Bruce's  Model  Boats 

 

One of Bruce's hobbies is building model ships and to date he has completed two - with plans for a third underway.

"Lady Nelson" played an important role in the early years of the settlement of Van Diemens land (Tasmania.) Bruce's ancestors, Richard Sydes and Ann White and their children, were passengers on the "Lady Nelson" on 1 March 1813 when it arrived in Port Dalrymple with settlers from Norfolk Island. They settled at Norfolk Plains, now known as Longford.

 

The second model built by Bruce is a model of the Duchess of Northumberland, the second last convict ship to arrive in Tasmania - and the ship that brought the last group of women to be transported from England. The model was built to complement Chris's research into the female convicts researched for the book "The Last Ladies".  

The third model will be of HMS Nelson.   Photos of the models will be posted in the near future.