The first ship to be built in Dundee specifically for the Australia trade, the 584 ton barque Ann Miln was launched from Thomas Adamson’s Seagate shipyard on Wednesday 23 June 1841. She was named after the wife of banker David Miln, one of the co-owners. Commanded by George Thoms, Ann Miln left the Tay on 17 September 1841 bound for Australia with a crew of 21, a surgeon, fourteen cabin passengers and 253 emigrants, the latter packed into tiny temporary cabins in her cargo holds. Emigrant passages to Australia were gruelling affairs dogged by considerable discomfort and violent storms. Disease spread rapidly through densely packed passenger accommodation and despite the presence of a surgeon, by the time Ann Miln reached Sydney on 17 January 1842, 19 of her passengers had died. Ann Miln traded between the UK, Australia and India.
This model was brought to you with help from Museums Galleries Scotland as part of the ‘Exploring the Ship Model Collection at the McManus’ project.
Comments