HMS Vulcan off Garden Island

HMS Vulcan was an iron-hulled, screw propelled steam frigate of 1747 tons, laid down in down in 1846 and launched in 1849. Converted to a troopship in 1851, her first trip in this role took troops to South Africa.
In 1852 the Vulcan entered Australian waters, docking in Victoria and New South Wales. Among those onboard were a detachment of the 40th Regiment of Foot (2nd Somersetshire). In 1853 the Regiment was detailed to be mounted escorts for gold shipments sent from the central Victorian diggings to Melbourne. Later that year the Regiment quashed the miner rebellion at the Eureka Stockade, Ballarat, providing both storming parties and mounted troops.
After her 1852 trip to Australia, the Vulcan returned to Portsmouth. In 1855 the ship served in the Black Sea and Mediterranean, removing wounded troops and Russian prisoners of war from the Crimea, and bringing in reinforcements. From 1860 Vulcan continued as a troopship in the East Indies and China. Vulcan was disposed of in 1867 after being converted to a barque and renamed Jorawur.