History of John Oxley

John Oxley was built in 1927 by Bow McLachlan of Paisley in Scotland. She was built to the order of the Queensland Harbours and Marine Board and steamed out under her own power for service as pilot vessel in Moreton Bay and as a buoy tender and lighthouse tender along the Queensland coast.

John Oxley was built in riveted steel with teak decks. She is a typical coastal steamship with raised forecastle, well deck, machinery and navigation midships and accommodation aft. She has two boilers and a triple expansion steam engine.

She was originally coal fired but was converted to burn oil in 1946.

John Oxley was taken over by the RAN during WWII for use as an examination vessel. Her requisition terminated in 1943, however she continued to be manned and operated by the RAN until 1946 when she returned to full Queensland Harbours and Marine control and operation.

John Oxley continued in service until 1968 and was officially donated to Sydney Heritage Fleet in 1970.

For her 80th birthday celebration in 2007, the Provost of Renfrewshire Council, the council area of Paisley where she was built, sent a congratulatory message.

Sydney Heritage Fleet Acquisition/History

The Queensland Government had intended to scrap John Oxley, but instead, donated her to the fledgling Lady Hopetoun and Port Jackson Marine Steam Museum. A museum crew went to Brisbane to prepare John Oxley for the delivery voyage and steamed her down the coast to her new home in Sydney arriving on August 17, 1970.

The museum steamed John Oxley a number of times, however, concerns regarding the state of hull plating caused her to be laid her up. Restoration had continued funds permitting from time to time. She has been docked twice by the museum to secure the hull, however, restoration of the 1874 barque James Craig had been the primary restoration project from 1970 to 2000.

In January 1997James Craig was refloated and John Oxley docked in her place. See docking.