The South Australian Maritime Museum preserves the oldest nautical collection in Australia. In 1872 the Port Adelaide Institute began a museum collection to complement its library and its educational and social programs. That collection grew over the following century reflecting the seafarers and the ships that visited Port Adelaide. It is now held in trust at the South Australian Maritime Museum.
The Maritime Museum’s collections ranges from the Port Adelaide Lighthouse that was first lit in 1869 to a plaque that explorer Matthew Flinders left at Memory Cove in 1802 to mark the loss of eight seafarers. It includes figureheads, nautical instruments, bathing costumes, shipwreck artefacts, paintings, models and vessels.
Our scope is the maritime heritage of South Australia from the coast to inland waters. The collection of over almost 20,000 objects and over 20,000 images is at once a window to the heritage of the local community and to the ships of the world.
Success
Full-hull model of the 1840 sailing vessel Success fitted up as a convict ship, made by Herbert Croker.
The wooden ship Success (621 tons) was built in Natmoo, Tenasserim, in 1840. It was stranded in Port Adelaide after bringing emigrants to South Australia in 1848. Following a voyage to the goldrush in Victoria, the vessel was purchased by local authorities for use as a floating prison and then as a store ship. In 1890 Success was sold to entrepreneurs who put it on display around Australia as a theatrical 'convict ship'. However, the ship had never been used as a convict transport and the exhibitions on board were fictional and sensational. After repair on Fletcher's Birkenhead slip, the Success sailed for Europe and America in 1894, and was eventually destroyed by fire on the Great Lakes in 1946.
Herbert Croker (1900-1980) was born in Waterford, Ireland. He spent 25 years at sea serving on whalers, tankers, tramps, cargo and passenger ships. Croker migrated to Australia with his wife in 1940 and began model making in 1961. In 1963 he won two gold medals and a bronze at the Royal Adelaide Industrial exhibition. Croker carefully researched all his models which were based on boats he had sailed or knew well. Almost all of them were working models - powered by steam, electricity or wind.
Scale: 1:60
Creator: Herbert Croker
Date of creation: 1969
Associated locations: Birkenhead, Port Adelaide, Great Lakes, Victoria
Caption: Model , Success
AccessionNo: HT 1986.0660
Material:
Physical Description:
Croker model "Success"; PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEY (August 2000) nos.157-160; From Robert Sexton's Models in SAMM: Wooden ship, 621 tons, 117.3 x 26.8 x 22.5 ft, built Natmoo, Tenasserim, in 1840. A full-hull model of the vessel fitted up as a convict museum ship. The Success was stranded in Port Adelaide when bringing emigrants to South Australia in 1848, and following a subsequent voyage to goldrush Victoria, was purchased by local authorities for brief use as a floating prison and then as a storeship. She was sold in 1890 to entrepreneurs who put her on display around Australia as a 'convict ship'. After repair on Fletcher's Birkenhead slip, the Success sailed for Europe and America in 1894, and was eventually lost by fire on the Great Lakes in 1946. The model was made by Herbert Croker in 1969, and depicts the vessel rigged down to a barquentine.; Scale 1:60
Provenance:
Croker model "Success"
PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEY (August 2000) nos.157-160
From Robert Sexton's Models in SAMM: Wooden ship, 621 tons, 117.3 x 26.8 x 22.5 ft, built Natmoo, Tenasserim, in 1840. A full-hull model of the vessel fitted up as a convict museum ship. The Success was stranded in Port Adelaide when bringing emigrants to South Australia in 1848, and following a subsequent voyage to goldrush Victoria, was purchased by local authorities for brief use as a floating prison and then as a storeship. She was sold in 1890 to entrepreneurs who put her on display around Australia as a 'convict ship'. After repair on Fletcher's Birkenhead slip, the Success sailed for Europe and America in 1894, and was eventually lost by fire on the Great Lakes in 1946. The model was made by Herbert Croker in 1969, and depicts the vessel rigged down to a barquentine.
Scale 1:60
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