Construction

The Lucinda, named for Lady Jeanie Lucinda Musgrave, second wife of then Governor of Queensland, Sir Anthony Musgrave1,was a steam ship constructed for the Queensland Government by William Denny & Brothers, Dumbarton, Scotland2.

 

 

Vital Statistics

Length

165 feet (from Bow to Sternpost)3,4,5

Breadth

25 feet3,4

Depth

9 feet3,4

Gross Tonnage

301 tons

 

Purpose

The original plan was for a boat to replace the existing government vessel "Kate" which carried stores and passengers throughout the colony1, however, alterations to the design rendered the Lucinda unfit for cargo carrying purposes2. This resulted in criticism when the ship arrived in Brisbane, with comment about the extravagance involved for a "show pony" destined only for the enjoyment of highly placed officials.

 

Launch

She was launched on 7th October 1884 and sailed for Queensland on 17th January 1885, arriving there on May 7th 1885 by way of Gibraltar, the Suez Canal, Aden, Point de Galle, Batavia and Thursday Island8. On this voyage, the Lucinda was manned by a crew of 31: Captain Charles Hudson, two officers, three engineers and 25 seamen and firemen. On reaching Brisbane it was observed that the vessel was "strikingly handsome, schooner rigged, and presenting the appearance of a yacht. She can steam at 12 knots and her bunkers carry sufficient coal to maintain this speed for 12 days.”9

 

The Musgrave

The Lucinda was commissioned alongside a second steam ship, named for Sir Anthony Musgrave himself, which was intended to serve as a marine pilot boat in Moreton Bay10. The Musgrave was constructed in England, and launched from Seacombe, Wallasey, on 4th October 188411. Unlike the Lucinda, the Musgrave did not survive the voyage to Brisbane, and on 8th January 1885 was wrecked and sunk off the coast of Colombo, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka)10.

 

Performance

In keeping with state-of-the-art technology, the ship's cabins were fitted with assisted ventilation, and she was lighted throughout electrically. The 12-foot diameter twin paddle wheels mounted midship were powered by diagonal compound oscillating engines, the cylinders 25 and 44 inches respectively, with a 4-foot stroke, and developing 500 horsepower.

 

The Captain spoke glowingly of the sea-worthiness of his new craft describing her performance in heavy gales in the Bay of Biscay as "simply perfect!".8

 

Appearance

The Lucinda was considered to be a fine example of marine architecture, boasting rich teak and ornate furniture, and soon became the pride of the State.

 

On the arrival of the Lucinda, The Brisbane Courier of 8th May reported:

 

“From an external view of the steamer, no idea can be formed of the beauty and comfort of her internal fittings, which have been carried out on a scale quite new to Brisbane. There are in all four cabins, two on the main, covered by what might be termed the hurricane deck, and two under the main deck. The lower saloons are entered by two commodious companion ways from either side of the ship. The whole of the cabins are either panelled with polished teak and rosewood, which is a very pretty contrast, or hand-painted designs on wood, and the ceilings throughout are of a light colour and prettily embellished. The after and upper saloon, which may be termed a social hall, is a fine roomy apartment, richly upholstered with a brown material, which forms a pretty contrast with the dark-coloured panelling and hand-painted portions of the saloon. There is ample space here, and the ventilation is exceedingly good, the whole apartment being surrounded by small windows. Further aft on the same level is a ladies' cabin, gorgeously fitted and elaborately furnished. There is also a large and airy bathroom attached to this cabin. The upper fore-cabin is fitted up in much the same style as the after one. Forward of this apartment, also on the main deck, is a commodious smoking-room, fitted with settees, circular occasional tables, bottle racks, and every other convenience. The embellishments here are profuse and pretty, and the room is thoroughly well ventilated. The lower saloons are fitted out in the same elaborate manner as the upper ones, having couches or settees all round, and revolving chairs at the dining tables. The settees are arranged in such a manner that each can without the slightest trouble be converted into two sleeping berths, thus affording sleeping accommodation for forty people in each cabin.”

 

Government Service

The Lucinda performed a range of duties during her 36-year Government service, including providing a venue for Cabinet Meetings, and carried ministers to such far flung outposts as Burketown12,13 and New Guinea14.

 

Official Duties

The vessel also performed official duties involving distinguished visitors. On the 27 May 1901, the Duke and Duchess of York (later King George V and Queen Mary) disembarked from the Lucinda at Petrie Bight14.

