Leslie Massey
The route taken by ships travelling from England to Australia has evolved over time, from the treacherous Clipper route to the more modern Suez Canal passage. The Clipper route, which made use of the strong westerly winds of the Roaring Forties, was a dangerous journey that claimed many ships and sailors, especially at Cape Horn. The introduction of steamships and the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 offered a safer and faster alternative, reducing the journey time to Australia to around 35-40 days. This new route became the preferred method of transport by the early 1900s, with companies like P & O Line and Orient Line dominating the England-Australia trade.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Route | Via the Southern Ocean, making use of the strong westerly winds called the Roaring Forties |
| Direction | West to East |
| Return Route | East from Australia, passing through the Cook Strait or around the south end of New Zealand |
| Ports of Call | A variety of ports, including Sydney, Melbourne, Wellington, Cape Town, Perth |
| Distance | From Plymouth to Sydney: 13,750 miles (22,130 km). From London to Melbourne: 13,150 miles (21,160 km) |
| Duration | Around 100 days. Fastest recorded: 61 days |
| Conditions | Hazardous due to strong winds, currents, and icebergs |
| Ships | Clippers, steamships, migrant ships |
| Passengers | Immigrants, assisted passengers, returning Australians |
| Accommodations | Bunks, cabins, dining rooms, common rooms |
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What You'll Learn
The dangers of the Clipper route
The Clipper route, a traditional shipping route from England to Australia and New Zealand, was the fastest sailing route around the world. However, it was also the most treacherous, with many ships and sailors lost to heavy conditions at sea.
The route, which was in use between 1840 and 1870, was derived from the Brouwer Route, discovered by Dutch navigator Hendrik Brouwer in 1611. It ran from west to east through the Southern Ocean, taking advantage of the strong westerly winds known as the Roaring Forties.
The return passage from Australia continued east, with ships passing through the Cook Strait if they stopped at Wellington. Otherwise, they would sail around the south end of New Zealand. Eastbound vessels would remain within the ice zone, again staying as far south as possible for the shortest route and strongest winds. Most ships stayed north of Cape Horn, at 56 degrees south, but as they approached, the strong winds and currents of the Horn, coupled with turbulent cyclones coming off the Andes and shallow water, could create violently hazardous conditions.
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The opening of the Suez Canal
The Suez Canal, a massive global shortcut linking the Mediterranean and Red Seas, opened on 17 November 1869. The canal, which offered vessels a direct route between the North Atlantic and northern Indian Oceans, was built on the path of an ancient canal. The idea for the canal was ancient, likely dating to the reign of Egyptian pharaoh Senusret III, who envisioned and commissioned a similar project in the 19th century BCE. The so-called "Canal of the Pharaohs" connected the Red Sea to the Nile, which in turn flowed out to the Mediterranean.
The French developer Ferdinand de Lesseps obtained political and financial support for the project, and construction lasted from 1859 to 1869. The canal officially opened with a spectacular ceremony attended by European royalty and other esteemed guests. The 120-mile-long canal had taken ten years to dig and was considered a significant achievement, reducing the distance between Europe and Asia by more than 4,000 miles.
The introduction of steamships and the opening of the Suez Canal led to the decline of the clipper route as a major trade route. The canal provided an alternative route to Australia, reducing the journey time to 35-40 days. Steamships offered greater comfort and reliability, and by the early 1900s, they had become the preferred method of transport for the England-Australia route.
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Steam power and the decline of sailing ships
The introduction of steam power in the 19th century revolutionised the shipping industry and made Britain a world leader in shipbuilding. Steam power had been experimented with as early as 1794 when the Earl of Stanhope built a steam-powered vessel named the Kent. However, these early attempts were not successful. The first really successful steamboat was the Pyroscaphe, built by Claude-François-Dorothée, Marquis de Jouffroy d’Abbans. She was a paddle steamer that used a steam engine to power sidewheels or paddles to move the vessel through the water.
The first steamship to sail across the Atlantic was the SS Savannah, which crossed from the US to Liverpool, England, in 1819, although most of the voyage was made under sail. The first ship to make the transatlantic trip primarily under steam power may have been the British-built Dutch-owned Curaçao in 1827. The first iron steamship to go to sea was the Aaron Manby, which crossed the English Channel in 1822. The use of iron and new materials in ship construction helped in the development and application of steam power at sea.
