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SOUTH BULLI
1913-60
818 gross tons. Lb: 59.5 x 9.2 metres. Cargo steamship built as the South Bulli by Hall Russell, Aberdeen for the Bellambi Coal Co Ltd, Sydney New South Wales. Single screw, triple expansion engine. 9 knots. 1927 sold to Jones Bros Coal and renamed Abersea. Broken up at Adelaide July 1960
image as the Abersea (low resolution scan) courtesy Mr Priest of the Nautical Association of Australia
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KIAMA
1902-38
358 gross tons. Lb: 140'4" x 26'2". Cargo steamship built by Mackie & Thomson Govan, Glasgow. Propulsion: steam compound 52nhp 560ihp Engines by McKie & Baxter, Govan. 10 knots. Owned by the Kiama Road Metal Co Ltd, Sydney New South Wales. Employed in the carriage of blue metal to Sydney. 1911 Company and holdings taken over by the New South Wales State Government. Continued in that role until 1932 when purchased by Bellambi Coal Co Ltd, Sydney and employed in the transport of coal. 1938 hulked, given the ignoble name of C597A. Finally scrapped 1960 in Sydney
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MUNMORAH
1934-49
1273 gross tons. Steel hulled, single screw steamship, collier, Built Leith Scotland, 1934 for Wallarah Coal Co, Sydney. Length 231 ft. Maintained a regular run Newcastle to Catherine Hill Bay. With the usual south coast vessel, the ss Bellambi in Cockatoo Dock being overhauled, the Munmorah under Captain K Knutsen along with eighteen crew was seconded to pick up a 1,450 tonne load of coal from the now long gone South Bulli jetty at Bellambi. One day later, ran on to Bellambi Reef, New South Wales, 18 May 1949. Hopes were held that she could be refloated however after a couple of days heavy seas battered her and she could not be saved. Sold for salvage
image (umpCAXMJV7E 303663) courtesy Australian War Memorial
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TUGGERAH (1)
1912-1919
749 gross, 336 net tons. Lbd: 186'3" x 28'9" x 12'6". Steel hulled, single screw steamship, collier, Clyde Ship Building and Engineering Company Ltd at Port Glasgow, Scotland for the Wallarah Coal Company; reg. Sydney, 1912. Triple expansion engine with the steam provided by two Scotch boilers. Arrived Sydney heads 23 December 1912. Captain McConachie. Placed upon the 'sixty miler' run. Turned turtle and sank after shipping a heavy sea a few miles south of Port Hacking, New South Wales, off Marley Beach, 17 May 1919. Six crew including the captain, Chief Officer and Chief Engineer were lost, eleven survived and landed on Cronulla Beach. Wrecksite located in the early 1970s, in 165 ft off the northern headland of Wattamolla Beach. Only the stern of the wreck is visible, badly broken up but with its boiler exposed. A popular dive
naval blueprint only image available (so far) image wanted
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TUGGERAH (2)
1921-1956
1,051 tons. Lbd: 210'4" x 33'2" x 12'9". Steel steamship built Fullerton & Co., Paisley as the Oorama for the Adelaide Steamship Co Ltd. Sold June 1949 renamed Tuggerah by Wallarah Coal Co. Sold January 1956 to Cambray Prince SS Co Hong Kong renamed Brenda. Scrapped Hong Kong 1956
image as the Oorama. True image as Tuggerah (2) wanted
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KELLOE
1866-1902
iron hulled collier built by J. Laing in Sunderland, UK for J. Forster of London. It was launched in either April or August 1866 (the records say both). The Kelloe displaced 500 tons and was almost 50 metres long and 8 metres wide. A single screw steam ship powered by a 70hp two cylinder compound engine built by G. Clark at Sunderland, its first regular destination was Hamburg, Germany. It appears that the Kelloe was named after the small town of Kelloe, near Durham City. This is located south of Newcastle-on-Tyne. Kelloe was a coal mining town and there were eight small mines situated around the town.
In the early 1870s the Kelloe was sold to J.D. Hill and in about 1876 it was sold again to J. Young, Ehlers and Co. The Kelloe remained in the UK, its home port being London. In early 1891 the Kelloe was purchased by the Wallarah Coal Co. for use in conjunction with its Australian coal mines. On 23 April 1891 the Kelloe left London under the command of Captain Hagan. It arrived in her new home port of Sydney on 9 July and started its regular run from Catherine Hill Bay on the southern outskirts of Newcastle to Sydney. It also made some journeys from the southern coalfields to Sydney and Brisbane.
On 11 February 1893 the Kelloe was proceeding down Sydney Harbour when she collided with HMS Ringarooma. She suffered some damage to the bow area and the master, Captain George F. Mason was suspended for three months. The Kelloe appears to have been incident free for the next nine years.
