Built as an iron full rigged ship under yard No. 97 by Robert Steele & Co., Greenock for the Orient Line (Anderson, Anderson & Co.), London.
10 August 1876 launched under the name HARBINGER.
Tonnage 1.585 grt, 1.506 net, 1.345 tons under deck. Dim. 253.6 x 37.6 x 22.4ft.
Two decks, call sign QFDN.
15 September 1876 registered at London.
She was the last sailing ship special built for the passenger trade for the Orient Line to Australia, and also the first iron built ship for the company. She was well built but never made record passages. Her top speed is given as 16 knots.
Accommodation for 30 salon passengers in the poop, and could carry 200 emigrants in her tweendecks. Crew 45.
First sailing to Adelaide but in the eighties the arrival port was changed to Melbourne.
During her days as an emigrant vessel to give fresh food to the passengers, she carried live animals and poultry, and a plant for distilling fresh water.
For a time the well know sea writer Frank T. Bullen served on her as second mate.
Her maiden voyage was under command of Capt. Daniel Bolt, and till 1893 when he retired at the age of sixty-eight he was her commander.
21 July 1880 registered at Aberdeen.
1890 Sold to Devitt & Moore, in London.
Then fitted out as a cargo carrying cadet ship, with accommodation for 40 to 80 cadets.
She sailed for the first time as cadet ship from London on 18 July 1890 bound for Melbourne. At that time she still carried saloon passengers.
Captain F. Northey relieved him in London on 13 July 1893 but after arrival Melbourne the command was taken over by Captain H.N.Forbes.
She took part in a race with the PARTHENOPE both ships were towed out from Melbourne to the bay to prepare for sea, and the next day at dawn were towed out to sea. Shortly thereafter she lost sight of each other in a rainsquall, and not till off Cape Horn they sighted each other, but lost sight again in the heavy squalls, till the northeast trades.
But again she lost sight of each other, and not before she where in the English Channel running before a strong north-westerly wind, she arrived together the same time off Dungeness, the HARBINGER got the tug line first and she was towed ahead of the PARTHENOPE when passing Dover.
1898 Sold to J.Enlund at Raumo for £4.800 and renamed SOLGLIMT. (Given by Capt. A.G.Course in Painted Ports, and Origins Orient and Oriana by Charles F. Morris, but according other sources she was not renamed)
January 1910 sold to Dutch buyers.
August 1910 sold to Maguiette in Antwerp for £2.000 to be broken up.
Upper Volta 1984 120f sg736, scott ?
Sources: Painted Ports by Capt. Course. The Colonial Clippers by Basil Lubbock. Organs Orient and Oriana by Ch. Morris. Orient Line by Peter Newall.
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