Dorunda’s cholera bees, Brisbane, 1886

When some cholera infected passengers were identified aboard the R.M.S. Dorunda on its arrival at
Moreton Bay, Queensland, in mid December 1885, health authorities decided to place all aboard ship in
quarantine at Peel Island. Swept up in the safety procedure was a hive or hives of bees consigned to a Mr.
Spry, a commercial beekeeper in Brisbane.

S.S. Dorunda, rounding Kangaroo Point on Brisbane River, c1892 1

The British India Steam Navigation Company’s iron steamship Dorunda of 2,977 tons, being 350.2ft x
36.4ft x 28ft, was built in 1875 at Dumbarton, Scotland. “Of the first class of steamers, the two largest
lines in the world are the British India Steam Navigation Company and the Austro-Hungarian Lloyds. …
at present the steamers owned by each number about seventy-seven and seventy-nine respectively. The
British India Company … has lately started a line to Brisbane in Queensland via Batavia. Its steamers
have until lately been of medium size, but it is now building larger ships. Its vessels are named after
Indian towns, etc., and the names are mostly very pretty, as the Merkara, Dorunda, Ellora and others.”
(pp.287-8) 2
The bees plight prompted Charles Fullwood, a prominent Brisbane apiarist, to write to the Editor of the
Brisbane Courier, wherein it was published on 16 January1886. “Sir,-Your subleader this morning re bees
in quarantine attracted my attention. Of course, it is well known that I am personally interested in the
introduction of foreign races of bees, having very successfully introduced and established the far-famed
Ligurians into Queensland.
I have nothing whatever of personal interest in the bees brought by Mr. Spry by the Dorunda. Yet I should
be very sorry to learn that they were destroyed; for they must have cost him much expense and trouble to
get them so far. Still, if the bees may be a source of danger to the inhabitants by introducing disease, they
ought not to be allowed to land. This is what I challenge. As a beekeeper who has for many years studied
the habits of these insects, and worked among them pretty considerably, I must express my decided
dissent to the statements contained in your leader. Allow mo to assert - rather dogmatically, may be - bees
are not scavengers. They cannot endure any kind of putrescence. They do not feed on any animal or
similar substance. They are particularly clean in their habits, and the most unlikely insect of all I am
acquainted with to carry disease germs, unless those germs are to be found in the
blossoms of trees and plants, or the water they visit. But should there be any doubt in the
minds of the authorities, the destruction of the honey is all that is necessary, and that is really
not needed, seeing that it is most unlikely that a single particle of the small quantity they have in store
will come into human consumption. … I understand Mr. Spry has brought some of the most valuable
strains of bees to be found in Europe or Asia, and believed to be the most suitable for this climate. I hope
they will not be injured. Chas. Fullwood, 15 Jan. 1886” (p.3)
1
Image from http://www.biship.com/logentries3.htm
2
Preble, Geo. Henry (1883) A Chronological history of the origin and development of steam navigation. L.R.
Hamersley & Co., Philadelphia
The article to which Fullwood so strenuously objected appeared in the Brisbane Courier, 15 January1886:
“We are informed that among the passengers by the Dorunda, and placed in quarantine with them, were a
number of bees. Now, it is pretty well known that bees are about as indefatigable in the collection and
distribution of germs of all kinds as any known agents. It is therefore by no means unlikely that these
industrious insects, while foraging about Peel Island, may have managed to convey back to their hives
along with their store of pollen whatever of these dangerous germs they may have encountered on their
way. Besides, though it may not be generally known, bees are great scavengers and frequently infest
sewage and all kinds of refuse for the sake of obtaining saline particles, which particles the curious may
observe on the comb by means of a microscope. Under these circumstances it is evidently advisable, in
the interests of the public health, that the hives and combs should be destroyed. With regard to the bees
themselves it seems a pity to adopt such a summary measure when the trouble and expense that has been
bestowed upon them is taken into consideration, but if the queens are saved that will probably satisfy the
owner.”
In the same issue of the Brisbane Courier: “The following account of the voyage of the R.M.S. Dorunda,
Captain N. R. Sayers, has been kindly forwarded to us:- “… left Gravesend on 20th October with 24
saloon passengers and 283 statute adult emigrants. Had a very fine run across the Bay of Biscay down the
Mediterranean to Malta, at which port we arrived on the 29 th October at 7 a.m. After taking coals and
water proceeded to Port Said, where we arrived on the 2nd November, and entered the Canal the same
day as far as the first station, where the ship was detained eighteen hours owing to the grounding of the
s.s. Eden Hall. While at anchor in the Bitter Lakes a concert was given by the emigrants, assisted by the
saloon passengers and some passengers from the s.s. Port Victor visited us and helped in the concert,
which went off with great eclat, 3 and was fully appreciated by all. We got clear of Suez to date, and had a
very cool run down the Red Sea to Aden, which was reached on the 9 th November: had to wait for the
arrival of the P. and O. Company's s.s. Sutlej, which arrived forty-eight hours late, and immediately on
getting the mails we started for Batavia.