 

Australian Constitutional Convention

On 2 March 1891, the first Australian Constitutional Convention was held in Sydney and at that time a number of committees were appointed. Queensland Premier Sir Samuel Griffith was appointed to the Constitutional Committee and elected as its Chair15. Griffith had travelled to the Convention in Sydney on the Lucinda and he suggested that his committee should meet on board, over the Easter weekend, 27 - 28 March 1891 to draft their report for the Convention. Griffith and fellow Committee members – South Australian premier Charles Kingston, New South Wales delegate Edmund Barton and Andrew Inglis-Clark, Tasmanian delegate – gathered on the Lucinda and sailed to calm waters, dropping anchor at Refuge Bay16. The sub-committee of colonial leaders which met on the Lucinda over Easter 1891 led to breaking the deadlock over contentious issues and to the success of the convention of 1891, and the subsequent conventions which led to the adoption of the Australian Constitution and the establishment of the Australian Nation17.

 

School Excursions

Lucinda was also employed as a venue for annual picnics on Moreton Bay attended by Brisbane school children. In 1903 alone, over 10,000 children enjoyed this outing18.

Later Career

The Queensland Government decommissioned the Lucinda in 1921 due to the ongoing expense of maintaining the vessel in seaworthy condition and costs of salaries, coal and stores19. She was sold in 1923 to Evans, Anderson, Phelan and Co, a Brisbane engineering firm. For next 15 years the Lucinda was used as a coal barge until 1937 when she was beached and left on Bishop Island, at the mouth of the Brisbane River17 - a somewhat inglorious end for a proud and historic craft.

 

Legacy

The Lucinda’s name lives on as small town near Innisfail - better known today from the nearby sugar loading facility at Lucinda Point, and within Parliament House as the namesake for the Lucinda Bar.

 

Lucinda Silverware

During a meeting of the Parliamentary Refreshment Rooms Committee on 8th June 1921, it was suggested to acquire a stock of plates, crockery, and napery from the ‘Lucinda’20. This proposal aimed to avoid the need for funds to replenish their dwindling supplies20.

Following receipt of agreement from the Premier, a range of silverware and other articles were selected and placed at the service of the Committee21 – a sample of which remains on display at Parliament House.

 

You can view a model of the Lucinda along with silverware from the paddle steamer when dining at Strangers’ Restaurant.

 

 

References:

1 J Davis and M White, ‘The QGSY Lucinda’, Journal of the Royal Historical Society of Queensland’, vol 15, no 4, September 1993, p 184.

2 J Davis and M White, ‘The QGSY Lucinda’, Journal of the Royal Historical Society of Queensland’, vol 15, no 4, September 1993, pp 195-6. 

3 J Davis and M White, ‘The QGSY Lucinda’, Journal of the Royal Historical Society of Queensland, vol 15, no 4, September 1993, p 183. 

4 G McLeod, ‘The abandoned hulks of the Brisbane River and Moreton Bay’, Journal of the Royal Historical Society of Queensland, vol 9(5), 1974, p 24. 

5 J Davis and M White, ‘The QGSY Lucinda’, Journal of the Royal Historical Society of Queensland, vol 15(4), September 1993, p 198. 

6G McLeod, ‘The abandoned hulks of the Brisbane River and Moreton Bay’, Journal of the Royal Historical Society of Queensland, vol 9(5), 1974, p 24. 

7 Caledonian Maritime Research Trust, ‘Lucinda’, Scottish build ships, n.d., accessed 19 February 2024. 

8 J Davis and M White, ‘The QGSY Lucinda’, Journal of the Royal Historical Society of Queensland, vol 15(4), September 1993, p 185.

9 ‘The Lucinda’, Brisbane Courier, 8 May 1885, p 5.

10 “Wreck of the Steamer Musgrave”, Brisbane Courier, 29 Apr 1885, p 6.

11 Brisbane Courier, 12 Jan 1885, p 4.

12 'The Governor's northern tour', The Brisbane Courier, 27 April 1892, p 5. 

13 ‘Brisbane’, Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser, 15 June 1908, p 2. 

14 Davis and M White, ‘The QGSY Lucinda’, Journal of the Royal Historical Society of Queensland’, vol 15, no 4, September 1993, p 190. 

15 J Davis and M White, ‘The QGSY Lucinda’, Journal of the Royal Historical Society of Queensland’, vol 15, no 4, September 1993, p 195. 

16 J Macken, ‘The Lucinda weekend’, Magazine of the Royal Australian Historical Society, June 1992, p 14. 

17 J Macken, ‘The Lucinda weekend’, Magazine of the Royal Australian Historical Society, June 1992, p 15. 

18 Supreme Court Library, QGSY Lucinda: Smoking room replica, 2001, p 30. 

19 J Davis and M White, ‘The QGSY Lucinda’, Journal of the Royal Historical Society of Queensland’, vol 15, no 4, September 1993, p 193. 

20 Meeting Minutes, Parliamentary Refreshment Rooms Committee, June 8th, 1921

21 Meeting Minutes, Parliamentary Refreshment Rooms Committee, July 26th, 1921