The double-screw steamer John Penn (1867-79) - a watercolour
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| "The Illawarra S.N.Cos. Steamer John Penn" |
Contents
- Introduction
- Attribution
- Davis research
- Chronology
- References
- Acknowledgement
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1. Introduction
On 12 July 2025 Davidson Auctions of Sydney offered for sale an undated and unsigned watercolour on paper of the the Illawarra Steam Navigation Company steamer John Penn. The work was attributed to Frederick Garling (1829-73) and had been passed in when previously offered by Davidson's on 8 December 2024. It was approximately 30.5 x 47.5 cm in size. The painting was also subject to heavy foxing and toning, as can be seen in the above reproduction.
The provenance of the work was attributed to The A.D. Benson Collection, offered for sale as lot 110, Lawsons, Sydney, on 27th July 1981. Additional undated and non-sale specific attributions were given to The Fred and Elinor Wrobel Collection, Sydney, wherein it was sold as 'The John Penn' and the Estate of the Late Elinor Wrobel. It had also been included in the Illawarra & Environs: A Pictorial Survey exhibition held at the Wollongong City Art Gallery during 1988 (France 1988).
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| Front and rear (below) of the framed work. |
The following brief history of the Illawarra Steam Navigation Company comes from the Australian National Maritime Museum website:
The Illawarra Steam Navigation Company (ISN) was formed in 1858 from the amalgamation of three New South Wales coastal shipping companies - the Kiama Steam Navigation Company, the Shoalhaven Steam Navigation Company, and the General Steam Navigation Company. The new company increased its fleet and extended its business, holding a near monopoly of the shipping along the New South Wales south coast. In 1858 its fleet consisted of the paddle steamers HUNTER, MIMOSA, ILLAWARRA, KIAMA and WILLIAM IV. In 1862, the ILLAWARRA was sold, and in the 1870s the ILLALONG and JOHN PENN joined the fleet.
The steamers traded to Wollongong, Kiama, Shoalhaven, the Clyde River, Ulladulla, Merimbula, Twofold Bay and Port Macquarie. In the company’s early days passengers and livestock (mostly poultry, calves and pigs) were close travelling companions - rather than the passenger cabins of the company's later steamships, the early vessels constructed sleeping berths at night in the vessel's saloon with privacy curtains.
In 1904, the company's name was changed to the Illawarra & South Coast Steam Navigation Company, but it was often still referred to as ISN. With the commissioning of the MERIMBULA, ALLOWRIE, BEGA and EDEN into the fleet in the early 20th century, the length of voyages greatly decreased and passenger comforts were enhanced. With the rising competition of passenger road and rail transport, the company focused solely on cargo shipping from the late 1920s. After almost 100 years in operation, the company was placed into voluntary receivership and was delisted from the stock exchange in 1955.
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2. Attribution
The attribution to Frederick Garling was based on research supported by the Maritime Archaeological Association of New South Wales in 1982, an illustration of which was included in the Davidson Auction sale material, as illustrated below.
This research dated back to 1981 and information provided by Michael Richards in connection with his work on a history of the Illawarra Steam Navigation Company. The letter, addressed to Lawsons auction house, Sydney, is reproduced above and read as follows:
Dear Mr Badgery
re the A.D. Benson Collection
I have recently completed the manuscript of a history of the Illawarra Steam Navigation Company, and wish to obtain permission to reproduce some of the paintings from the Benson collection as illustrations. These are the paintings that were sold at auction about July 1981. I would be most grateful if you could place this letter before the purchasers of these paintings, as I wish to invite them to contact me, and hopefully to fill in the attached form, so that I may obtain their permission to reproduce copies of their paintings as illustrations in my book. As no photographs exist of several of the subjects, the paintings are the only means of illustrating some famous vessels. I do not need to actually photograph, or even the original works, as the Mitchell Library holds a copy of each in black and white, which they will permit copying with the owner's permission, but not otherwise. Naturally, a suitable acknowledgement will be made in the book, and any special conditions will be honoured. I would like to offer a copy of the book (it is at present in the hands of the publisher) to the owners of the paintings, if they would like one, and send me an address to send it.
