Lunchtime Talks Series | Malcolm Riley: the people of the Lady Nelson
About this Event
For Hobart local Malcolm “Mal” Riley, the sea has been a constant feature throughout his life.
As a child, Mal travelled the world with his English parents, who rarely stayed in one place for long. His early voyages took him through the Panama and Suez Canals and around the Cape of Good Hope, including a journey aboard Fairsky, a former Second World War aircraft carrier converted into a passenger ship.
As a young man, Mal joined the Royal Australian Navy, serving aboard HMAS Melbourne and HMAS Diamantina. He later spent 34 years working with the Bureau of Meteorology, while continuing to pursue his interest in ships, sailing and maritime history.
Mal was one of the skippers of the replica colonial brig Lady Nelson for many years. He has sailed aboard numerous tall ships and regularly assists with Tall Ships Races in the Northern Hemisphere. He has just returned from the northern hemisphere where he sailed on two German and one Norwegian ship from 400 to 2,500 tonnes.
Mal is also the author of books exploring the lives of people connected with the original Lady Nelson, including convicts, colonial administrators, military personnel and First Nations people.
This presentation covers just a few of the thousands of people who voyaged on the original Lady Nelson. Some you may be familiar with, Macquarie, Franklin, Flinders, Meehan and Father Connolly. Others you may not of heard of, they were artists, pirates, serial killers and entrepreneurs. Some of you will be descendants of these people, if not, their descendants will be your neighbours, workmates and friends. Most do not know they have a link to this little ship; a ship Mal believes to be the most important vessel in Australia’s history.
Event details
Date: Tuesday 1 September, 2026
Time: 12:00 pm
Venue: TMAG Royal Society Room (entrance at 19 Davey Street)
Free event, but bookings essential.
Our Lunchtime Talks are supported by Arts Tasmania.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
AUD 0.00