At about 10 pm on 12 May 1902, the Kelloe left the South Bulli jetty on the southern coalfields. She had a full load of coal aboard, bound for Sydney with Captain Hector Boyle as master. Just over two hours later, the wooden steamer SS Dunmore left Sydney for Shellharbour (south of Wollongong) under the command of Neils Hanson to load blue metal. The Dunmore was in its 12th year of incident free service but the early hours of 13 May 1902 would change that luck.
At about 1.30 am in almost perfect conditions to the immediate north of Botany Bay, the two vessels approached each other. On the Kelloe, Captain Boyle was in his cabin changing clothes. Captain Hanson saw the Kelloe and decided that the lights showed that the two would comfortably pass each other, the Dunmore to the seaward side of the Kelloe. To make certain, the Dunmore turned slightly to port. Suddenly, the Kelloe made a turn to starboard and a collision was imminent. Captain Boyle ordered full reverse and blew his whistle. Moments later, the Dunmore rammed the Kelloe's starboard side. As soon as Captain Boyle reached the Kelloe's bridge he "realised that the steamer was doomed".
The Dunmore lowered one of its boats to help the Kelloe but she was also in trouble. Captain Boyle ordered the Kelloe to be abandoned and her boat was put in the water. All 15 crew climbed aboard and were soon met by the Dunmore's boat. Within 15 minutes, the Kelloe had sunk, stern first, her engine still running.
The Kelloe's crew, taken on board the Dunmore, were not yet really saved as she herself was in a bad situation. Water was streaming in through the damaged bow, slowed a bit by a tarpaulin placed over the hole. Captain Hanson decided to take the Dunmore into Botany Bay and he beached the ship off Kurnell. The next morning, the crew of the Kelloe were taken over to the Botany Pier and caught a tram into Sydney. Temporary repairs to the Dunmore were carried out and on 16 May she returned to Sydney under her own power. However, the Dunmore was now on the road towards an accident in January 1909 when she ran down a Navy boat killing 15 Navy crew. This was the greatest maritime disaster to happen on Sydney Harbour to that time. In April 1914 the Dunmore was to again strike trouble when she collided with ss Kiama at Sydney Heads and was driven up on Lady Bay Beach where she remained for three days. In September 1915 the Dunmore ran aground at Bradleys Head and in February 1918 she collided with the tug Champion off Botany Bay. The Dunmore was surely not one of the luckiest vessels around.
An inquiry found that the Second Officer of the Kelloe, George Alstrope, was at fault for not keeping a proper lookout
image (b45886) courtesy State Library Victoria
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WALLARAH (1)
1900-14
633 gross tons. Lb: 55.8 x 8.5 metres. Cargo vessel built as the Hamm by Williamson at Workington, England Yard No: 165. Owner as Completed: D.Fuhrmann, Hamburg. Single screw. Triple expansion engine. Service speed 8.5 knots. Sold 1902 Wallarah Coal Co Ltd, New South Wales and renamed Wallarah. Wrecked Catherine Hill Bay, New South Wales, 16 April 1914
image (LAK00095) courtesy Lake Macquarie City Library. -Seen here aground at Catherine Bay
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WALLARAH (2)
1914-64
815 gross tons. Length: 196'5" x 29'9''. (59.9 x 9.1 metres). Cargo ship built by Clyde Shipbuilding Co., Port Glasgow for the Wallarah Coal Co Ltd, Sydney New South Wales. Single screw, triple expansion engine. Sold to Eastern China Navigation Co and renamed Tung Hwa in 1947. Deleted from register 1964
image (304081) courtesy Australian War Memorial
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WALLARAH (3)
1952-74
1448 gross tons,1585 net. Lb 73.3 x 11.6 metres. Cargo ship built by Austin, Wear Dock for Wallarah Coal Co Ltd, Sydney. Single screw, triple expansion engine making 10 knots. Sold 1971 to E Savoie, Noumea and renamed Sorana Del Mar. Capsized in tow 12 nm off Cape Brett, New Zealand 5 July 1974
Modern image now available for purchase here as 6x4 inch postcard format and larger size print. Click image for details
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BEULAH
1908-45
932 gross tons. Lbd: 211' x 30'5". Cargo steamship built by Clyde Shipbuilding Company Port Glasgow, Yard No 281 for the Wallarah Coal Co Ltd. Propulsion: steam, triple expansion. Launched: Monday, 31 August 1908. Sold 1935 to Fan Shien Ho, Tsingtao and renamed Min Ho. 1037 of China Import & Export Lumber Co., Shanghai ship renamed to Hsin Tse Ang Tah. Captured and renamed by Japanese Government during 1941-42 to Shintai Maru. Bombed & sunk - 18th July 1945 by US aircraft at 34.25N/130.27E (Northwest of Tsunoshima)