I am, yours faithfully, Michael Richards
Additionally, on 29 September 1982 John Sumner of the Maritime Archaeological Society provided to Mr Badgery the following information on the John Penn watercolour:
Dear sir,
Today I made inquiries at the Mitchell Library regarding any photographs etc. of the Steamship "John Penn" and found that they had a photo (which is fairly faint) of a painting by an A.D. Benson (Oct. 1953) with a note that the original painting had been placed at auction per James R. Lawson P/L., on 27/7/1981, Lot No.110. As the painting was sold I respectfully request to have this letter passed on to the appropriate person so that permission may be granted to use the photo (or if possible arrange for a better reproduction) for the Association's purposes of Reports on the Losses of Ships along the N.S.W. Coast that the M.A.A.N.S.W. members are investigating and publish from time to time. I thank you for any assistance in this matter and await you reply.
Yours sincerely, John Sumner, President, M.A.A.N.S.W.
The third item included in the papers was a summary of research data on the watercolour, including a colour reproduction of the framed work placed on an easel, as follows:
Garling, Frederick b. London 1806 arr. Sydney 1815 d. Sydney 1873.
"The Illawarra S.N.Cos. Steamer John Penn"
Water colour on paper with title inscribed below work.
Size 30.5 x 48 cm. Original frame.
Verso section of original backing cardboard.
"Case 16. Property of A.D. Benson. Permanent Loan Oct. 1953" Dixon Library
1) This work has in recent years been located. Location secreted to prevent pillage. See correspondence.
2) Located at sea, South Coast near Ulladulla Cook's Pigeon House visible in land formation behind bow of steamer. See page 46 Vol.I 'Picturesque Atlas of Australia.'
Exhibited 1988, cat. no. 49, Bicent. 'The Illawarra & Environs: A Pictorial Survey' Wollongong City Art Gallery.
Illustrated & history of wreck 8 Nov. 1879.
'Underwater heritage in NSW' published by Information Branch, Department of Planning NSW, page 8.
See attached.
Request 17 May 1983 to reproduce in book 'History of Illawarra Steam Navigation Co.'
These three items provide only a limited amount of information on the history of the vessel and of the watercolour in question.
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3. The Davis research
At the time of the Davidson Auction sale additional research on the work was carried out by Dr. Joseph Davis of Thirroul. A copy of those findings are included below. That research was undertaken in support of consideration by the Wollongong Art Gallery of purchase of the watercolour. This was subsequently not supported, due, in part, to the condition of the work and the lack of a precise attribution to Garling or any other artist known to have worked in Australia in the area of maritime subjects during the mid to late nineteenth century. The following is the text of an email posted by Dr. Davis on 6 July 2025 to the Wollongong Art Gallery in reference to the Davidson Auction image:
Because Garling died in 1873 this image might possibly show the twin screw steamer John Penn before it was lengthened by some 20 feet during 1878-1879 and then soon wrecked on "Burrawarra (Burrwarra Head" at Broulee Harbour, sometimes called "Brush Island" off Mossy Point, on 7 November 1879. It had run aground at Burrewarra Point, then sank while being towed to Boat Harbour, which is in the lee of Broulee Island). Apparently it is still on the ocean floor between Mossy Point Headland and the Island.
The TSS John Penn was built in 1867 by Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company of Blackwall in London. It would have been great if it had been built at Blackwall on Brisbane Water in New South Wales by Rock Davis, whose Wollongong credentials I detailed back in March 2025 in this article. There is also an article about the Broulee wreck of the John Penn at this site, which includes an interesting comparison image but doesn't reveal the artist's name.
The original version of the TSS John Penn attributed to Garling (if it is indeed by him) would have been painted when the boat was said to be 199 tons, before being extended by 20 feet not long before it was wrecked, when said to be 300 tons. But knowing for sure that it is the un-extended version of the TSS John Penn, however, is hard, as it depends on whether the image (which is unfortunately unsigned) is actually by Garling.
Hopefully Michael has some evidence that can firm up the attribution to Garling? And as I'm a bit of a Garling fan because of his much earlier and beautiful image of the Paulsgrove Estate at Keiraville, it would be great if it can be proved it is by Garling.
And here (attached) is the only other image of the John Penn I've turned up. How accurate it is, or is not, is again difficult to know. Maybe some of the details in the Maritime Heritage shipwreck article might help?
The Davis research goes briefly into the history of the vessel from its construction in 1867 through to its destruction just north of Broulee Harbour in November 1879. The chronology below will expand upon that research.
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4. Chronology
The following is a chronological summary of what is known of the history of t.s.s John Penn and the painting, assumed to be by Frederick Garling.
* 1867 - t.s.s. John Penn is constructed and launched (14 September) by the Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company of Blackwall, London.
