ANNUAL ADDRESS. XLI. 



Hobart Town. At the same time as she was in hand, the build- 

 ing of the old "William the Fourth" was commenced on the 

 Williams River, for Mr. Grose of Parramatta. She was launched 

 in October 1831, and was about 80 ft. long by 20 ft. The engines 

 were from the old firm of Fawcett and Preston of Liverpool, and 

 were put in by Mr. Patterson the engineer of George-street. This 

 vessel ran from the Phoenix Wharf up to well within my memory 

 and until Mr. John E. Manning took her to China. It was on 

 the 15th February, 1832 that this vessel (colloquially known as the 

 u Billy the Fourth," or the "Old Billy "), started on her first journey 

 to Newcastle and Morpeth. 



During the time these two first steamers were being got ready, 

 and on the 16th May, 1831, the first steamer from England arrived 

 in Australia. This was the "Sophia Jane" of 153 tons register, 

 which was brought out by Lieutenant Biddulph, R.N., with Mr. 

 Bourne as engineer. This vessel was 126 ft. by 20 ft., and 50 

 Jiorse power, and was for a long time in the Newcastle trade. 



Skipping twenty years we come to the discovery of gold in 

 Australia in 1851, which led to the establishment of the first 

 steam line from England already referred to. The pioneer mail 

 boat was the P. and O. Company's steamer " Chusan." This line 

 included also the "Argo" and the "Croesus," besides these the 

 " Lady Jocelyn " and other prominent vessels came from over the 

 sea. Locally built vessels had been improving all this time, and 

 ferry services with steamers built and engined in Sydney, had 

 been established, both to Balmain and the North Shore. The 

 late Mr. Henry Perdriau pioneering at Balmain with the "Water- 

 man," and the Gerards and Waterhouse Brothers with the 

 "Agenoria n and the horse ferry from Pottinger-street to Blue's 

 Point with "The Brothers." 



With the advance of constructive ability in the colony steam 

 boat building got the benefit of it, and in later days iron instead 

 of wooden vessels were turned out. Of these the most notable per- 

 haps were the "Leichhardt," built at the old A.S.N. Co's. works, 

 and engined on Rowan's system; and the "Thetis" and "Governor 