image via Michael MacFayden's website per Lindsay Howard-Smith with thanks
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HIMATANGI
1911-49
479 gross tons. Lbd: 150'3" x 30' x 8'7". Built as the Coolebar by Ardrossan Drydock & Shipbuilding Co, for North Coast S N Co, New South Wales. Serviced their Northern New South Wales rivers' trade to Sydney. Sold to Holm & Co., Wellington New Zealand and renamed Himatangi in 1929/30. 1931 sold to Anchor Shipping & Foundry Co., Nelson New Zealand. 1936 Sold to Wallarah Colliery of Sydney after being laid up in Wellington since 1931. Sold 1936 to Cam & Sons, Sydney. 1938 sold to North Coast S N Co., Sydney and given original name again. 1939 requisitioned by the Australian Government and named HMAS Coolebar for 1939-45 period. Served as a minesweeper 1939 and as stores carrier 1944. 1946 of the Australian Government. Sold 1948 to Fu Chan, of Canton and renamed East River. Sank at her moorings in Newcastle harbour, 29 September 1949. She was raised in pieces and finally broken up in 1958
image as Himatangi pending, meanwhile - image as Coolebar ashore Northern NSW River as a postcard of the era now available for purchase here as a modern 6x4 inch postcard or larger print. Click image for details
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NEWCASTLE-WALLSEND Coal Co, Sydney
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SAXONIA
1856-98
357 gross tons, 243 net. Lbd: 162'4" x 24'3" x 13'1". Iron steamship, 30 horsepower rigged as a 3 masted schooner and built by M Samuelson & Co, Hull England. Launched as the Columbia later renamed Sirius in 1860 by the General Steam Navigation Co, of London. Built for trade between England and Holland, and ran to Mauritius from 1860 on. Sent to Australia since with a view to sell her, and she was purchased by ASN Co December 1865 after she had spent much of 1864 anchored in Hobsons Bay Victoria. As a passenger ship, she lasted four years until sold November 1869 to W Summerbell, and converted into a collier. Sold November 1896 to the Newcastle-Wallsend Coal Co. Wrecked 17th May 1898 on Bellambi Reef, New South Wales
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TASMANIA
1853-1904
515 gross tons, 285 net. Lbd: 164'5" x 25' x 12'7". Iron steamship built by Smith & Roger, Glasgow for the Tasmanian S N Co., Hobart. Held a 2 cylinder compounded engine producing 68 horsepower. First vessel owned by the Tasmanian Steamship Co Pty Ltd, Hobart. Designed for the Hobart - Melbourne service as a passenger vessel. Ran her first trip from Hobart to Sydney in 1854 when the company's 'Articles of Association' were changed allowing greater scope of transit outside of Hobart. Maintained that service until 1871 when sold to W Summerbell, Sydney. Used mostly as a collier from that time, she underwent a refitting in 1880 where her accomodation was removed, her engine compounded at Mort's Dock, Sydney to produce 80 horsepower and her new dimensions read: 390 gross tons, 256 net with Lbd: 171'4" x 24'6" x 12'6". November 1896 sold to Newcastle-Wallsend Coal Co. Broken up in Sydney, register closed 1904
painting titled 'Running for Hobart' by S Prout-Hill 1854 now available here as a modern 6x4 inch postcard or larger print. click image for details
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WALLSEND
1899-1934
518 gross tons. Lb: 165 x 27 feet. (50.4 x 7.4 metres) Single screw. Compounded engine 2 cylinders. Cargo Steamship as designed by James Pollock, London (Project No 88) in 1898. Launched: Monday, 19 June 1899. Built, completed 1899 by Murdoch & Murray Port Glasgow. Yard No 165. Owner History: Newcastle Wallsend Coal Co, Sydney New South Wales. 1905 Chartered to Burns Philp & Co, Sydney. 1913 sold to E & O Warburton, Sydney New South Wales. 1920 Australian Steamships Pty (Howard Smith), Sydney. Hulked 1934. Scuttled off Sydney Heads 07 February 1935
image (P02929) courtesy Wollongong City Library
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William Summerbell, Sydney
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EAGLE
c 1849-69
