In December 1839, a barque of 430 tons, called the Glen Huntley, left Greenock and Oban, Argyleshire, with 157 government emigrants for Australia. She arrived in Hobson’s Bay on 17^th April 1840 and came up to the usual harbour anchorage of William’s Town. The port authorities then learned that the Glen Huntley was a fever ship, as ten emigrants had died from fever during the voyage. Captain Buchanan was ordered to take the ship from the Bay and anchor the barque off the Red Bluff. Tents were set up and comforts were provided for the unfortunate emigrants, who disembarked on 23^rd April.

          A Sergeant and four Privates guarded the emigrants to ensure that they did not come in contact with other settlers. There were two camps, one for the fever patients and one for the emigrants who were free from disease. Surgeon Superintendent Browne was in charge of the sick camp. The healthy camp was controlled by Dr. Barry Cotter, who reported that upon landing six fresh cases of fever were found, leaving 108, including children, in the healthy camp, many of whom were emaciated from the long and arduous voyage. Sadly, the weather was bitterly cold, with some rain, and the canvas camp was in a very exposed situation. One healthy emigrant, Ann Cummins, fell from the Bluff onto the beach and was badly injured. Governor La Trobe frequently visited the camp.

          Of the original 157 emigrants who boarded the barque in Argyleshire, ten died at sea and three more at the quarantine station which, considering the appalling conditions aboard the ship, were surprisingly few.

          Melbourne Town was alarmed by the news of the fever ship as typhus was raging in Hobart Town at the time, and many cases were reported in Sydney. The first death at Red Bluff was a young man, James Mathers, on 22^nd April and he was buried in the crown of the Red Bluff on 23^rd April. He was a single man. John Craig, a weaver of Paisley, died shortly after, leaving a wife and seven children. George Armstrong, an old man, died of dysentery. He and John Craig were buried beside James Mathers.

          The camp was inspected on 27^th May and the healthy emigrants were released from quarantine on 1^st June. On 13^th June, the remainder was allowed to go to Melbourne.

          For years the graves, enclosed by a picket fence, marked the place of tragedy. But the sea gradually washed the rocks and earth away and on 27^th August 1898, at 7.00 am, in the presence of the civic authorities of St. Kilda and representatives of government, the graves were re-opened.

          The red gum coffins, made in 1840, had mouldered away to dust, but the skeletons of the bodies were almost intact. One skull, with a good set of teeth, was in perfect condition. The remains were put in three coffins and in the afternoon were buried in the St. Kilda Cemetery in the presence of the councillors and relatives of those who came in the ship Glen Huntley. Mrs. Bowman, a daughter of John Craig, was a child of eight at the time of the tragedy and stood for the second time at the grave of her father. Public subscriptions allowed a suitable memorial to be erected.

          On 7^th November 1985, a plaque commemorating the Glen Huntley Pioneers was unveiled at Point Ormond. The Historical Society of St. Kilda was well represented, along with many persons whose ancestors had travelled on the ill-fated ship.