Lots of people wanted to travel to Australia for the Gold Rush. Shipping companies bought extra vessels to cope with the demand. The Seringapatam, was bought by Bristol owners for the work and sailed several times in the 1850s, carrying 11 passengers plus cargo. Each journey took about three months.

The model was made for the sister of Lieut. Bindon, who was the captain at one time. However, the model was made from the plans of an earlier ship, HMS Seringapatam, built in Bombay in 1819, so doesn't look at all like the ship that went to Australia. As far as the captain's sister was concerned, this represented her brother's ship - the memories it carried were more important than its appearance.