AUSTRALIAN SHIPPING LINES IMAGES POSTCARDS PHOTOGRAPHS EPHEMERA OF JAMES PATERSON & Co Melbourne Began in the 1850’s where he quickly realised the potential of the Newcastle - Melbourne coal trade in the wake of the gold rush expansion. He procured a fleet following his arrival in Melbourne in 1852 and his early career at the diggings. The fleet comprised of timber sailing vessels until he acquired the Lady Darling in 1874, his first iron steamship. Paterson embraced this period of modernisation and knew that he must keep up with his rival players, and developments in vessel design. He later added a number of other iron steamers to the trade, including the Taramung, Easby (1879) and Glaucus(1873). It is worth noting that when purchased in 1874, the Lady Darling was ten years old and no longer at the forefront of iron steamer design. In the 1870s the firm became the largest coal importer in Melbourne and diversified into the bay towage business after buying two iron paddle steam tugs, an investment that remained important for the life of the company. Paterson's civic life was varied. He was elected to the Melbourne City Council and represented Lonsdale Ward from 1870 until 1885. He was mayor in 1876-77, and also worked hard to have the Eastern Market rebuilt; it was reopened in 1880. His influence was present again in maritime matters as a member of the Victorian Shipowners' Association from its inception in the mid-1860s and chairman in 1875. In addition he represented the shipowners at the inaugural meeting of the Melbourne Harbor Trust in April 1877. Moreover he was closely involved with the development of the port while a commissioner of the trust in 1877-79. He was also a member of the Marine Board of Victoria for some time. Other public offices included the royal commissions on low-lying lands in 1873, and the Paris Exhibition in 1878. An active churchman, Paterson materially assisted in establishing the West Melbourne Presbyterian Church and was associated, especially in his later years, with Scots Church and the Hawthorn Presbyterian Church. He was always generous in his gifts not only to the church and its agencies but also to many other charitable and philanthropic institutions. His main sporting interest was horse-racing and for some time he served on the committee of the Victoria Racing Club. He was an owner-breeder of several fine thoroughbreds, the best known being Hymettus, and the successes of his stable included the Oaks, the Adelaide St Leger and two Caulfield Cups. Paterson died on 6 November 1906, survived by his wife Mary Jane, née Forbes; they had no children. The nearest kin were nieces and nephews, of whom Henry Masterton was Paterson's chosen successor to control the business. Continuing to add steamships, he also maintained the coal transportation from Newcastle New South Wales to Melbourne, where at least in 1920, owned a healthy wholesale and retail coal trade. At this juncture, Huddart Parker Ltd owned one third of James Paterson & Co. This Company survived up to approximately 1960 NOTE: This webpage by no means complete of all vessels, history etc. More added as known