The SUCCESS an odd name for a vessel that was one day destined to become a penal ship. A 135 foot vessel built in 1840 in Burma. The Success carried trade from Southeast Asia to England. Later she carried settlers to new horizons, Australia, She had sailed originally as a cargo/passenger ship for a little more than a decade when 1852, the Success found herself on the shores of Hobson’s bay crewless. The crew abandoned her as news of Gold had struck their hearts.

 

The vessels lay idle and crewless in Hobson’s bay until the Victorian government  decided upon  purchasing the abandoned vessels and put them to good use as floating prison Hulks. The overcrowding at the Old Melbourne Gaol, Collingwood and Pentridge stockade gave the Government a quick fix solution to the overcrowding issue.

 

The newly acquired  vessels were fitted out with cells and sleeping quarters. The Hulks were soon filled to capacity with all class of criminals including  that of Bushranger Harry Power. However the Hulks were soon deemed inhumane  and ordered to be broken up. The Success escaped this fate  and was purchased by a group of entrepreneurs  and was turned into a floating Museum.  The Success toured the world as far as Europe and Australia for over 50 years .The Success finally met her doom as vandals set fire to her as she lay moored in Port Clinton in1946.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Google earth image of the Success wreck site

 

Apart from the horrors as a penal ship, the Success made head lines for other reasons other than the harsh and cruel treatment of its prisoners. The assault of  inspector General John Price in March 1857, disgruntled prisoners gathered around to listen to Price as he had paid them a long awaited visit, however he was  brutally attacked and fell unconscious. The men responsible for the attack were quickly rounded up and soon faced trial for his murder. Price passed away from his injuries the following day. The men responsible for the murder were found guilty and faced the gallows.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The attack on Price. Note the artist impression of the Hulk top right hand corner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Punishment

 

Various forms of punishment were inflicted on those who dared to the break rules anything from the use of ring-bolts. The warders would lay a prisoner down and fasten him on the broad of his back with four ring-bolts one for each leg and one for each arm. Another form of punishment, especially on the Success and Sacramento was the shower bath. A room 6 foot  by 4 inches high and just large enough for a man to stand in. An unlimited supply of water could be released on him, and the records claim the sudden shock of treatment cured a man of lockjaw.

 

The treatment  was tough and so too were the convicts. Nevertheless, the brutality and squalor of the treatment meted out must inevitably shock the observer looking back through history.

 

Occasionally the hulks sprang a leak, or shipped water, and then conditions aboard became the last word in unpleasantness. Little attempt was made, particularly in the early days, to improve the prisoners mind or relieve the terrible monotony of solitary confinement, other than by visits from ministers of religion from which few reforms were ever claimed.

 

Communication between prisoners on the hulks and civilians was rigidly prohibited, but the authorities found this impossible to police effectively with the men working ashore. The “point” was clear at night, and on Saturday afternoon and Sunday, and relatives and friends were able to leave messages under stones and in others places for prisoners to pick up by the day.

 

Above sourced from private memoirs  A.C.COOK.

 

 

What a wonderful insight into the life on board the hulks and some of the punishments used. This is a part of daily life Ned and Harry Power without doubt would have witnessed. How about the sneaky operations of the visitors leaving messages for their loved ones. Makes me wonder if Ned received visitors by members of his family whilst serving  his remaining time on the battery or on board the Sacramento.

 

 

HMS Success was built in Moulmein, Burma, in 1840. By 1849 she was working in the Australian emigrant trade, where she was abandoned at the time of the Victorian gold rush. She was for a period a receiving prison ship in Hobson’s Bay, Victoria, and almost ended her days scuttled in Port Jackson in 1885, but was later raised, rerigged and exhibited -- fraudulently -- as a convict transport claimed to be 100 years old when in fact she was only 50. In this capacity Success visited Australian, British and US ports, her owners capitalising on public interest in the convict era and her authentic, East Indiaman style of construction. The durable Burmese teak hull survived into this century until vandals set her alight on the Fourth of July 1946 at Port Clinton, Ohio. The photographer, Lee Brandon, recently donated the print to the Museum.

 

 

Tools of torture on display on board the Success. Legs irons and a sweet box, rumour has it once a prisoner entered  he never came out alive. Cruel and unjust form of punishment.  

Pictures from kellyhaunts  private collection

Ned Kelly Unearthed panel discussion 24/November/2009

 

The discussion in my opinion was successful. My highlight for the evening would have to have been when Elizabeth Marsden spoke and displayed a slide show of the newly discovered letters and one of which was McIntyre’s Sketch of the Stringybark Creek Murders, which has only appeared once at the Kelly weekend at Beechworth 2009.   

 

The panel was chaired by Dr. Claire Wright and joined by a panel of experts from renowned Author and Historian Ian Jones, Adam Ford archaeologist, Alex McDermott, Historian and Elizabeth Marsden, collections manager from the Police Museum, various issues were discussed from the E.K skull to the Jones Inn archaeological dig.

 

 

 

 

 

The panel in discussion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Following the discussion, we were invited to view the artefacts as part of the Library's permanent exhibition. The changing face of Victoria. The exhibition also included Ned's armour, a copy of the Jerilderie Letter and a small show case of artefacts collected from the 2008 archaeological dig of the Jones Inn siege site. Alex McDermott and Adam Ford also joined us and were more than happy to answer questions. Claire Wright also mingled amongst the crowd Whilst Ian Jones was kept busy signing books and answering questions in the venue room

The day kicked off with a big bang. The unpredictable Melbourne weather stayed in check for what was a success for its stall holders and its organizers. The whole event was well planned and the proof was in the pudding. Live music, storytelling, farm animals and exhibitions were just a few of the many attractions that kept smiles for the young and old.

 

Amongst the event and the sole reason of me being at the Festival was due to Joe’s Armour making a special appearance at the Mooroolbark community centre. Joe’s Armour stood high and proud on centre stage as the old gentleman (as Mr. Hammond refers to the armour) quietly looked on. I was somewhat shocked to see that the armour was not secured behind a glass case whilst Mr. Hammond freely mingled with stall holders. However I sensed that Mr. Hammond the custodian of the infamous suit kept a weary eye, even from a distance.

 

I spent some 3.5 hours freely discussing the suit of Armour with the delightful Mr. Hammond. He shared some amazing stories surrounding the history of the suit of Armour and its early connections with the Clark family. Some interesting points were made and one of which was that Mr. Hammond as I’m sure we all would agree, would like to see all 4 suits of Armour being tested to confirm or dismiss myths and/or facts. 

 

Check my Gallery page for the latest armour pic’s.