AGY-3470 | Harbour Master

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In January 1821, Commissioner Bigge made recommendations to Governor Macquarie for a system of superintendence of the Colonial Marine Establishment.(1) Coastal areas such as Port Macquarie were being settled and vessels were required as an essential form of transport. Bigge recommended the detachment of the Dockyard’s superintendence from the Department of the Chief Engineer.(2) Bigge maintained the work being performed at the Colonial Dockyard required professional knowledge beyond that of Major Druitt, the current officer in charge. Bigge’s suggestion of John Nicholson, a master in the Royal Navy, for the position of Master Attendant of the Dockyard was agreed to by Macquarie who also added the duties of Harbour Master to Nicholson’s position.(3) John Nicholson was appointed Harbour Master and Master Attendant of Port Jackson on 25 January 1821.(4) As Harbour Master, Nicholson was responsible for the management of vessels within Port Jackson, including the movement of vessels from one anchorage point to another, and for the proper birthing of vessels. The position of Master Attendant was responsible for the Dockyard at Cockatoo Island.(5) From the publication in 1825 of the “Act for the Regulation of Shipping in the Harbours of New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land respectively”, a harbour master or pilot would take control of a vessel when entering port.(6) Staff numbers under Nicholson grew throughout the 1820s. By 1826, the Dockyard and Naval Department consisted of John Nicholson as Harbour Master of Port Jackson and Master Attendant of the Dockyard; Deputy Harbour Master; Clerk; Storekeeper and Clerk of the Checque and Survey; Master Boat Builder; Superintendent of Government Boats; Master of the Row Guard; Coxswain of the Row Guard; three Resident Pilots; and a Superintendent of the Lighthouse on South Head.(7) The Department continued to expand and was known by a variety of titles in the Returns of the Colony, including the Department of the Master Attendant, the Department of the Master Attendant and Harbour Master, the Department of the Harbour Master, the Department of the Portmaster, and the Superintendent of Lights, Pilots and Navigation.(8) By 1836, the Department employed Telegraph Masters at Sydney, South Head, Bedlam, and Parramatta. Those at Bedlam and Parramatta were discontinued from 1 November 1842.(9) John Nicholson resigned as Harbour Master on 15 February 1842 and was succeeded the following day by Thomas Watson.(10) On 23 January 1843, Watson was succeeded by Merion Moriarty, who was appointed by Her Majesty by Warrant under the Royal Signet and Sign Manual.(11) In 1854, the position of Shipping Master was added to the duties of the Water Police Magistrate who had succeeded the Master Attendant.(12) By 1850, Harbour Masters, Pilots and support staff were appointed at Newcastle and Moreton Bay as the colony continued to expand. By 1857, the Department was entered in the Returns of the Colony as the Superintendent of Lights, Pilots and Navigation. On 25 July 1857, Merion Moriarty was succeeded as Harbour Master by Robert Lockley, who was the Superintendent of Lights.(13) On 1 April 1858, John Crook succeeded Lockley as Harbour Master and he remained responsible for the management of ports, lighthouses and pilot services until 31 December 1862. Although John Crook remained as Sydney’s Harbour Master, many of his responsibilities were transferred to Francis Hixson who was appointed to the position of Superintendent of Light Houses, Harbours and Pilots on 1 January 1863.(14) The Superintendent became head of an expanding organisation as the maritime activities in the colony increased. The Harbour Master at Sydney now became subordinate to the Superintendent.(15) On 1 July 1864, John Crook was replaced as Harbour Master by John Myhill who had been employed as a pilot since 1854.(16) The Superintendent continued to be responsible for the management of ports, lighthouses and pilot services until the creation of the Marine Board of New South Wales on 2 April 1872. The position of Harbour Master continued within the Marine Board and Superintendent Francis Hixson became President of the new Board. ENDNOTES
1. Historical Records of Australia (HRA), series 1, vol.10, p399-400.
2. HRA, series 1, vol.10, p.399.
3. HRA, series 1, vol.10, p.401.
4. Returns of the Colony for 1822.
5. loc. cit.
6. “Act for the Regulation of Shipping in the Harbours of New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land respectively”, 6 Geo. IV, Act No. 10.
7. Returns of the Colony for 1826.
8. Returns of the Colony, 1822 – 1857.
9. Returns of the Colony for 1843.
10. Returns of the Colony for 1842.
11. Returns of the Colony for 1843.
12. Concise Guide to the State Archives (S-Y): Shipping Master’s Office.
13. Returns of the Colony, 1857.
14. NSW Government Gazette, 2 January 1863, p1.
15. Returns of the Colony for 1863.
16. Returns of the Colony for 1863 and 1864.