THE OLDEST SHIP

Hokitika Guardian, 22 May 1933, Page 7

THE OLDEST SHIP

EDENA’S 79TH. BIRTHDAY

The Edina, the oldest ship in Australian waters, and one of the oldest in the world, reached her 79th birthday a few days ago. There were, however, no celebrations for her. She observed the day quitely by resting at a Melbourne wharf. She is now on her winter schedule, running only three days a week.

This “Old Lady of the Bay,” or “The Peter Pan of the Sea,” as the Edina has been affectionately termed, has a chequered career. Launched by Barclay, Curie and Company, of Glasgow, in 1854, she was, during the following year, commandeered for duty in connection with the Crimean War, and carried as a passenger Miss Florence Nightingale.

In 1864 the Edina came to Australia and was placed on the Port Fairy trade. Then came the Otago, gold rush in New Zealand. She made several trips across the Tasman, and, before being placed oil the Geelong run in 1880, was engaged in the Queensland trade. On her trips to Geelong, the Edina has been responsible for sinking four vessels. In 1898 she sank the Manawatu off Williamstown, and in 1899 the Excelsior off Point Cook. In 1917 she rammed and sank a Harbour Trust motor-launch, and in 1928 cut the tug Ho veil in half, and it sank in three minutes.

The early popularity of the vessel is shown by a report appearing in a daily newspaper nearly 70 years ago. “The Edina,” it said, “will in all probability be reta'ned in the New Zealand trade, trips of five and a-half to six days recommending her as a very suitable vessel.”