A mystery ship: H.M.S. Undine (<1901 version)

I love the composition of this photo.

It shows H.M.S. Undine in Sydney Harbour taken through an archway of Fort Macquarie.  (Tyrrell Photographic Collection, Powerhouse Museum) Construction of Fort Macquarie commenced in 1817 and was completed by our great colonial architect Francis Greenway in 1821.  It stood until it was demolised in 1901 to make way for an electric tramway at Bennelong Point.  Australian readers will be familiar with the site, and the rest of the world knows it as the Sydney Opera House.

Now, the ship is H.M.S. Undine.  My internet searches thus far have turned up a Royal Navy submarine H.M.S. Undine (N48) which was launched in 1937 and a destroyer H.M.S. Undine (R42) which was launched in 1943.  But I can find little about Sailing Schooner H.M.S. Undine except for this photograph and one other photograph about a gathering of ships in Sydney Harbour during 1887 to celebrate the jubilee of Queen Victoria's reign.

I think I'll have to ask my friend Mac Gregory if he knows anything about the schooner H.M.S. Undine.

Added:

Mac Gregory has supplied some useful information indicating that the HMS Undine pictured above was a schooner previously in civilian service as Morna.  She was purchased by the Royal Navy in 1881 and sold in 1888. 

Therefore, the photograph above dates from between 1881 and 1888.

Here's Mac's reply to me, slightly edited;

Here is all I can find about HM ships that carried the name of Undine.

Number 3 in the list below is the only one that seems to fit, according to the Queensland papers she was still in service on March 10, 1888.

Lovely photo of her, the photographer Henry King was around 1880-1900.

HMS Undine From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Eight ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Undine, after the Ondines of mythology:

HMS Undine was an iron paddle packet purchased in 1847 and sold in 1854.

HMS Undine was to have been a wood screw gunvessel. She was laid down in 1861 but was cancelled in 1863.

HMS Undine was a schooner, previously in civilian service as the Morna. She was purchased in 1881 and was sold in 1888.

HMS Undine was a coastguard vessel, previously named HMS Hawk. She was renamed HMS Undine in 1904 and was sold in 1906.

HMS Undine was a base ship, previously named HMS Wildfire. She had been launched in 1884 for civilian servce, at first as Hiawatha and then as Mizeppa. She was purchased by the Navy in 1888 as a screw yacht tender and renamed HMS Wildfire. She was converted to a base ship in 1889 and was renamed HMS Undine in 1907, before being sold in 1912.

HMS Undine was an R class destroyer launched in 1917 and sold in 1928. She was then wrecked later that year and the wreck sold for breaking up.

HMS Undine was a U class submarine launched in 1937 and sunk in 1940.

HMS Undine was a U class destroyer launched in 1943. She was converted into a Type 15 frigate between 1952 and 1954 and was broken up in 1965.

From the Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs General Advertiser, Saturday, March 10, 1888:

Only about six months ago Mr. and Mrs. John Brannelly left Brisbane on a visit to the old country. Our last issue contained a telegram announcing Mrs. Brannelly's sudden death on board the Iberia, just after the vessel had left the Melbourne Heads. Mr. John Brannelly is well known to many in Toowoomba, having been an innkeeper here for some years. The following account of Mrs. Brannelly's funeral we take from Wednesday's S.M. Herald: - The funeral of Mrs. Brannelly, who died so suddenly on board the R.M.S. Iberia when on her way from Melbourne to Sydney, took place yesterday morning. The facts of the case, which are still fresh in the minds of most people, may be briefly recapitulated. Mrs. Brannelly and her husband had been on a visit to Europe, and were returning home to Brisbane. About 9 p.m. on Saturday last, shortly after the Iberia had left Melbourne, Mrs. Brannelly was suddenly missed, and upon a search being instituted she was found in one of the cabins dead. Her death cast quite a gloom over the whole ship, for the deceased lady had made friends of all on board by her affable and winning ways, both in the saloon and out of it, consequently out of respect to the deceased a large number of people accompanied the body to its last resting place; among whom were noticeable Mr. Birrell, chief officer of the Iberia, Mr. Cook, the purser, Dr. Kerr, and the fourth officer, also the Rev. and Mrs. Mitten of Durham, England, who were fellow passengers. Mr. Stolterfoht, Mr. Brannelly, and four tars of the Iberia, also attended. The corpse left the Iberia shortly before 11 o'clock for Man of war steps. Upon passing H.M.S. Undine, that vessel brought her flags down to half mast. The body was interred at the Waverley cemetery. The deceased had been during the voyage under the doctor's care, but it was not thought that anything serious was the matter. Heart disease is believed to be the primary cause of the unfortunate occurrence.

Thanks Mac! 

Comments

[Penny Holt]

I'm particularly interested in this ship. It is indeed quite a mystery. I am doing my husband's family history and one of his ancestors is on the UK 1901 census as "Master of the sailing ship UNDINE for the Home Trade Company." His name was William Charles EVE and he was from North East Kent. The Census reference is RG13 Piece 4488 Folio 144 Page 1. I know nothing more than that. I would like to:
1. Find an image of the ship
2. Know more about where it went
3. Know more about William Charles EVE and what he did on the ship.

I would love it if somebody could fill me in.

Thank you

[Noreen Rozwadowski]

Hi!
I have just read the information about Mrs Brannelly and her death on the RMS Iberia in 1889.
I wonder if anyone has any information about other deaths that took place on this ship in 1889.
I have a short note saying that " Mrs William Milner died on voyage on the Iberia 1889 and was buried at sea in the Indian Ocean" The ship may have been on its way to Colombo Ceylon.
I would like to hear from someone soon.
Thank you
Noreen