Gaillardon (1833 ship)

Under the command of James Rapson, she left Calcutta 20 December 1837 for Australia. She was the first ship to sail under the auspices of the Australian Association of Bengal (aka Bengal-Australia Association[2]). She arrived at the Swan River Colony on 13 February 1838, bringing the first Indian hill coolies to arrive at the colony.[2] A more detailed reckoning states that she landed 13 British men, one Chinese, and 37 lascars. She also landed Indian buffaloes, building supplies, 20 bags of rice, and barrels of ghee.[3] She then sailed via King Georges's Sound and Adelaide, and reached Hobart Town on 22 March; she arrived at Sydney on 30 March 1838 with passengers, eighteen convicts, and sundry items.

On her second convict voyage under the command of James Rapson, she left Calcutta and sailed via Madras and Hobart Town. She arrived at Sydney on 27 December 1838 with passengers, one convict, and cargo.[4]

For her third convict voyage again under the command of James Rapson, she left Calcutta on 16 June 1839. She reached Hobart Town on 11 October and arrived at Sydney on 22 October 1839, with passengers, sixteen convicts, and cargo.[5]

On her return voyage to India, Gaillardon was wrecked on 17 February 1840 on the northern of False Point at the mouth of the Hooghly River.[6] Her crew was saved, however the mate pilot was lost. Another report puts the date of wrecking as 25 February. It further states that the hull was later sold for 13,000 rupees.[7]

• Allbrook, Malcolm (2014). Henry Prinsep's Empire: Framing a distant colony. ANU Press. ISBN 9781925021615.
• History of West Australia: A Narrative of Her Past. Together with Biographies of Her Leading Men. F.W. Niven & Company. 1897.
• Phipps, John, (of the Master Attendant's Office, Calcutta) (1840). A Collection of Papers Relative to Ship Building in India ...: Also a Register Comprehending All the Ships ... Built in India to the Present Time ... Scott.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)