SS ‘Australian’

The ‘Australian’ was an iron passenger & cargo steamer, built by the Gourlay Bros, in Dundee, Scotland.

In her 33 years of service, the SS ‘Australian’ assumed five owners.  She was powered by a compound, coal-fired engine.  Her first few years were spent mainly transporting timber along the northern New South Wales coast.  Details once she left this coastline are sketchy . . .

Gross Tonnage:  362

Net Tonnage:  191

Length:  160 ft 3 in (48.84 m)

Beam:  22 ft 5 in (6.83 m)

Draft:  10 ft 5 in (3.17 m)

Timeline:

December 1879 → built for: B.B. & G.W. Nicoll, Sydney

November 1880 → acquired by John See

December 1891 → acquired by North Coast Steam Navigation Co.

February 1902 → acquired by Holyman & Sons Ltd., Launceston

December 1891 → acquired by the West Coast Shipping Co. Ltd., South Australia

8th May 1912  → stranded on Wardang Island, Spencer Gulf, South Australia.

All efforts to refloat the SS ‘Australian’ failed.  She was stripped and abandoned – where she lay . . .

View other important events in the history of the North Coast Steam Navigation Co. Ltd. . . .

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