244 gross tons, 144 net. Lbs: 150' x 18'1" x 10'4". Wooden paddle steamer built 1849 by Thomas Chowne, Pyrmont Sydney for the Hunter River S N Co, Sydney. Completed with two side lever engines from the older paddle steamer James Watt. Of 80 horsepower. As a passenger - cargo vessel, she plied Hunter River to Moreton Bay and Sydney. Became of the ASN Co fleet with the name change of 1851. 1858 saw her altered to screw propulsion and fitted with an oscillating engine taken from the fleets wooden vessel, City of Melbourne. Her new dimensions read - 216 gross tons, 147 net. Lbd: 151' x 19'4" x 10'2". November 1866 chartered by the South Australian Government to bring back settlers from Escape Cliffs, Northern Territory after that attempted colony failed. Sold October 1869 to Edye Manning who placed her in February 1870 on a run to Noumea under contract, making her the first steamer to make that run from Sydney. Was later employed on the Northern rivers of New South Wales run as well as becoming familiar on the Illawarra service. Also saw Melbourne many times on her travels. 1877 sold to W Summerbell who utilised her as a collier. 1890 register closed upon her being converted into a wharf at Sydney
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CITY OF HOBART
1853-77
616 gross tons, 439 net. Lbd: 184'2" x 24'7" x 18'6". Iron steamship built by T Wingate & Co., Whiteinch Glasgow, 1853 for Tasmanian S N Co. Originally 3 masted barque-rigged vessel of two funnels equiped with a 2 cylinder engine producing 100 horsepower. Ran a passenger - cargo service between Melbourne Victoria and Hobart, Tasmania. Steamed to Port Curtis Queensland from Melbourne with prospectors for the gold fields. Operated a mail service between Melbourne and New Zealand during the Otago goldrushes. Re-engined at Morts Dock, Sydney during 1865 and ran Melbourne to Sydney from that year on. Sold March 1875 to W Summerbell and converted into a collier. Whilst on a voyage from Melbourne to Sydney, her screw shaft broke and water penetrated her holds; abandoned, sank, about sixty nautical miles north east of Wilsons Promontory 25th July 1877
| 1856 painting when of Tasmania S N Co by J W Deering now available here as a modern 6x4 inch postcard or larger print. click image for details
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MORPETH
1861-91
527 gross tons, 360 net. Lbd: 212'9" x 25'4" x 12'8". Iron paddle steamer built by Mitchell & Co, Low Walker on Tyne for the Hunter River New S N Co. 2 funnels, 2 cylinder engine producing 185 horsepower. Designed as a passenger vessel for the Hunter River trade until sold October 1888 to W Summerbell, who was her former Captain, and converted into a collier. Sold April 1891 to G S Power. Converted into a hulk that year, fate unknown
image as a modern production of a painting, artist unknown and in issue c 2005 as a postcard. Publisher unknown, likely local Historical Society
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PATERSON
1854-74
326 gross tons, 219 net. Lbd: 155' x 20'8" x 10'2". Iron Paddle steamer of 60 horsepower, 2 decks and schooner rigged as built by Scott & Co, Greenock Glasgow for Hunter River New S N Co, Sydney. Worked the Sydney - Hunter river trades as a passenger vessel until sold in July 1871 to William Summerbell & Others. Here then she was converted into a collier. Sold November 1872 to A Kennedy who refitted her back into passenger status with tonnage increase to 410 gross and 260 net. Her Lbd became 156'8" x 23'2" x 10'7". Sold January 1874 to John Billings, registered Wellington New Zealand. July 13th 1874 wrecked at the Waitara River entrance, New Zealand
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LADY BOWEN
1864-94
527 gross tons, 425 net. Lbd: 210'5" x 25'7" x 11'5". Iron Paddle steamer, 2 cylinder oscillating 150 horsepower. 2 masts brigantine rigged. Built by A & J Inglis Glasgow for the Queensland S N Co's Sydney - Brisbane passenger trade. Of ASN Co as at 1868. December 1875 lengthened to 228'2" x 25'7" x 11'5". Tonnage became 702 gross and 442 net. Worked many of the Company's routes including the Hunter River. December 1882 sold to the Hunter River New S N Co. Sold again in October 1888 to W Summerbell and finally owned by B Corrigan as at January 1889. October 1889, she was converted into a fully rigged 4 masted schooner and was wrecked near Cardwell Queensland on Kennedy Shoal August 19th 1894
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TASMANIA
1853-1904
515 gross tons, 285 net. Lbd: 164'5" x 25' x 12'7". Iron steamship built by Smith & Roger, Glasgow for the Tasmanian S N Co., Hobart. Held a 2 cylinder compounded engine producing 68 horsepower. First vessel owned by the Tasmanian Steamship Co Pty Ltd, Hobart. Designed for the Hobart - Melbourne service as a passenger vessel. Ran her first trip from Hobart to Sydney in 1854 when the company's 'Articles of Association' were changed allowing greater scope of transit outside of Hobart. Maintained that service until 1871 when sold to W Summerbell, Sydney. Used mostly as a collier from that time, she underwent a refitting in 1880 where her accomodation was removed, her engine compounded at Mort's Dock, Sydney to produce 80 horsepower and her new dimensions read: 390 gross tons, 256 net with Lbd: 171'4" x 24'6" x 12'6". November 1896 sold to Newcastle-Wallsend Coal Co. Broken up in Sydney, register closed 1904
