The Scottish Lassie

SKETCH ARTIST: Annemarie Hahn (working from a poor copy of a photograph of the "Scottish Lassie" taken in Bristol c. 1880).

The story of the Bruers in Australia begins with the Scottish Lassie, the vessel on which Jeffrey and Ada Kate arrived in 1878 and on which their first son, Vernon, was born.

Built in 1877 in Aberdeen by Hall & Co. An iron-hulled barque of 752 tons, she was one of the last of a long line of sailing ships built in Scotland in the 19th century. The transition to steam power was just around the corner.

Her 1877 run to Adelaide with Captain Le Courtier in command, was probably her maiden voyage and would have been considered successful, given the harsh conditions of long sea travel at the time. Three babies were born on the voyage -- including Vernon -- and two passengers died (both of chronic diarrhoea).

She continued carrying emigrants until 1880, when steam rapidly replaced sail in passenger vessels. After 1880 she carried wool and primary produce between Australia and New Zealand and European ports. In 1895 she was sold to French interests and renamed the "Alexander".

She changed hands at least once again, becoming the "Galion" and was broken up in 1925.