* 1868, 15 February, Illustrated London News - image and story on t.s.s. John Penn:
The Double Screw Steamer John Penn
The John Penn, double-screw steam-vessel, is built for special service on the west coast of New Zealand, where the dangerous entrances of the bar harbours require the handiest kind of vessel. She has been specially constructed, from designs by Mr. Geo. C. Mackrow, N.A., with a shallow draught of water, and with the double screw, to give handiness in manoeuvring; and she is fitted with a sliding keel, or centre board, to enable her to keep off a lee shore when running between port and port. She has accommodation for seventy first and second class passengers; the after saloon is elegantly fitted up, and the ladies' cabin is particularly tasteful, with every luxury. The officers are berthed in spacious cabins on deck, over which is the platform bridge, with steering wheel, placed before the funnel, so as to command a good lookout for the helmsman. There is also provision made in the hold for cattle, and most of the west-coast towns will be supplied with live stock by this means, as the mountainous nature of that part of the island renders communication difficult by land. On deck there is accommodation for horses, enabling either passengers or traders to forward them with ease and comfort.
The dimensions of the vessel are as follows: - Length between perpendicular, 140 ft.; breadth, 22 ft. 6 in.; depth in hold, 8 ft.; burden, about 340 tons. The engines are of 52-horse power, and made by Messrs. John Penn and Sons, after whom the vessel is named. She is strongly built, with the bottom plates of best Lowmoor iron. Considering the small dimensions of the vessel, perhaps there was never a more compact, and at the same time commodious, arrangement. The fore cabin, having a height of 8 ft. between decks, is particularly spacious and airy. On the measured mile she obtained a mean speed of 10 knots with a dead-weight cargo of 240 tons. She has been built for a gentleman in the colony, to order, through Mr. Williamson, the president of the Bank of New Zealand, who, wishing to give every satisfaction and complete the vessel in the shortest possible time, gave the order to the Thames Ironworks, Shipbuilding, Engineering, and Dry Dock Company, of Blackwall. They completed the vessel and sent her to sea in the short space of three months.
* 1869 - the vessel arrives in New Zealand and operates there until 1871.
* 1869, 25 November - the vessel arrives in Sydney from Hokitika, New Zealand, with a cargo of gold.
* 1871 - the vessel arrives in Sydney (February) for use in the New Caledonia trade. However, in March it is apparently acquired by the Illawarra Steam Navigation Company.
* 1871, 24 April - the John Penn sails to Ulladulla and the Clyde River for the Illawarra Steam Navigation Company.
* 1871, 25 April, Sydney Morning Herald - auction sale in Sydney of the John Penn, on offer from A.S. Webster Esq.
* 1877, 7 December - "John Penn" from Sydney on the 7th Decbr. 1877, page from shipping ledger, Clyde River and Bateman's Bay Historical Society.
* 1870s - a painting by an unknown artist presents a view of the Illawarra Steam Navigation Company steamer John Penn underway of the South Coast of New South Wales, with Pigeon House Mountain in the background and a larger passenger ship under sail in the right background. At some point prior to 1981 the work is attributed to Frederick Garling (d.1873), though there is no precise evidence to support this attribution apart from style and historic general association of the artist with this genre.
* 1879, June - the vessel is cut in half and lengthened by 20 feet.
* 1879, 1am - 2am, Saturday, 8 November - amidst dense fog, t.s.s John Penn runs aground at Burrewarra Point, north of the town of Broulee and Broulee Harbour. Whilst later being towed away, it sinks.
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| Burrewarra Point, Google Maps, accessed 10 July 2025. |
* 1879, Wednesday, 12 November, Sydney Morning Herald:
WRECK OF THE STEAMER JOHN PENN!
[By Telegraph.] (from our own correspondent.)
MORUYA. Tuesday. The loss by the John Penn is expected to cause considerable inconvenience to shippers, and general regret is expressed at the misfortune. The John Penn is in five and a-half fathoms water, and her funnel is just awash. The Kiama and the Hunter, steamers, tried to move her on Sunday, but were unsuccessful. A good deal of wreckage cargo has been secured.
* 1879, Saturday, 15 November, The Bega Standard. Report on the wreck of the John Penn:
LOSS OF THE JOHN PENN.
