![Piracy in the Bay: The Great Nelson Gold Robbery, Melbourne 1852 [Paperback] by Paul W Wright](https://www.historyvictoria.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/piracy-in-the-ba.jpg)
Description
It remains the greatest act of theft in Australian history. On a moonlit night in 1852, the barque, Nelson, was riding at anchor in Hobson’s Bay in the then young Colony of Victoria. Aboard the vessel was an 8,000 ounce gold consignment bound for London. In an audacious assault, a band of heavily armed pirates took possession of the ship, shooting her chief officer and imprisoning her crew. The pirates then helped themselves to the gold. In today’s money, the heist would be worth more than 35 million dollars. This makes the value of their theft three times greater than the famed Eugowra Gold Robbery.
The ramifications of the Nelson piracy were enormous. It was an incident that capped widespread lawlessness throughout Victoria during the early gold rush years. With crime rampant, and the government held accountable, it was perhaps the final straw that saw a hapless Governor Charles La Trobe resign his tenure. And it was a main factor in instigating the end of convict transportation – at least to Tasmania.
The author of this book is the great-grandson of Captain Walter Wright, the commander of the Nelson at the time of the piracy. Here, the Nelson story is told fully for the first time. Lavishly illustrated, the book also features never before published photographs of some of the principal players involved in the Nelson affair.
Specifications:
Publisher: Inspiring Publishers
Year: 2025
Format: Paperback
Pages: 127pp
ISBN: 9781923250512
239 A'Beckett Street Melbourne, Victoria, 3000 
03 9326 9288 
office@historyvictoria.org.au 
Office & Library: Weekdays 9am-5pm
Book Reviews Reviews
There are no reviews yet.