Edwin Fox facts for kids
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|} The Edwin Fox is one of the oldest merchant sailing ships still existing today. It is also the only ship left that carried people who had broken laws to Australia. This ship is special because it is the "only complete wooden deep-water sailing ship built to British plans still around, outside the Falkland Islands." The Edwin Fox carried new settlers to both Australia and New Zealand. It also moved soldiers during the Crimean War. Today, you can see the ship in a dry dock at The Edwin Fox Maritime Centre in Picton, New Zealand.
Contents
- The Ship's Early Life
- Carrying New Settlers
- From Freezer to Coal Store
- Saving the Ship
- Modern Recognition
- See also
The Ship's Early Life
Stern of Edwin Fox, showing existing copper plating.
The Edwin Fox was built in Calcutta in 1853. It was made from strong teak wood. Its first long trip was to London, sailing around the Cape of Good Hope. After this, it served as a ship for soldiers during the Crimean War. Later, it began carrying passengers and goods.
On February 14, 1856, the ship made its first journey to Melbourne, Australia, with passengers. Then, it started trading between ports in China. In 1858, the British Government hired it. The ship then carried people who had committed crimes to Fremantle, Western Australia.
Carrying New Settlers
Detail of bow showing remaining copper plating
In 1867, the Edwin Fox was changed from a full-rigged ship to a barque. This meant it had a different type of sail plan. From 1873, it began sailing to New Zealand, carrying people who wanted to start new lives there. It made four trips, bringing a total of 751 settlers to the new colony.
Life on board during the three-month journey was very tough. Passengers could only bring a small amount of luggage. Sadly, some people did not survive the trip to their new home. When they arrived, conditions were often harder than they expected. They were also far from their families in Europe, sometimes forever.
From Freezer to Coal Store
As steamships became popular, the Edwin Fox became old-fashioned. In the 1880s, it was changed into a floating freezer. This was for New Zealand's growing sheep industry. The ship was towed to Picton in the South Island on January 12, 1897. It continued as a freezer ship there.
Later, in 1905, it was changed again. This time, it became a hulk for storing coal. By then, it had lost its sails and masts. Holes were cut in its sides, and most of its inside parts were removed. The ship was used until 1950. After that, it was left to slowly fall apart at its dock.
Saving the Ship
Lower deck of Edwin Fox.The upper deck no longer exists.
In 1965, the Edwin Fox Society bought the ship for a very small price, just one shilling. In 1967, it was moved to Shakespeare Bay. It stayed there for 20 years. After a lot of fundraising, the ship was floated again. It was then towed to its final home, a dry dock on the Picton waterfront. The ship was floated into the dock, and the water was drained. This allowed preservation work to begin.
In 2013, the Edwin Fox Society's project to save the ship won a World Ship Trust Award. This was the last award of its kind given out by the World Ship Trust.
At first, there were plans to fully restore the ship. This would have meant replacing all the rigging and fixing the inside. However, it was later decided this was not possible. It was too expensive, and the right wood was hard to find. So, the ship is now kept as a hull. There is also a museum next to it with information. Visitors can go inside and explore two of its decks.
In 2015, the Marlborough Heritage Trust took over the ship and museum. This group, supported by the local council, helps protect the ship for future generations.
Modern Recognition
A book about the ship, Teak and Tide, was published in 2014.
In 2015, Neil Oliver and the BBC show Coast filmed a story about the ship. This was for the New Zealand version of the show.
In 2016, the ship was scanned in 3D. This recorded its hull shape and size very accurately. People hope that a virtual version of the ship can be created one day.
Between 2016 and 2021, the ship was studied as part of a larger project. This project looked at British colonial-built ships from the late 1700s to mid-1800s.
The Edwin Fox has been given a special Category I registration by Heritage New Zealand. This means it is a very important historic place.
See also
- Thomas Bushell, a person transported on Edwin Fox
- Convict era of Western Australia
- List of convict ship voyages to Western Australia
- List of museum ships
| History | |
|---|---|
 Australia |
|
| Name | Edwin Fox |
| Owner |
|
| Port of registry | Southampton |
| Builder | William Henry Foster, Calcutta |
| In service |
|
| Out of service | 1950 |
| Fate | Sold, 1965 |
| Status | Museum ship |
| General characteristics (as built) | |
| Type | East Indiaman |
| Tons burthen | 836 (bm) |
| Length | 157 ft (47.9 m) o/a |
| Beam | 29 ft 8 in (9.0 m) |
| Draught | 23 ft 6 in (7.2 m) |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
