This is a revision and update of material previously published as Australian Shipowners and their Fleets books 5 and 6.
Most of the material in this publication comes from the 'Register of British Ships' maintained in the various ports.
These Registers, (which developed from 'Plantation Registers' that were designed to ensure trade between Britain and the colonies, earlier known as 'the plantations'), were reserved for ships built in England or built and owned in the 'plantations'. Over time the certificate of registration became the instrument for other regulations as enacted by the British Parliament and better known as the 'Navigation Acts'.
In Australia, with the establishment of a Customs department in 1826 that commenced operation with the arrival of senior officials in 1827 there was some attempt made to conduct a 'Plantation Register' but that and earlier records are scarce. The Register of British Ships compiled by the Custom officers in Sydney appears to have commenced in 1832 so most of the material herein before that date comes from other sources, mainly the contemporary press, the 'Sydney Gazette' from 1803 being very important although other Sydney newspapers such as the 'Monitor;, the 'Australian' ad later the 'Herald' which eventually became the 'Sydney Morning Herald'.
Contents:
The Shipowners mostly before 1832
Vessells Enrolled from 1830
Index
