Groper

It was built by Thomas Wingate & Company[3] of Whiteinch, Partick, Scotland, and was a large self-propelled bucket ladder dredge, measuring 160 feet in length, weighing 359 tons, and powered by a 75 horsepower steam engine.

Due to its relatively low power, the Groper was rigged for sail to undertake the journey from Scotland to Australia via the Suez Canal and Torres Strait.

Its initial dredging operations focused on the Pinkenba Flats on the north side of the Brisbane River near its entry to Moreton Bay.

In May 1877, the Groper experienced an accident,[6] sparking a public conflict between the Queensland Government and Thomas Wingate & Company.

Investigations revealed a financial conflict[7] of interest involving the Glasgow engineer, James Deas, the project overseer.