Historical information

The Empress of the Sea is historically and archaeologically significant as it was one of Donald Mackay's famous wooden clipper ships ie: representative of a particular design or type. It was also associated with both the Black Ball and White Star Lines of Australian Packets, which carried thousands of immigrants from Britain to Australia.

Physical description

An original watercolour painting of the burning of the sailing ship 'Empress of the Sea' by charles Dickson Gregory

Inscriptions & markings

Front: Burning of the Empress of the Sea, C. Dickson Gregory. Back: Whatmans watercolour drawing board, 36640, C. Dickson Gregory, 41 Albert Street. Fixed label: 'Destruction of the famous clipper 'Empress of the Sea' at Port Phillip Heads 19th December 1861 Drawing by C. Dickson Gregory

References