Type :
 Iron paddlewheel steamer
Launched  :
1845
Builder :
 Caird and Co
Greenock, England
Gross :
 151 tons
Dimensions :
 150 (feet) x 17 (feet) x  5 (feet)
Passenger capacity :
 151
Speed :
 11 knots

Culloden arrived in Hobart in 1853 and served there until being sold to Sydney in 1865. Prior to her Tasmanaian service she had operated as a river steamer in Glasgow and along with the Rothsay Castle was shipped to Australia. Culloden upon arrival was put to service between Hobart and the Huon. Her trip to Australia was not without some excitement - the loss of a rudder forced her to put in to Mauritius and undergo repairs. During the trip her paddleboxes had been removed and she arrived under canvas.

She arrived on Friday 9th September 1853 and was sent to Ross's Yard to be fitted with new paddleboxes and for other renovations. Early October saw the first advertisments for the vessel and she had her maiden trip on the 12th of November. As well as her regular Huon service she is recordered as being advertised for river cruises, on more than one occassion she carried tourists to Bridgewater and New Norfolk. At this time she was owned by the Huon Steam Packet Company. In the early 1860's she figures frequently as operating between Hobart Town and Port Arthur engaged to carry passengers, supplies and military persons for the convict settlement. Interesting she is also recorded as carrying "miscreants" and "unfortunates" - one would assume a polite way of referring to convicts.

An article published in 1863 bemoaned the fact that the boat (along with several others) was shortly to be sold away from Tasmania leaving only four steamboats. This was prompted by the Tasmanian Steam Navigation Company having won the tender from the colonial government to operate the Port Arthur service.

She was offered for auction (in Melbourne) on the 23rd April 1863 - advertised as a fine vessel fitted with all amenities, saloons and sleeping berths. Evidently she was sold for use as an excursion boat as two years later a Melbourne newspaper article mentions the loss of her in such a role as she was being sold to Sydney. She departed to her new home port on the 5th of November 1865. On the 7th of the same month she was advertised in Sydney for use as an excursion steamer.

By late November she was working the Manly route along with Breadalbane and Phantom. She also continued to operate occasional harbour excursions and from time to time ran outside the Heads as far as Port Kembla in such a role. Late in December 1866 she was being advertised for towing and picnic excursions.

On Friday evening, 12th April 1867, whilst returning to Manly she collided with the sloop Etienne causing some excitement - her passengers feared that the Culloden would sink and rushed to board the sloop. Only a few managed to do so before the captain convinced everyione that they were safe. She returned to Sydney and unloaded her passengers to Breadalbane who picked up those still on the sloop on her way to Manly. Some damage was done to the paddlebox in the accident. She was evidently patched up fairly quickly as by June of that year she was being offered for sale yet again. Along with Pearl she competed for a tender to be used as a tug by the government; although her tender was the lowest she was passed in in favour of the other vessel due to her "great age". She continued as a picnic vessel and on the Manly run.

In August 1868 she was yet again advertised for sale - this time as a steam tug. Once again in 1870 she was offered for sale. For the entire time she had been in Sydney she had been owned by a partnership called Broomfield and Whittaker - not once previously had they managed to sell her.  This finally changed on the 26th of July when she was sold to Matthew Johnstone who immediately sent her to the Richmond River.Upon arrival she was advertised as a tug and a few mentions of her in the newspapers of the day indicate her operating in this role. In early 1872 she was also advertised as plying regularly between the Clarence and Richmond Rivers carrying flate (at a low rate).

At 6am on Sunday, 28th April 1872 while attempting to cross into the Richmond river during heavy seas she was lost on the bar. No lives were lost and apparently the steamer went down very quickly.