The first large iron ship to be screw-propelled was the SS Great Britain, launched in 1843. Screw propellers, fitted to the underneath of the aft of the ship, meant that vessels could travel faster and were more reliable and less prone to damage than paddlewheel ships. Steam-powered ships became common in the 1870s with the introduction of the triple-expansion engine, which was significantly more economical than other engines.
The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 gave ships from Europe an alternative route to Australia. Steamships dominated this new route, as it was impractical for sailing vessels. By the early 1900s, steamships had become the established method of transport between England and Australia, with the journey taking 35 to 40 days. Steam power also made travelling times more reliable and offered greater passenger comforts, including larger iron hulls, grand saloons, and small cabins.
The introduction of steamships, along with the opening of the Suez and Panama Canals, led to the decline of the clipper route as a major trade route. The clipper route, which ran from west to east through the Southern Ocean, had offered the fastest circumnavigation of the world and was used by many ships carrying valuable cargoes of grain, wool, and gold between England and Australia. However, with the advent of steam power, ships were no longer dependent on the strong winds encountered on the clipper route and could take a shorter, faster route via the Suez Canal.
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Conditions on board sailing ships
The journey could be long and arduous, taking around 100 days for a fast ship and crew, and often longer. The introduction of steamships and the opening of the Suez and Panama Canals eventually made the journey faster and more comfortable. Before this, the journey was dependent on the winds, with ships taking the route with the strongest winds, which was also the most dangerous.
Life on board these ships was basic and cramped, with passengers and crew sharing the space. The early steamers carried a full set of sails and livestock on board to provide fresh food for the voyage. The ships would also collect rainwater for washing and drinking. The Great Britain, a three-masted sailing vessel, had cabins for 750 passengers and 130 crew, and also provided accommodation for livestock, including 550 chickens, 250 ducks, 150 sheep, 55 turkeys and geese, 30 pigs, a couple of lambs and oxen, and a milking cow and calf.
The conditions could also be dangerous, with storms and rough seas a constant threat. In the diary of Ally Heathcote, who travelled from England to Melbourne in 1874, she describes a storm:
> "We were just wondering how long the storm would last and sending up a silent prayer for protection when crash went something on deck, and the water swept over the decks and down in the cabin, we gave ourselves up for lost and the people rushed out of their cabins looking terrified."
Despite the harsh conditions, some passengers described delightful evenings and gorgeous sunsets. The end of the journey was a cause for celebration, with passengers and crew expressing joy and relief at reaching land safely.
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The journey via Cape Town
The journey from England to Australia via Cape Town was a common route for ships in the 19th century. The voyage typically took between 70 and 110 days, with some ships making the journey in as little as 40 days. The route would usually involve travelling from London or Liverpool to Cape Town, and then across the Indian Ocean to Fremantle, Melbourne, and Sydney.
In the 1840s, ships would follow the trade winds down the coast of southern Europe and North Africa, across the South Atlantic to the Brazilian coast, and then back across the Atlantic to South Africa. This journey was about 7,500 nautical miles and would have taken a couple of months, with at least one stop for fresh food and water. One account from 1845 describes a ship arriving in Table Bay, Cape Town, after a 93-day voyage from Southampton.
The route via Cape Town was known for its challenging conditions, with ships facing strong winds and currents and the risk of encountering icebergs in the Southern Ocean. Ships would try to stay as far south as possible for the shortest route and strongest winds, but this increased the risk of encountering ice. The clipper route, which ran through the Southern Ocean, was particularly dangerous, with many ships and sailors lost along the way, especially at Cape Horn.
The introduction of steamships in the late 19th and early 20th centuries gradually replaced the sailing ships on this route. These steamships no longer relied on winds and could take a more direct route through the Suez Canal, reducing the journey time to about 40 days. By the 1920s, passenger liners were becoming more common, offering improved comforts such as refrigeration and electric lighting.
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Frequently asked questions
The Clipper route ran from west to east through the Southern Ocean, making use of the consistently strong westerly winds known as the Roaring Forties. The route fell into commercial disuse with the introduction of steam ships and the opening of the Suez and Panama Canals.
Conditions on sailing ships in the 1850s were harsh. Most passengers travelled in a part of the ship called "steerage" between the upper deck and the cargo hold. The area was not designed for accommodation, but was converted for that purpose. Passengers did not have their own cabins, but were all crowded into one large room that acted as a dormitory, dining room, and common room.
The clipper route from England to Australia offered the fastest circumnavigation of the world, and therefore the greatest rewards. The route from Plymouth to Sydney, for example, covered around 13,750 miles (22,130 km). A fast time for that passage would be around 100 days.