S.S. Dorunda, docked at Port Said, Egypt, near the entrance to the Suez Canal 4
The run across the Indian Ocean was exceedingly fine. … [then passed through the] Straits of Sunda …
arrived at Batavia on the 27th November, and left the same day for Thursday Island via Banjoewangie;
arrived at Thursday Island on the night of the 6th instant, where we had to wait for medical inspection till
the next morning. This took some time, for each passenger was examined separately; after which we went
alongside the bulk [hulk?] Star of Peace to discharge cargo. Left Thursday Island on the 7th at 2 p.m., and
3
enthusiastic approval
4
Image from State Library of Queensland
proceeded through Torres Straits under pilotage charge of Captain F. Binstead. … Arrived at Cooktown at
10 am on the 9th December. Here we were again examined by the medical officer of the port. Landed
mails, passengers, and cargo, and left the same afternoon at 3 p.m.

Passengers accommodation on Peel Island 5

All had gone well till leaving Cooktown, when several of the emigrants were taken seriously ill. One died
the same evening, and two more before arriving at Townsville; this being reported to the health officer,
who, after consulting with the doctor of the ship, decided to place the vessel in quarantine. 11 th December
received orders to proceed to Moreton Bay, where we arrived on the 14 th, and awaited till the following
day, When we were ordered to the Quarantine Station at Peel Island, where passengers were
landed, and a portion of the crew to attend upon them. The ship is now being fumigated,
and all fittings, bedding, &c, belonging to the emigrants destroyed.”

Dorunda in quarantine at Peel Island 6

Reports vary as to the number of fatalities, however, including the voyage down from Townsville,
between six and twelve passengers died from the infection. On arrival in Moreton Bay there remained

5
From Peel Island, a brief history, by Peter Ludlow: “As on board ship accommodation for passengers and crew
was strictly segregated according to class. Saloon passengers occupied the largest building to the south. Next came
the officers' quarters, doctor's quarters, and female steerage passengers. Crew and male steerage passengers slept in
tents.”
6
http://users.bigpond.net.au/pludlow/peelhist.htm
three dangerous cases. The Brisbane Courier reported “the infected ship steamed round the island at half
speed, and anchored between the Quarantine Station and Bird Island. She was flying the yellow flag on
her mainmast, and an ensign at half-mast on the ensign stall indicated that more deaths had occurred.” 7
Of the three in danger only one survived. One body was buried at the quarantine station and the other was
interred at nearby Mud Island. 8 Some 356 surviving passengers and 105 officers and crew were released
from Peel Island on 9 January 1886. 9 “The passengers certainly did appear to be in excellent spirits.
This was probably due to the fact that they were now about to quit the infected ship in which no
fewer than twelve of their number had breathed their last.” The bees’ fate was not recorded.

7
Brisbane Courier, 16 Dec. 1885, p.3
8
Brisbane Courier, 16 Dec. 1885, p.3
9
Refer http://www.fopia.org.au/documents/Poster-Dorunda.pdf