KENT'S GROUP. By John Murray.
10. KING ISLAND FROM JOHN MURRAY'S CHART.
11. CHART OF PORT PHILLIP SHOWING THE TRACK OF THE
LADY NELSON'S BOAT IN 1802.
In this chart by Murray, sent to the Admiralty from Sydney by
Governor King in 1802, few names appear, although Murray named
Point Palmer, Point Paterson, and Point Nepean, and the fact that it
bears the date January 1802 seems further evidence that it is the first
chart of Port Philip drawn by its discoverer. It is one of those referred
to as "unfortunately missing" in the Historical Records of New South
Wales volume 4 page 764.
12. CHART OF BASS STRAIT, INCLUDING THE DISCOVERIES
OF ACTING-LIEUTENANT JOHN MURRAY IN THE LADY
NELSON, between November 1801 AND march 1802. By command
of His Excellency Governor King. This chart, which bears Murray's
autograph, shows his explorations of Western Port, Port Philip, and
King Island. It should be noted that Flinders' Island is named Grand
Capuchin. This is one of the charts referred to as "unfortunately
missing" in the Historical Records of New South Wales volume 4 page

764.
13. TRACK OF THE LADY NELSON IN COMPANY WITH H.M.S.
INVESTIGATOR ON A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY along the coast
of New South Wales. By John Murray. This chart also bears Murray's
signature, as well as the outward and return track of his ship.
14. CONTINUATION OF THE TRACK OF THE LADY NELSON IN
JULY 1802.
15. SKETCH OF PORT NUMBER 1 (PORT CURTIS), FACEING
ISLAND AND KEPPEL BAY. By John Murray, made on board H.M.
armed surveying vessel Lady Nelson.
16. THE TRACK OF THE LADY NELSON TO PORT NUMBER 2.
(PORT BOWEN). By John Murray.
This chart and the one in Illustration 15 differ in delineation from the
rest of Murray's charts of his voyage northwards, and are beautifully
drawn and coloured. Probably they were the work of Westall, the artist
with Flinders, Murray merely adding to them his homeward track.
[Facsimile signature Jno Murray]
17. THE LADY NELSON'S ANCHORAGE AT HUNTER RIVER.
18. APPENDIX. H.M.S. BUFFALO, SHIP'S MUSTER.

THE LOGBOOKS OF THE LADY NELSON.

CHAPTER 1.
THE FIRST VOYAGE OF THE LADY NELSON.
The logbooks of the Lady Nelson bear witness to the leading part
played by one small British ship in the discovery of a great continent.
They show how closely, from the date of her first coming to Sydney in

1800 until her capture by pirates off the island of Baba in 1825, this
little brig was identified with the colonisation and development of
Australia.
In entering upon her eventful colonial career, "the Lady Nelson did that
which alone ought to immortalize her name--she was the first ship that
ever sailed parallel to the entire southern coast line of Australia."* (*
Early History of Victoria by F.P. Labilliere.) She was also the first