painting titled 'Running for Hobart' by S Prout-Hill 1854 now available here as a modern 6x4 inch postcard or larger print. click image for details
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YARRA YARRA
1851-77
337 tons. Lbd: 166'5" x 25' x 13'. Iron paddle steamer built by W Denny and Bros, Dumbarton, Scotland for ASN Co, Sydney. 1862 lengthened to be 183'5" x 30' x 11'7" with tonnage as 555 gross. As a passenger - cargo vessel, was placed on the Sydney - Melbourne trade route until 1857 when moved to the Brisbane run. 1971 became familiar to the Grafton trade. Later was converted to collier capacity and sold to W Summerbell in November 1974. Lost when overwhelmed by several big seas on Oyster Bank, Newcastle, 15 July 1877. All hands, numbering eighteen, were lost. The National Shipwreck Society of N.S.W. was formed as a result of this wreck
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NORTH ILLAWARRA Coal Company, Sydney
disposed of all three ships by 1890
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WARATAH
1874-87
425 gross tons. Lb: 48.8 x 7.3 metres. Iron hulled, single screw cargo vessel built by Hall Russell, Aberdeen for C Smith, Sydney New South Wales. Held compounded engine. Service speed unknown. Foundered June 1887 - 200 yards off the jetty at Hicks Point North Bulli whilst under charter to North Illawarra Coal Co
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GOVERNOR BLACKALL
1871-1910
487 gross tons. Lbd: 194'4" x 23'8" x 15'6". Iron steamship, 2 masts schooner rigged built by Mort's Dock & Engineering Co., Balmain Sydney. Originally ordered by the Queensland Government, however contract cancelled and purchased in 1872 by ASN Co. 1887 of AUSN Co. Sold June 1888 to North Illawarra Coal Mining Co. September 1890 owned by Moore & Austin. December 1896 George Adams (Tattersalls fame. Rumoured to be a Gambling ship when taken outside of territorial waters). December 1898 W J Featherstone. Hulked Sydney December 1910 and scuttled 16th July 1931 off Sydney Heads
Art image low resolution 1872 (Artist unknown) now available for purchase here as 6x4 inch postcard format and larger size print. Click image for details however recommend 6 x4 inch only
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TIMARU
19
459 gross tons. Lbd: 150' x 27' x 10'6". Iron steamship of 70 horsepower, three masts as built at Sunderland, England for Timaru SS Co Ltd, Lyttleton New Zealand. 1889 of North Illawarra Coal Mining Co Ltd, Sydney. 1891 A Campbell, Sydney, 1893 C A Campbell & W A Gainforth, Sydney. 1896 W G Laidley, Sydney, 1908 of A King, Dunedin NZ, 1911 of C McLeod & A King, Dunedin. 1912 of Brisbane Clarence River SN Co Ltd, NSW. Registry stayed at NZ and ownership reverted to C McLeod & A King 1913. 1918 A King sole owner, 1920 sold to Patrick SS Co Ltd, Sydney July 1922 sold to North Coast S N Co, Sydney. December 1922 sold to Adelaide interests and hulked soon after
image as a modern reproduction of a Dufty art postcard of the era c1900-10, now available for purchase here as 6x4 inch postcard format and larger size print. Click image for details
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Minmi Colliery Co Ltd, Owner - R Napier
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BUNGAREE
1861-1920
163 gross tons, 85 net. Lbd: 121'5" x 22'5" x 9'4'. Iron Paddle steamer/Steam Tug, schooner rigged built by Barclay, Curle & Co., Glasgow for ASN Co, Sydney. Designed as a tug for the Newcastle Australia trade, with side lever paddles and 150 horsepower (grasshopper) steam engine. Possibly used as limited capacity passenger vessel early upon her arrival. Sold March 1863 to R Napier (Minmi Colliery Co Ltd ). June 1864 sold to G R Dibbs. September 1864 sold to Alex Brown and sunk one year later, 5th October 1865 in the Hunter River after a collision with the City of Newcastle. Whilst underwater, sold to the Newcastle Co-Operative Tug Co, salvaged and served until 1878 when sold to J & A Brown, Newcastle. Laid up at Hexham during the 1920's, converted into a lighter and serviced the area until sold to P Callen 1933. Demolished at Newcastle for scrap 1933-5
image now available for purchase here as a 6x4 inch postcard format and larger size print. Click image for details
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BALCLUTHA
1860-81
