Historical information

The HMS Lady Nelson was commissioned in 1799 to survey the coast of Australia. The initial exploration of the Bass Strait by Commander James Grant has long been believed to be the marker of the discovery of Churchill Island by Europeans and there have been tales that Commander Grant was the first European to set foot on the Island. While there is little proof of this, the photograph still serves to contextualise this event and show what the Lady Nelson looked like.

Physical description

Black and white photograph showing a ship with pennants and no sails. Ship is on the land, displayed by the side of the road. There is a series of low slung buildings in the background.

Through preliminary research, it appears this is a replica model of the HMS Lady Nelson built in 1986 that is located at the Lady Nelson Visitor and Discovery Centre in Mt Gambier.

Inscriptions & markings

Catalogue number in pencil on reverse.
'HMS Nelson' written on reverse in pen