FLOTILLA AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIAN SHIPPING LINES IMAGES POSTCARDS PHOTOGRAPHS EPHEMERA OF McILWRAITH McEACHARN Ltd Melbourne FOUNDED 1875 Andrew McIlwraith came from the port of Ayr, Scotland and after making frequent visits to Australia, satisfied with Company progress, returned to England 1885 to conduct the London end of the business Malcolm Donald MacEacharn settled in Melbourne Australia from Islay, Scotland and took many offices including parliament. The firm of McIlwraith MacEacharn was originally founded in London on February 1st 1875 by Andrew McIlwraith and Malcolm MacEacharn when they began business as shipping and insurance agents. A year later they entered the ranks of ship owners following an agreement with the State of Queensland for the carriage of migrants from Britain to Queensland ports north of Maryborough. Their first vessels, eleven in all, were sail only, when they were also known as the 'Scottish Line'. In 1879, they chartered, the steamship Strathleven. Fitted with experimental refrigeration device aboard, she departed London and, on the return passage from Australia a shipment of 30 tons of frozen beef plus 2 tons of butter were carried. This cargo was found to be in excellent condition upon arrival on the 2nd October 1880 With the expansion of the company's interests in Australia Malcolm MacEacharn had settled in Melbourne about the time that a branch was opened and during his years in this country he took a leading part in public affairs, becoming a Commissioner of the Melbourne Harbour Trust in 1893 and in the same year was returned as a member of the Melbourne City Council ultimately becoming the city's second Lord Mayor. He was also Vice Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Consul-General for Japan. In 1900 he was knighted and in 1901 elected to represent Melbourne in the first federal parliament. Four years later Sir Malcolm returned to Scotland and died in 1910 at the age of 58. His business partner Andrew McIlwraith outlived him by many years dying in 1932 in his 90th year Early years saw their business partnership with other concerns in the Queensland Steam Ship Co that untimately merged with (took over) the Australasian Steam Navigation Co in 1887, becoming the Australasian Steam Navigation Co., Sydney. Retaining a healthy share in that entity, they were virtually the only Australian connection left with any ownership Latter years saw them active along most ports of call in and around Australia, surviving two world wars and stepping grand scale into purpose built passenger liners of world standard The innovation of 'containerisation' as cellular cargo also saw them involved before and since, in 1964 in their business combine as Associated Steamship Pty Ltd (see text below) 1961 saw this company buy out the Huddart Parker Line On 1st January 1964 Adelaide Steamship Co's interstate fleet was merged with that of McIlwraith McEacharn Ltd in a new company, Associated Steamships Ltd in which Adelaide Steamship Co held a 40%. Bulkships Ltd in which Adelaide Steamship held a 40% interest in 1965, acquired all the shares in Associated Steamship Ltd in 1968. This effectively ended McIlwraith McEacharn as a named entity completely. In 1977 Adelaide Steamship Company's interest in Bulkships was disposed of, and Adelaide Steamship Co Ltd also ceased its connection with ship owning and operating.

FUNNEL