Originally 433 gross tons, 1868 increased to 456 gross tons, 262 net. Lbd: 202'1" x23'3" x 13'3". Iron passenger steamship built by Caird & Co, Greenock Scotland for R Little (& possible partners) as well as part owner and skipper, Captain F H Trouton in replacing the lost 'Admella'. Worked Port Adelaide to Albany on a mail contract for the South Australian Government, during a climate of 'rate-war' between the major players of the era. Lost the mail contract in 1861 and transferred to the Adelaide-Melbourne-Sydney run in direct oppostion to ASN Co, Sydney. Switched to the Sydney - Brisbane route which prompted ASN Co to purchase her outright. The Captain Trouton continued his duty and rose through ASN Company ranks eventually attaining General Manager status. Meanwhile the Balclutha served all of this concerns coastal passenger routes including travel to Noumea on behalf of the Montifiore Company from 1873. Sold June 1881 to C M Poole and was lost with a loss of 22 hands when travelling from Sydney to Melbourne, as a collier October 1881. She was last seen in the vicinity of Gabo Island, Victoria
image now available for purchase here as 6x4 inch postcard or larger size print. Click image for details
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Mount Pleasant Coal & Iron Mining Co, Sydney
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PALMERSTON
1878-1929
430 gross tons. Lbd: 175'3" x 25'. Cargo vessel, steamship built as the Rook by J & G Thomson Clydebank, Glasgow. Propulsion: compound direct acting inverted 20"38" stroke 28" 70hp, Engines by shipbuilder. Launched: Tuesday, 04 June 1878. Owner History: G & J Burns, Glasgow. 1880 Napier & Co., Glasgow. 1883 C Barrie, Sydney. 1884 Goverment of South Australia. 1887 J Darling Jnr., Port Adelaide.
1889 Mount Pleasant Coal & Iron Mining Co., Sydney. 1929 R J Butler, Sydney. Refitted as a trawler in 1929 and sank after collision with trawler Millimumul off Jervis Bay, New South Wales 29th May 1929
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A Sneddon, Sydney
Balmain Line of Steamers
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BALMAIN
1883-1904
604 gross tons, 377 net. Lbd: 186' x 27'1" x 10'8". Steel steamship built by Dobie & Co, Glasgow for W Howard Smith & Sons Ltd., Sydney. Held a compounded engine producing 85 horsepower, 2 single ended coal fired boilers, 90 psi as constructed by James Jack & Co, Liverpool. Designed with passenger carrying capacity, she serviced the Melbourne and Sydney run as well as travelling as far as Fremantle and Queensland on occassion. August 1892 sold to A Sneddon, Sydney who utilised her as a collier with passenger accomodation, servicing Sydney - Newcastle. Sneddon embraced the title 'Balmain Line of Steamers' and offered reduced fares in enticing passengers. Sold October 1904 to B Einerson & Partner, who converted her into a hulk. Sold in 1906 to Scott Fell Shipping Co, fate unknown
| image as art in Balmain Line livery now available for purchase here as a modern 6x4 inch postcard and larger print. Click images for details
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SOUTH AUSTRALIAN
1876-1909
656 gross tons, 436 net. Lbd: 225' x 26'3" x 15'. Sister ship Victorian Iron steamship built by D & W Henderson & Co., Meadowside Glasgow as a passenger vessel for the Adelaide Steamship Co., Port Adelaide for their Adelaide - Melbourne passenger trade. Compounded engine producing 436 horsepower. 1878 tonnage increased to 716 gross and capable of carrying 170 passengers. She was their first regular service steamer to Sydney and became their first steamer to visit Brisbane. Sold February 1898 to A Sneddon, Sydney who converted her into a collier with limited passenger capacity. Chartered out to William Rankin of the Howard Colliery for 3 months early 1899. December 1904 sold to Mutual Shipping Co Ltd. Driven ashore and abandoned on Wallis Island (Tonga) in 1909. She was eventually salvaged and employed as a hulk at Levuka, Fiji until blown ashore and totally wrecked in 1914
Both images shown when of Adelaide SS Co. Left side image courtesy State Library of Victoria
Right side image as art now available for purchase here as a 6x4 inch postcard and larger print. Click images for details
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James Jones of Sydney, later Jones Bros., Coal Co Ltd, Sydney (James and David)
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ABERSEA
1913-60
818 gross tons. Lb: 59.5 x 9.2 metres. Cargo vessel built as the South Bulli by Hall Russell, Aberdeen for the Bellambi Coal Co Ltd, Sydney New South Wales. Single screw, triple expansion engine. 9 knots. 1927 sold to Jones Bros Coal and renamed Abersea. Broken up at Adelaide July 1960
image (low resolution scan) courtesy Mr Priest of the Nautical Association of Australia