Misfortune follow each other with regard to the Illawarra Navigation Co. In June last the unfortunate loss of the 'Monaro' was chronicled, and the Company took immediate steps to supply that vessel's place, and already a new boat is advanced towards completion. In the mean time the "John Penn" having been lengthened twenty-feet was put on to do the duty, and in command of her popular and experienced captain she was doing her work satisfactorily. On Friday the seventh instant she left Tathra in the evening with a large cargo and a good muster of passengers, and by one o'clock next morning she was ashore on Berrawarra Head at Broulee harbor.
From the Moruya Liberal's extraordinary we learn the vessel was steering her true course, north half-east, and that during a thick fog she ran ashore. The passengers were all landed, and a boat was sent to the Clyde for the 'Hunter' to render assistance. The 'John Penn' was subsequently floated, and in towing her towards shallow water she foundered, having her funnel top just awash. It is thought the vessel can be raised. A little cargo has been picked up, but the bulk of that on board, consisting mostly of butter, bacon, cheese, will have to sink or swim with the ship.
The frequency of accident draws attention to the need of searching enquiry. If the compasses were wrong, why was the vessel not swung
for adjustment. If a treacherous current sets in toward Wreck Bay, as some affirm, it should be known so that the ship masters could take proper precautions. If the coastline abounding with iron ore provides the attraction, a wider berth must be given.
The greatest sympathy is felt for Captain Holden. The passengers presented him with the following address:
On board s. s. Hunter, Bateman's Bay, Nov. 10, 1879.
To Captain Holden, —
Dear Sir, — We the undersigned passengers, beg to express our heartfelt sympathy with you under the trying circumstances in which you are placed through the loss of the s.s. John Penn, lately under your command, and wish to place on record our firm opinion that the loss of the said vessel was occasioned through no want of attention, or carefulness on the part of either yourself or officers, and solely through circumstances over which you and they had no control. We also bear witness to your cool and courageous conduct under the trying circumstances in connection with the wreck, and thank you for your kindness and attention to the safety and comfort of the passengers. We bear witness to the unwearied efforts made by yourself and officers in endeavoring to save the ship and cargo under your charge. Hoping you will meet with the success and fortune you deserve during your future career. —
We are, dear sir, yours sincerely, — Ellen Milligan, Mary Jane Osborne, Agnes McPhee, Ellenor Bussell, Ellen Murdoch, Levina Little, Chas. H. Lawson, J. K. Thomson, Daniel Byrne, Joseph Rolfe, George T. Davies, Henry Jones, Thomas Hayes, Robert Little, Eliza Anderson, Mary Eliza Osborne, Mary I. Day, Jennie Russell, Charlotte Day, Mary Farrell, John Pratt, Thomas H. Dunne, Samuel Hanscombe, George Foreman, Thomas Farrell, George White, Ah Din.
The following from the Liberal would seem to show that the vessel after she was floated was almost purposely thrown away:
- "The question now arises, when the disabled ship was taken from her perilous position, how is it she was not immediately taken into the nearest port, (Moruya), or into Tomago, instead of being permitted to founder? This is a circumstance that demands investigation. From the time the 'Penn' was floated off the rocks till she disappeared three hours elapsed — sufficient time to tow her to the Clyde, but instead of this the 'Hunter' leaves her to her fate to steam as best she could, and hence the deplorable result, — a magnificent vessel thrown away."
* 1879, Saturday, 15 November, Queanbeyan Age:
WRECK OF THE JOHN PENN.
Moruya, Saturday - I have just returned from seeing the wreck of the John Penn at Burrowarra Point, situated six miles from
the Moruya Heads, and twelve miles from the Clyde River. There was a thick fog at the time the vessel struck about 1 a.m. in the
morning. Captain Holden and the chief officer were on the bridge. The whole of the passengers were landed on the rocks, as the
steamer was in danger of breaking up or foundering at any moment. The Hunter came along and took the shipwrecked passengers on board at midday, and at 3 p.m. the John Penn, leaking badly, was taken off the rocks by the Hunter and towed as far as Browlee, where she foundered at about 6 p.m. in deep water, and is a total loss to the company.
Captain Holden asserts that the wreck is owing to an error of the compass, as the ship was steered north-half-east, which course should fully take the ship clear of all land. Much sympathy is expressed at Captain Holden's misfortune. The John Penn was a twin-screw vessel, which has for years past traded to the ports on the southern coast, under the flag of the I.S.N. Co. She was built at Blackwall in 1867, and was 199 tons measurement. The loss is serious one to the I.S.N. Co. as only a few months since they expended several thousand pounds in having the ship lengthened and renovated at Mort's Engineering Works, Sydney.
