The Fleets
This page covers Hunter's River Steam Navigation Co. and Australasian Steam Nav. Co.
Founded in 1840 to operate services between Sydney and Newcastle and later extended routes to Moreton Bay and Melbourne. In 1851, the company was wound up and immediately re-formed as Australasian Steam Navigation Co. A temporary service between Melbourne and Hobart was operated in 1852 but was unsuccessful and in 1858 sailings started between Melbourne and New Zealand ports. Transpacific services to Honolulu and San Francisco commenced in 1870 but in 1887 the company amalgamated with Queensland Steamship Co. and became Australasian United S.N. Co.
Many thanks to Ted Finch for his assistance in collecting this data. The following list was extracted from various sources. This is not an all inclusive list but should only be used as a guide.
Ships
| Name | Built | Additional Information | GRT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandra | 1863 | 1878 rebuilt to 681 tons, 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1891 sold to Elliott Bland and converted to lighter. 1900 to Alexandra SS Co., 1903 sold to Burns, Philp & Co. and hulked. | 531 |
| Balclutha | 1860 | 1862 purchased from F. Trouton, 1881 sold to C. M. Poole, Sydney, 1881 went missing on voyage Melbourne - Sydney. | 432 |
| Ballarat | 1851 | Paddle steamer, 1862 sold to NZ, 1864 wrecked and hulked. | 82 |
| Bee | 1865 | Steam barge, 1884 sold to W. Walsh, Port Douglas. | 43 |
| Ben Bolt | 1852 | Paddle steamer, ex- General Urbistando, 1854 purchased from H. H. Hall, Sydney renamed Ben Bolt, 1857 engine removed and hull used as outer wall for Robinson's Baths, Sydney. | 182 |
| Birksgate | 1882 | 1884 purchased from Black Diamond Steam Collier Co., Adelaide, 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1904 sold to Japan renamed SALTO MARU, 1907 went missing at sea. | 1,443 |
| Bolwarra | 1863 | Paddle steamer, 1880 sold to Newcastle SS Co., later hulked, 1930 scrapped. | 109 |
| Bonito | 1883 | 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1888 sold to Grazier's Butchery Co., Brisbane. | 77 |
| Boomerang | 1854 | 1864 rebuilt to 655 tons, 1881 sold to Newcastle SS Co., 1894 hulked. | 445 |
| Brisbane | 1856 | Paddle steamer, 1879 sold to Illawarra S.N. Co., 1891 scrapped. | 102 |
| Bungaree | 1861 | Paddle tug, 1863 sold to R. Napier, various owners, 1920 converted to lighter, 1935 scrapped. | 163 |
| Bunyip | 1873 | 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1888 sold to M. Johnston, Sydney, 1889 wrecked Manning River. | 58 |
| Cawarra | 1864 | Paddle steamer, 1866 wrecked Newcastle NSW. | 352 |
| Cintra | 1882 | 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1908 scrapped Bombay. | 1,979 |
| City of Adelaide | 1864 | 1871 rebuilt to 1,211 tons, 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1890 sold to W. Ritchie, Sydney converted to sail, 1902 to Howard Smith & Co., 1904 hulked at Townsville. | 838 |
| City of Brisbane | 1863 | Paddle steamer, 1880 sold to Newcastle SS Co. renamed Sydney, 1911 hulked. | 633 |
| City of Melbourne (1) | 1851 | 1853 purchased from unknown owners, 1858 sold and converted to sail. 1873 wrecked Burrum River, Qld. | 138 |
| City of Melbourne (2) | 1862 | 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1898 scrapped Sydney. | 837 |
| City of Sydney | 1853 | 1862 wrecked Green Cape. | 393 |
| Clarence | 1851 | Paddle steamer, 1857 purchased from G. Gilmore, Sydney, 1862 rebuilt to 377 tons, 1872 wrecked near Bald Hill, NSW. | 346 |
| Clio | 1873 | 1874 purchased from E. M. Sayers, Sydney, 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1888 sank in Norman River, Qld. | 64 |
| Collaroy | 1853 | Paddle steamer, 1854 purchased from Thacker & Co., Sydney, 1873 rebuilt to 419 tons, 1879 sold to Newcastle SS Co., 1888 converted to sail, 1889 wrecked Eureka, Calif. | 201 |
| Coonanbara | 1862 | Paddle steamer, 1880 sold to Newcastle SS Co., 1894 hulked, 1914 scrapped. | 655 |
| Currajong | 1875 | ex- The Clarence, 1883 purchased from Clarence & New England S.N. Co. and renamed Currajong, 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1888 sold to Mitchell & Woolcott-Waley, 1910 sunk in collision with WYREEMA off Sydney. | 603 |
| Diamantina | 1861 | Paddle steamer, 1870 sold to Clarence & Richmond S.N. Co., 1883 converted to lighter. | 285 |
| Dingadee | 1883 | 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1890 sold to Union SS Co. of New Zealand. | 604 |
| Dolphin | 1884 | 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1913 sold to W. Reid, Rockhampton, 1942 reported sold to U.S. Government for use in Pacific War, but details unknown. | 131 |
| Dugong | 1875 | 1884 rebuilt to 116 tons, 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1901 sold to Carpentaria Lighterage Co., 1920 scrapped. | 83 |
