Allanshaw was a 1,589 ton, iron sailing ship with a length of 80.1 metres (263 ft), beam of 12.3 metres (40 ft) and draught of 7.0 metres (23.0 ft). She was built by William Simons & Company of Renfrew for the J.G. Potter & Company of Liverpool and launched on 29 August 1874. She was bought by the Nourse Line on 26 November 1880. She was a fast ship, making the run from London to Sydney in 65 days. On 2 October 1882 she arrived in Australia with new immigrants.

Allanshaw

History
United Kingdom
Owner	J.G. Potter & Company, Liverpool
Builder	William Simons & Company, Renfrew
Launched	29 August 1874
Acquired	Nourse Line, 26 November 1880
Fate	Wrecked 23 March 1893
General characteristics
Class and type	Iron-hulled sailing ship
Tons burthen	1,589 tons
Length	80.1 m (263 ft)
Beam	12.3 m (40 ft)
Draught	7.0 m (23.0 ft)

She was primarily used for the transportation of Indian indentured labourers to the colonies. Details of some of these voyages are as follows:

On 23 March 1893 she was wrecked on Tristan da Cunha, while en route from Liverpool to Calcutta, carrying salt, with the loss of 3 lives.