Tuesday.- The loss by the John Penn is expected to cause considerable inconvenience to shippers, and general regret is expressed at the misfortune. The John Penn is in five and a-half fathoms water, and her funnel is just awash. The Kiama and the Hunter steamers tried to move her on Sunday, but were not successful. A good deal of wreckage cargo has been secured. Correspondent to Echo.
* 1879, 25 November, The Kiama Independent. Report of the Marine Board initial hearings.
The John Penn
At an adjourned meeting of the Marine Board held on Thursday afternoon says the S.M. Herald. - The second case called on was that of the loss of the steamer John Penn. The evidence of the master, James Holden, that of the chief officer, William Baxter, of the look-out man, Joseph Dare, and of the man at the wheel, James Melvin, was taken. The particulars elicited were in effect similar to those already published in reference to this disaster. The Board found that the loss of the vessel was caused by the wrongful act or default of the master, James Holden, in navigating his vessel too close along the coast in foggy weather, without taking precautions to ease the speed of the vessel or take soundings. They accordingly summoned him to appear before them on Monday next, 24th instant, at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, to show cause why his certificate should not be suspended. Our Moruya correspondent writes that some of the cargo is safe. Part of the cheese was transhipped into a Sydney bound cutter, and some of the butter was landed, and afterwards placed on board the 'Hunter.'
* 1953 - The watercolour is housed in the Dixon Library, State Library of New South Wales, for a period as part of the A.D. Benson permanent loan, as noted during October 1953.
* 1981 - The painting is sold at auction by Lawson's, Sydney.
* 1982, September - John Riley and Kevin Laybutt locate the wreck of the John Penn.
* 1982, 29 October - t.s.s. John Penn wreck site is gazetted an historic shipwreck by the New South Wales Department of Planning (Nutley & Smith 1992).
* 1988 - The painting is included in the Illawarra and Environs: A Pictorial History exhibition at the Wollongong Art Gallery.
* 2025, 12 July - The painting is offered for sale by Davidson Auctions, Sydney.
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5. References
[Arrival of John Penn], Sydney Morning Herald, 25 February 1871.
Byron, T., [John Penn shipwreck], Scuba Divers Guide, South Coast, New South Wales, 1986.
Davidson Auctions, Lot 249: GARLING Frederick (1806-1873), 'The Illawarra S.N. Cos. Steamer John Penn', W/Clr, 30.5x47.5cm, Invaluable [auction website], Davidson Auctions, Sydney, 12 July 2025.
France, Christine, The Illawarra & Environs: A Pictorial Survey, Wollongong Art Gallery, 1988, 24p.
John Penn, Australasian Underwater Cultural Heritage Database, Australian Government, accessed 10 July 2025.
John Penn, 1879, South Coast NSW History Society, accessed 10 July 2025.
John Penn - History & Database, Office of Environment and Heritage, New South Wales Government, accessed 10 July 2025.
"John Penn" from Sydney on the 7th Decbr. 1877, Shipping Ledger, Clyde River and Bateman's Bay Historical Society. Manuscript.
[John Penn], Register of British Ships, Port of Sydney, No.20 of 1871.
Lorck, W., Illawarra and South Coast Steam Navigation Company's illustrated handbook: a guide for the tourist and holiday make, W. Lorck, Sydney, 1905.
Loss of the John Penn, Broulee Bay, Folklore, Myth & Legend, accessed 10 July 2025.
Nutley, David and Tim Smith, t.s.s. John Penn - Wreck Inspection Report, Department of Planning, Sydney, 1992, 12p. Diagrams of wreckage illustrated below.
Richards, Mike, Ships of the Pig and Whistle Line: The Illawarra Steam Navigation Co. story, unpublished manuscript, circa 1982, Mike Richards Papers, 1950s-1997, State Library of New South Wales, Sydney.
Riley, John et al., The John Penn Report, UARG, 1984.
Jackson, Greg, Pam Forbes and Brad Duncan, The Ghost Port of Broulee, academia.edu, 2018.
The twin-screw steamer John Penn, for New Zealand, Illustrated London News, wood engraving, 15 February 1868.
Wolfe, A., The John Penn: New South Wales Historic Shipwreck Study, 1990.
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6. Acknowledgement
This article has been compiled with the assistance of research carried out by Dr. Joseph Davis of Thirroul.
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Last updated: 11 July 2025
Michael Organ, Australia
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