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GALAVA
1906-27
400 gross tons. Lb: 141'1" x 23'9". (43.1 x 7.3 metres) Cargo vessel built and owned by R.Williamson & Son, Workington, England. Single screw, steel hull. Single boiler powering a two cylinder compound stream engine. Had several owner changes up to the unrecorded date when she came under ownership of Jones Bros Coal. Worked the coastal run from Catherine Hill Bay to Sydney as a collier. 8 February 1927 foundered off Terrigal, New South Wales after severe leakage from hull plates forward near the bow. Seven lives lost, five survivors. Info sourced from Miramar Ship Index and Michael McFayden Dive website -
http://www.michaelmcfadyenscuba.com"/
image (d1_25283r) courtesy State Library New South Wales
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HELEN NICOLL
1882-1932
384 gross tons, 246 net. Lbd: 157' x 22' x 10'3". Iron steamship built by Gourlay Bros, Dundee for G W Nicoll, Brisbane. Worked on the North Coast of New South Wales in passenger-cargo capacity and remained on that run when sold to John See, Sydney in July 1882. Of North Coast S N Co upon formation in December 1891. August 1893 sold to Anton Schlink of Port Adelaide who placed her on the South Australian run, particularly that State's west coast ports. Extended to Esperance, Western Australia with the advent of gold discoveries and taking in Albany as another port of call. Sold 1896 to A L Harrold and sold yet again in 1897 to J Darling Jnr, who kept her on the South Australia - West Australia trade route. 1901 saw her change ownership again, this time to to James Jones of Sydney, later Jones Bros, Coal Co Ltd., seeing her as a collier only. Demolished with register closed 1932
image as art (W J Forster) now available for purchase here as a modern 6x4 inch postcard and larger print. Click image for details
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KOORINE
1946-71
2,350 gross tons. 1,123 net. Lbd: 291"4" X 46'4" X 19'0". Machinery: 4 cylinder Lentz-type compound steam engine. Coal fired. General cargo steamship built by BHP Whyalla for the Australian Government with MacDonald Hamilton & Co., as appointed managers. Transferred October 1947 to the Australian Shipping Board. 1956 converted to burn oil. 1957 transferred to the ANL. 1960 sold to Jones Bros Coal Pty Ltd., Australia and renamed Koorine.1964 sold to Leechco Steamship Co SA Panama and renamed Lady of Victoria. 1969 sold to Hong Kong Ocean Shipping Co Ltd of Somali Republic and renamed Sha Chau. November 1971 scrapped Kaohsiung
image as DANDENONG courtesy State Library Victoria
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J L (Henry) Simpson & Sons (Black Diamond Line), Adelaide
Long history with coal and colliers, commencing with sail only vessels and taking on various partnerships leading up to the formation of this concern as named. Owned only 'four' steamships
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KARAWEERA
1882-1902
1,477 gross tons, 929 net. Lbd: 250' x 35'1" x 17'6". Iron steamship built by Hodgson & Soulsby, Blyth. Of compounded inverted engine = 170hp. Owned by R Harrold & partners, Port Adelaide. Designed as a coal carrier however sported 157 passenger capability. Serviced the Newcastle - South Australia run. June 1884 South Australian Coal & Co & 'partners'. From this time passengers were probably not taken. September 1886 J L (Henry) Simpson & Sons (Black Diamond Line). June 1895 A L Harrold & partners. December 1896 Adelaide Steamship Co. Broke her back when stranded on Central Island in the Fitzroy River, at Rockhampton, Queensland, 2nd July 1902
image taken at Port Augusta now available for purchase here as a modern 6x4 inch postcard or larger print. Click image for details
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RIDGE PARK
1878-81
969 gross tons, 618 net. Lbd: 214' x 31' x 15'5". Iron steamship, single screw as built by S P Austin & Co, Sunderland for Sir Thomas Elder. Engine producing 99 nominal horsepower. 4 cemented bulkheads. Iron decked. Raised quarter deck 78ft. Bridge Deck 40ft. Fore Deck 20ft. Double bottom aft 73ft, double bottom fore 102ft. Foreward and aft peak tanks. Anchors and chains proofed. July 1879 owned by Henry Simpson & Sons. Frequented Port Adelaide - Newcastle carry passengers outwards and on the return to Port Adelaide, sometimes taking paying fares via Sydney - Launceston on her return to Port Adelaide. She was predominantly a collier. Wrecked on 10th February 1881 in Beware Bay near Cape Comran, Victoria when bound for Newcastle, New South Wales from Adelaide with a cargo of Brandy, wine, flour. Struck the North Western side of Beware Reef. The captain and crew took to the lifeboat and made for Gabo Island, which they reached the following day. They were later rescued by the ss Wentworth and taken to Sydney. The Ridge Park remained on the rocks for just over a month until a series of severe southerly gales washed the wreck into deeper water. Most of the cargo was salvaged. A Marine Board of Inquiry found that Captain Heslop and Chief Officer Peake had been inattentive to their duties while navigating close to the coast. Despite submitting letters in their defence both had their certificates suspended for three months. No lives lost
