S is Schooner #AtoZChallenge2016

My theme for the AtoZChallenge is exploring the Walker family . Thinking about the family I realised that they were around in Mackay, Queensland in the early days of settlement so I have decided to discover some snippets of early Mackay as it relates to this family and others in my family tree. I hope you enjoy the journey.

I was thinking about what I would write for S and the word schooner came to mind.  The type of sailing ship that many of my ancestors would have arrived onboard to Australia.

Dictionary.com defines schooner: noun

1. Nautical, any of various types of sailing vessels having a foremast and main mast, with or without other masts, and having fore-and-aft sails on all lower masts.
2. a very tall glass, as for beer.

While researching on Trove and on the Internet I came across the fascinating story of the "Rosebud" after which the town of Rosebud on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria is named. 

The Argus July 1852, an advertisement for auction the Rosebud and its cargo

In early 1852, Rosebud was caught inshore by a westerly gale and was soon a total loss after running on to a sandbank. All the goods etc were washed up and were eagerly claimed by the locals. You can read more about Rosebud here.