Flinders (schooner) explained

HM Flinders was a sailing ship, built in 1863 at Brisbane Water as Jenny Cox,^[1] purchased in Sydney in 1865 by the South Australian Colonial Government^[2] and assigned to the Harbors Board, and completely refitted^[3] She was used for

• survey work
• taking up heavy moorings such as those at Port MacDonnell and Port Elliot.
• checking and servicing lighthouses etc.
• transporting staff, supplies and horses to and from Port Darwin
• ceremonial duties

She sprang a leak and sank while moored at Port McDonnell on 29 June 1873 and soon broke up. Only the chronometer and the lives of all aboard were saved.^[4]

Commanders

• June 1865 Daniel Murdoch Graham (previously captain of Government tender Blanche)
• December 1865 John Melville (c. 1823 – 14 March 1895) (previously Licensed Pilot, later harbormaster at Port Augusta)
• from early 1867 Colin McLachlan (1843 – 15 February 1920) served as chief officer, appointed commander January 1869

Notes and References

1. News: 1863-11-24 . SHIPS' MAILS. . 2024-04-19 . Sydney Morning Herald.
2. News: 1865-04-21 . MAILS BY THE BOMBAY. . 2024-04-19 . Sydney Morning Herald.
3. News: Shipping Intelligence . . XXIX . 5898 . South Australia . 26 September 1865 . 27 December 2016 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
4. News: Wreck of the Government Schooner Flinders . . XXXVIII . 8309 . South Australia . 4 July 1873 . 27 December 2016 . 5 . National Library of Australia.