The Steamer, Ben Bolt.

Rare engraving of the steamer Ben Bolt, she was a wooden paddle steamer of 182 tons. Lbd: 119’4″ x 25’2″ x 8’8″.  and probably built in New York circa 1852. Originally known as General Urbistando, she was built for the Spanish Government and destined for the Philippines. She arrived in Sydney March 23rd 1854 from Manilla with a view to being marketed for sale.

She was the first paddle steamer to make the trip across the Pacific Ocean from from the U.S.A. to Australia. Owner 1854 July as R L Pattison, registered it in Sydney and renamed her Ben Bolt. A new owner same year was H H Hall. November 1854 of the Australasian Steam Navigation Co, registered Sydney.

An expensive buy, she was considered by the company not worth repairing and sold December 1957 to A Robinson who had her converted into a bath house/accommodation vessel at Woolloomooloo, Sydney.  In April 1864 she sunk completely at her permanent moorings.

From the original edition of the  Illustrated Sydney News.