Veitch brings Hell Ship to Horsham

Australian comedian, writer, broadcaster and actor Michael Veitch will bring his one-man show to Horsham on Saturday night.

Hell Ship – the Journey of the Ticonderoga is based on one of the most dramatic, yet now-forgotten, chapters of Australia’s early maritime history.

In 1852, the emigrant vessel Ticonderoga limped into Port Phillip Bay after a nightmare voyage from England in which a quarter of her nearly 800 passengers and crew had died from typhus. As its victims – Scottish families seeking a new life – were buried hastily at sea, schools of sharks, it was said, followed the stricken vessel all the way across the Indian Ocean. When news of the ‘fever ship’ reached Melbourne, the city went into a panic.

Forbidden to come into port, Ticonderoga was instead forced to anchor near Portsea, where her remaining passengers were either nursed back to health, or allowed to die.

In its day, the Ticonderoga was the most dramatic, most tragic true story of our maritime history. Today however, the saga is largely forgotten as is the story of one of its heroes, the young ship’s surgeon who bravely nursed many of the sick passengers back to health.

This man was Michael Veitch’s great-great grandfather, James William Henry Veitch.

Horsham Town Hall marketing co-ordinator Charee Smith said Veitch’s one-man play tells one of Australia’s great maritime stories.

The show starts at 8pm. Tickets cost between $30 and $40 and are available online at www. horshamtownhall.com.au or at the box office.