The "Invercargill" was one of six iron passenger ships built for The Albion Shipping Conpany of New Zealand and used to transport many emigrants to Australia and New Zealand in the late nineteenth century.

Model made by Neil Fleming 1975.

In 1874, Patrick Henderson of Albion Shipping Company N.Z. ordered six iron passenger ships from Robert Duncan of Port Glasgow, Scotland .These were "Dunedin, "Canterbury ", " Invercargill ",
" Auckland ", " Nelson ", and " Wellington " . "Invercargill" was used initially as an emigrant ship from the UK to Australia and New Zealand , and later as a cargo vessel carrying meat. On her last passage under owners Shaw Savill Line, she left Sydney 27th August 1904 bound for Queenstown. The "Invercargill" was caught in a fierce storm, the cargo shifted , port bulwarks carried away, and the ship laid over on her beam ends. The crew manhandled the cargo to the windward side ,righted the ship , and continued the voyage. On eighth December ,now in the Atlantic, she broached in mountainous seas the cargo shifted again and the ship was again laid over on her beam ends. The foresail, fore upper topsail and staysail ,and main royal were all torn to shreds. By morning ,the crew had jettisoned the cargo and regained control of the ship although the "Invercargill" was still listing heavily , and managed to reach Queenstown. Repaired and refitted ,the ship was sold for one thousand pounds to a Norwegian shipping line and renamed "Varg".She sailed for Christiania in 1905 with coal ballast, and was never seen again. It was conjectured that she was not carrying sufficient ballast for a winter voyage.

Ship model, miniature model in a bottle, "Invercargill" of 1874, three-masted clipper complete with masts, rigging & full suit of sails, Neil Fleming, Australia, c. 1975 (OF).

Ship model, miniature waterline model in a bottle, three-masted clipper "Invercargill". Model is complete with masts, rigging and a full set of cream sails .Deck details include anchors, deck rails, hatches, deckhouse, and four ship's boats. Finished in grey, black and white. Mounted on painted carved seascape inside a Haig and Haig whisky bottle, with cork stopper. Stopper is decorated with white string and an anchor motif.

Made: 1970 - 1980

Oval sticker on neck of bottle : FULL / RIGGED SHIP / INVERCARGILL / built 1874

B2346

1970 - 1980

110 mm

120 mm