1830s Coastal Cutter - Peter Cuffley

Upon obtaining his Ticket of Leave in 1831, Thomas Sweeney set about becoming a coastal trader between Wollongong and Syddey. By 1833, he owned a half share in a small vessel called Sarah and was building a craft of some 40 tons. This old engraving, provided by Peter Cuffley, is typical of the sort of boat that Sweeney would have sailed.