Iron Barques of Walker and Trinder, Anderson.
Hine Bros. were not the only owners of iron clipper barques in the Australian trade. Mr. T. B. Walker had four very well-known ships—the barques Westbury, Decapolis and Lanoma and the ship Barossa; whilst Trinder, Anderson & Co. had the Barunga, Oriana, Mineru, Morialta and Kooringa.
Of the above, Walker’s Lanoma was probably the fastest. She has been credited with a run from Tasmania to the Horn in 21 days, another of 21 days from the Horn to the line, and again a third of 21 days from the line to soundings, which if they had all been on the same passage would have given her the record from Tasmania home. The Westbury and Decapolis were both good for an outward passage round about 80 days.
A year or two ago a correspondent in the “Nautical” claimed that the Decapolis went out to Launceston in 56 days on her maiden trip, at the same time he claimed a 57-day trip to Melbourne for my old ship the Commonwealth. He had, of course, got his dates wrong somewhere, as the Decapolis ran regularly to Brisbane until that trade was captured by steamers, she was then diverted to Launceston.
After the death of Mr. Walker, Decapolis was sold to the Italians and renamed Nostra Madre. Her name is on the Sailing Ship Roll of Honour, as she was torpedoed in the Mediterranean during the war.
Barossa, a fine little full-rigged ship, ran for many years as a passenger ship to Adelaide. She eventually turned turtle in dock and was sold to be broken up.