Hello everyone I wonder if someone is able to give me some advice. I am compiling a list of arrivals and departures of ships at Western Australia in the 1850s, using newspapers and archival sources here in Western Australia. I am documenting as much information as possible about each ship. I'm also researching the establishment of the steam ship Royal Mail service at Albany in Western Australia in 1852-54. In 1852, a steam ship mail service to the Australian colonies was contracted by the British Government. There were initially 2 companies: The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company and the Australian Royal Mail Steam Navigation Company. Because of the long distances, coal depots were required, and both companies established them at Albany in Princess Royal Harbour at King George's Sound so that the steam ships could deliver mail for the Colony of Western Australia and refuel at Albany before proceeding to the eastern Australian colonies. Albany is about 400 km south of Perth. The first mail steam ship arrived in September 1852. During 1852/1853, a number of ships carried to Albany cargoes of coals from England and Wales. One of these that appears to have been contracted to the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company called in at Simons Bay for some reason according to the records here: "Marij? Hillegonda", Dutch ship. Departed Hartlepool, England on 6 September 1853. Called at Simons Bay, Cape of Good Hope, departed there on 14 April 1854. Arrived at Albany on 18 May 1854. Master = T. Visser. Tonnage = 767 tons. Cargo = coals for the P. & O. Company. It must have stayed at Simons Bay for 4 to 5 months, because another Dutch ship, the "D'Elmina", also carrying coals for the P. & O. Company, departed Hartlepool at the same time but arrived at Albany much earlier on 13 December 1853. Perhaps it had a mishap on the way. I am interested in anything at all. Perhaps there are shipping registers of arrivals and departures/crew records held in an archive or mentioned in newspapers? I would very much appreciate any advice anyone is able to give me as to available sources. Neil Perth Western Australia