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. . . .