images and added data coutesy heritage.vic.gov.au
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BIRKSGATE
1882-1907
1,458 gross tons, 916 net. Lbd: 255' x 33' x 21'7". Iron steamship, 2 masts and schooner rigged with compounded engine of 163 horsepower. Built by D & W Henderson, Patrick, Glasgow for H Simpson & Co (Black Diamond Line) registered Port Adelaide. Designed as a passenger-collier vessel running between South Australia and Newcastle, taking in Launceston en route. June 1884 acquired by ASN Co and of AUSN Co April 1887. 1897 purportedly conveyed passengers from Port Adelaide to the New Guinea goldfields. Sold July 1904 to Y Kensuke, Tokyo and renamed Saito Maru. Went missing, failed to arrive at Moji on a voyage from Chinnampo April 1907
Left side image (a636507r) courtesy State Library New South Wales
Right side image as art (AUSN Co) now available for purchase here as a modern 6x4 inch postcard and larger print. Click images for details
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TENTERDEN
1883-93
1,339 gross tons, 867 net. Lbd: 246'5" x 33'5" x 19'9". Iron steamship, 2 masted schooner rigged built by Campbell, McIntosh & Bowstead, Spotswood-on-Tyne for H Simpson & Co (Black Diamond Line) registered Port Adelaide. Designed as a collier vessel with limited passenger capacity working between South Australia and Newcastle, taking in Sydney and/or Launceston on the return journey. Was so popular her passenger accomodation was increased at Mort's Dockyard, Sydney during 1883. June 1884 acquired by ASN Co and of AUSN Co April 1887. Early 1890's travelled further to the Western Australia ports during the goldrush years. Was under charter to McIwraith McEacharn when she was wrecked at MacDonnell Bay, South Australia on 23rd December 1893
Left side image personal collection
Right side image as art (AUSN Co) now available for purchase here as a modern 6x4 inch postcard and larger print. Click images for details
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OSBORNE WALLSEND Co, New South Wales
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KURRARA
1888-1929
386 gross tons. ON89493 Iron hulled cargo steamship built by J & K Smit, Kinderdijk, Netherlands for J Osborne. The first vessel loaded at The Southern Coal Company’s jetty erected at Port Kembla was the Osborne Wallsend Company’s steamer SS Kurrara on Thursday 7 November 1889. Having already shipped a part load at Wollongong, the vessel proceeded to the new jetty and was topped up with 140 tons of Corrimal coal as a test of the new jetty. In 1889 the Southern Coal Company was producing approximately 250 tons of high grade coke from its twenty coke ovens per week, the majority being shipped directly to Adelaide for transport to Broken Hill and Silverton for silver smelting purposes. 1925 converted into a tug. March 1928 sold to M Leventhal, registered Sydney and renamed East Star. 1929 converted into a fishing trawler. Register closed March 1936 'broken up' but became storeship for timber in Port Stephens and reportedly abandoned in ' The duckhole' at Port Stephens
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SYDNEY COAL Co, New South Wales
actually sunk a mine at Balmain, Sydney
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YULOO
1910-29
407 tons. Length 145 feet. (Lb: 44.2 x 7.3 metres). ON128809. Steel single screw steamship, built as the Teeswood by Harkess, Middlesborough Great Britain, in 1910 for Meteor Steamship Co Ltd (Constantine & Donking), Middlesborough. Single screw, compounded engine. 1912 owned by Sydney Coal Co, registered March at Sydney. 1920 purchased by W H Smith & Sons, Melbourne (Australian Steamships P/L). 1929 sold to H P Stacey, Sydney. Ended her days in the ‘disposal area’ off Sydney, 14 November 1932
image now available for purchase here as 6x4 inch postcard and larger size print. Click image for details
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2007-18 ©John E Hoskin/Flotilla Australia
All Rights Reserved
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