Plans of the HMS Buffalo as fitted to carry Governor Hindmarsh and emigrants to South Australia, July 1836.
The Buffalo began life as a merchantman named the Hindostan, launched in Calcutta in 1813. After its maiden voyage to England it was purchased by the Royal Navy and named HMS Buffalo. It worked as a timber carrier and quarantine ship, in 1833 it was fitted as a convict ship to carry female convicts to New South Wales.
After again being refitted, this time as an emigrant ship, The Buffalo left Portsmouth for South Australia on July 23 1836 and arrived at Holdfast Bay December 28 1836. Here Hindmarsh disembarked to proclaim the colony. When the flag was raised the Buffalo gave a royal salute of twenty one guns.
After once more becoming a timber carrier, the ship was wrecked on July 28 1840 during a storm while anchored in Mercury Bay off Whitianga in New Zealand.
This copy of the ship's plans was made in 1931 from the original held in London.
