Voyage to Australia

Elizabeth Macquarie's account of the voyage to New South Wales from St. Helens, England is a lively account of life on board the naval storeship Dromedary. It includes her descriptions of the people she met, the ports of call along the route (in Madeira, Rio de Janeiro and Cape Town), and the personal challenges that she faced. For it must be noted at the outset, that this was a voyage undertaken by a woman who had never travelled overseas before. Prior to undertaking this journey, Elizabeth's only experiences of sea travel would have been the short day trips that she made across the Firth of Lorn, the Sound of Mull, and Loch Linnhe while crossing from her home at Airds, north of Oban, to visit her elder sister, Jane, (wife of Murdoch Maclaine, 19th of Lochbuy), on the Isle of Mull. Nevetheless, although these are the impressions of an 'untravelled eye', there is a vibrancy and immediacy to the writing that makes her descriptions a valuable and important document of the time.

Also travelling on the Dromedary with the Macquaries were their servants: George Jarvis (Indian-born manservant), Robert Fopp (butler), Joseph Bigg (coachman), Mrs. Ovens (cook), Mrs. Jones (waiting-woman for Elizabeth Macquarie)) Deputy Judge-Advocate Ellis Bent (and his wife and son), Captain Henry Colden Antill (aide-de-camp to Macquarie), Ensign Alexander Huey, Ensign John Maclaine (Elizabeth Macquarie's nephew), as well as over 350 officers and soldiers of the 73rd. Regiment of Foot, and approximately 100 women and children. The Dromedary was commanded by Samuel Pritchard (Master), with a crew of 102 sailors.

The Dromedary was accompanied on her voyage by the man-of-war H.M.S. Hindostan, commanded by Captain John Pasco R. N. The remainder of the 73rd. Regiment, under the command of Lt. Col. Maurice O'Connell, totalling over 400 officers and soldiers and at least 100 women and children, completed the contingent sent to replace the NSW Corps and to install Lachlan Macquarie as the new Governor.

For additional details and background information see the relevant sections for the year 1809 in the related LEMA website:
Journeys in Time: 1809-1822