Great Britain Sold For Australian Service
The former Atlantic liner was sold to new interests for a change of service toward Australian passenger voyages.
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Isambard Kingdom Brunel Biography and Timeline — Page 10
Follow Isambard Kingdom Brunel through 477 dated historical records for Great Britain.
Isambard Kingdom Brunel, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
477Distinct records
10 of 12Page
1850–1853Years on this page
1850
Dundrum Salvage Expense Undermines Original Company
The cost of recovering SS Great Britain after her 1846 grounding placed severe financial pressure on the original Great Western Steamship Company.
Great Britain Sold For Australian Service
Gibbs Bright and Company bought SS Great Britain in 1850 and prepared the former Atlantic steamship for the growing Australia emigrant trade.
1851
Paddington Station
Brunel presents preliminary plans for rebuilding Paddington as a grand permanent railway terminus.
Mickleton Tunnel Contract Dispute Escalates
Brunel arrives with a large workforce during a bitter contractor dispute at Mickleton Tunnel, prompting local magistrates to intervene.
Clifton Chains Diverted from Original Project
Material intended for the unfinished Clifton bridge is disposed of after the project loses its remaining construction funds.
Clifton Materials Ordered Sold
Brunel is ordered to suspend the unfinished bridge works and sell materials and plant to satisfy creditors.
Clifton Construction Suspension Ordered
Financial problems forced the project's managers to halt work and seek ways to settle outstanding liabilities.
Permanent Paddington Station Plans Presented
Brunel prepared a scheme for replacing the temporary terminus with a monumental iron roofed passenger station.
Australian Passenger Refit Prepared
The ship underwent substantial preparation to serve the growing demand for passage to Australia.
Australian Refit Enlarges Ship Deckhouse
Refitting SS Great Britain for the emigrant trade included a substantial deckhouse that provided more accommodation for long voyages.
Brunel Ordered To Sell Bridge Materials
Creditors direct Brunel to halt remaining Clifton bridge work and dispose of materials and plant in October 1851 as the undertaking struggles with its unpaid obligations.
1852
Snow Hill Station
The Great Western Railway opens its Birmingham station at Snow Hill.
Chepstow Railway Bridge
Brunel completes the tubular railway bridge over the River Wye at Chepstow.
SS Great Eastern
Brunel develops the concept of an exceptionally large steamship able to reach distant destinations without refuelling.
Chepstow Approach Plate Girders Used
Brunel employs wrought-iron plate girders for approach spans and decking at the Chepstow railway bridge.
Chepstow Inverted-W Main Girder Completed
The Chepstow railway bridge uses Brunel's distinctive large inverted-W tubular girder over the River Wye.
Great Eastern Long-Range Concept Developed
Brunel develops a huge steamship intended to reach distant destinations without repeatedly stopping to take on coal.
Great Eastern Ocean Liner Concept Proposed
Brunel developed plans for a steamship large enough to travel immense distances without frequent coaling stops.
Australian Passenger Capacity Expanded
The ship was fitted to accommodate substantially more travellers for its long voyages to Australia.
Retractable Propeller Fitted For Sailing
The Australian refit incorporated a propeller that could be raised to reduce resistance when sailing under wind power.
Three Mast Square Rig Installed
The former transatlantic liner received a three masted sailing arrangement suited to its longer Australian service.
Australian Passenger Capacity Expanded
During the 1851 to 1852 conversion SS Great Britain gained passenger accommodation for roughly 730 travellers serving the Australian emigrant route.
Retractable Propeller Fitted For Sailing
SS Great Britain was adapted to combine steam with ocean sailing, allowing her propeller arrangement to reduce resistance when winds were favourable.
1853
Paddington Station
The Great Western Railway approves Brunel's plans for a grand permanent terminus at Paddington.
Cornish Pier Foundation Ceremony
The foundation for a Cornish-side pier of the Royal Albert Bridge is formally laid at Saltash.
Clifton Bridge Works Abandoned
Construction of the Clifton Suspension Bridge is completely abandoned.
Clifton Construction Suspended
The unfinished project remains dormant when its statutory time limit expires.
Paddington Station
Brunel designs the permanent station with architectural detailing undertaken by Matthew Digby Wyatt.
Royal Albert Bridge
Brunel finalises the distinctive lenticular truss design for the railway bridge across the River Tamar.
Great Eastern Combined Paddle and Screw Propulsion
The Great Eastern is designed with both paddle wheels and a screw propeller driven by separate machinery.
Great Eastern Double-Hull Principle Adopted
Brunel's Great Eastern design uses a double iron hull to provide exceptional structural strength and internal subdivision.
South Wales Railway Network Integration
Brunel's broad-gauge engineering links major South Wales industrial routes with the wider Great Western system.
Clifton Bridge Plant Sold
Project materials and equipment were sold as the original construction effort came to an end.
Clifton Bridge Original Project Abandoned
The first construction programme stopped without completion of the bridge across the gorge.
Great Eastern Twin Propulsion Designed
Brunel specified both side paddle wheels and a screw propeller to power his exceptionally large iron steamship.
Great Eastern Double Hull Specified
The vessel's structural scheme used a cellular double iron hull to increase strength and resistance to damage.
Paddington Iron Roof Structure Assembled
The new station's broad train shed incorporated extensive wrought iron supports and glazed roof areas.
Two Blade Propeller Installed During Refit
A refit of SS Great Britain after her first voyage to Australia included installation of a two blade screw propeller and changes to her sailing rig.
Unused Clifton Ironwork Redirected To Saltash
Iron chains originally acquired for the unfinished Clifton project are sold and subsequently used in Brunel's Royal Albert Bridge at Saltash after funding for Clifton collapses.
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.