HMS Buffalo (1813)

The ship "Hindostan", later to become His Majesty's Storeship "Buffalo" was built of teak by "Bonner and Horsburgh" in 1813 at Calcutta. As a merchantman chosen to carry grain rice. She was selected by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, along with the "Servern", a 550 tons ship (renamed to H.M.S. "Camel") to be purchased into the Royal Navy. On the 13 October 1813, after the six month maiden voyage the "Hindostan" arrived in Blackwall, London. Nine days later a £18,000 purchasing deal was brokered with David Webster (representing the builders). The Naval Board renamed the ship to the H.M.S. "Buffalo" and designated as a sixth-rate naval storeship.

With the loss of the British trade monopoly over the East India Company, timber storages and the emergence of steam powered vessels, the "Buffalo" was to become a ship of many uses and refits. These includes timber carrier, quarantine ship, transport and colonisation ship. It was a very significant ship in maritime history for South Australia while aiding the British expansion into New Zealand, New South Wales, Tasmania and Upper Canada. Just as astonishing is that only three deaths were ever recorded on the "Buffalo" considering the medical practices of that period and volumes of passengers it transported.

References

* Sexton, Robert (1984) " H.M.S. Buffalo: An account of His Majesty's Ship Buffalo" Australasian Maritime Historical Society ISBN 0-9591317-0-1