The Goolwa was a notable three-masted clipper ship constructed in 1864 by Alexander Hall & Co in Aberdeen, Scotland. She featured a composite hull design, combining an iron frame with timber planking, which was a common construction method of the period. Her registered length was 178.5 feet (54.4 meters), with a beam of 30.7 feet (9.4 meters) and a depth of 18.8 feet (5.7 meters). The vessel's tonnage was registered at 717 gross register tons (GRT) and 717 net register tons (NRT). Originally built as a full-rigged ship, her sail plan was later reduced to a barque by 1877, reflecting modifications likely aimed at operational efficiency. The Goolwa was commissioned for the trade route between Great Britain and South Australia, operated by Anderson, Thompson & Co under the Orient Line of clippers. She was registered in the UK with official number 48750 and the code letters VWCT. Her first master was Captain Adam Johnston, a seasoned mariner who had previously commanded ships such as Travancore, Aurora, and Harbinger. Throughout her service, The Goolwa changed ownership; in 1877, she was acquired by A. Lawrence, and in 1887, G. Cowper took over, re-registering her in Glasgow. Her operational history included long voyages, with notable service in the late 19th century. Her final voyage began on December 23, 1887, when she departed Penarth, Wales, under Captain Cornwall, carrying pig iron and coke bound for San Francisco. During the passage through the English Channel, she encountered severe weather that caused critical damage: she sprang two leaks, lost her hatches, and began to take on water. The ship's crew, faced with failed pumps and wrecked lifeboats, fired distress signals. After two days of perilous conditions, the steamship Cato rescued the crew. The Goolwa was abandoned on January 5, 1888, and sank approximately 100 miles west of the Isles of Scilly. The Goolwa's maritime significance lies in her representation of the composite-hulled clipper design and her role in the trade routes connecting Britain and South Australia during the late 19th century, as well as her dramatic sinking exemplifying the perilous nature of maritime commerce in that era.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.