| Duncan Hoyle | 1852 | Paddle steamer, 1859 purchased, 1859 sold to Jones & Sharp, Sydney. | 188 |
| Eagle | 1849 | Paddle steamer, 1851 to A.S.N. Co. 1858 rebuilt to screw steamer, 1869 sold to Edye Manning, 1872 hulked. | 144 |
| Egmont | 1864 | 1869 purchased from Panama, New Zealand & Australasian Royal Mail S.P. Co., 1875 rebuilt to 670 tons, 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1889 sold to Mitchell & Woolcott-Waley, 1900 hulked at Fremantle. | 401 |
| Elamang | 1876 | Passenger ship, 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1895 converted to cargo ship, 1904 hulked at Newcastle. | 946 |
| Eurimbla | 1884 | 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1905 sold to Japan renamed Hide Maru, 1907 wrecked Korea. | 1,055 |
| Fitzroy | 1883 | 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1897 wrecked Morna Point, NSW. | 870 |
| Florence Irving | 1864 | Paddle steamer, 1865 purchased from McDonald & Smith, Sydney, 1873 rebuilt to 920 ton, twin screw steamer, 1877 wrecked off Port Stephens. | 455 |
| Geelong | 1854 | Paddle steamer, 1856 purchased, 1859 sold to NZ owner, 1879 wrecked Whangape Harbour. | 172 |
| Glanworth | 1882 | 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1896 wrecked Gladstone, Qld. | 877 |
| Governor Blackall | 1871 | 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1888 sold to North Ilawarra Coal Mining Co., 1910 hulked at Sydney. | 487 |
| Governor General | 1848 | Paddle steamer, 1856 purchased from Sydney & Melbourne S.P. Co., 1856 sold to Edye Manning, Sydney. | 502 |
| Gunga | 1864 | 1877 purchased from Larrieu & Roque, Saigon, 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1896 hulked at Fremantle. | 1,257 |
| Hesketh | 1883 | 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1897 sold to Black Ball Coal Co., 1899 wrecked Greymouth, NZ. | 640 |
| Hornet | 1883 | 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1914 sold to Ross & Dowdall, Sydney, 1915 sank Sydney Harbour. | 55 |
| Illalong | 1854 | 1864 sold to Illawara S.N. Co., 1878 scrapped. | 294 |
| Ipswich | 1860 | Paddle steamer, 1880 sold to J.Campbell, Brisbane, 1885 converted to screw renamed Benowa. | 89 |
| James Paterson | 1862 | 1884 hulked. | 387 |
| James Watt | 1824 | Paddle steamer, 1842 purchased from R. Scott & partners, 1846 engines removed and installed in Eagle, hull scrapped. | 141 |
| Katoomba | 1878 | Passenger ship, 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1896 converted to cargo, 1903 sold to D. Sheehy, Sydney, 1904 hulked. | 1,006 |
| Kennedy | 1865 | 1866 sold to NZ owners, 1929 hull sunk to protect Wairoa River brekwater. | 149 |
| Leichardt | 1865 | 1872 rebuilt to 690 tons, 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1891 sold to Elliott Bland, converted to lighter, 1901 sank in Brisbane River. | 368 |
| London | 1837 | Paddle steamer, 1856 purchased from Sydney & Melbourne S.P. Co., 1861 sold Hong Kong, fate unknown. | 281 |
| Maitland | 1837 | Paddle steamer, 1845 purchased from A. C. James & partners, 1847 sold to D. W. Cole, Melbourne, 1850 burnt and sank in Blackwater River, 1857 salvaged and renamed Samson for N.Z. owners. 1865 wrecked. | 103 |
| Manly | 1874 | 1882 purchased from T. Hesselton, 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1906 scrapped. | 89 |
| Palmer | 1882 | 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1920 sold to Victorian Shipping Co., converted to lighter. | 267 |
| Porpoise | 1875 | 1883 rebuilt to 110 tons, 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1908 sold to John Burke & Co., Brisbane, converted to lighter. | 91 |
| Prince of Wales | 1861 | 1862 wrecked SE of Camden Haven, NSW. | 548 |
| Queensland | 1861 | 1868 taken over with Queensland S.N. Co., 1878 rebuilt to 425 tons, 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., hulked. | 372 |
| Quiraing | 1881 | 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1900 sold to Endeavour Meat Co., 1901 went missing at sea. | 1,166 |
| Ranelagh | 1881 | 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1898 wrecked Burnett Heads, Qld. | 836 |
| Rangatira | 1859 | 1875 wrecked near Noumea. | 592 |
| Raven | 1848 | Paddle steamer, 1848 purchased from T. Coutts, Brisbane, 1850 wrecked Mackay River, later salvaged and used as lighter. | 26 |
| Rockton | 1882 | 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1904 sold to Osaka Shosen Kaisha renamed Kanko Maru. | 1,970 |
| Rose | 1840 | Paddle steamer, 1851 to A.S.N.Co. Final fate unknown. | 172 |
| Samson | 1854 | Paddle steamer, 1860 rebuilt to 176 tons, 1866 sold to NZ owners, 1881 wrecked Waitara River. | 111 |
| Saxonia | 1856 | ex- Sirius, 1866 purchased from M. Samuelson, Hull, renamed Saxonia, 1869 sold to W. Summerbell, Newcastle, 1898 wrecked. | 357 |
| Shamrock | 1841 | Paddle steamer, 1851 to A.S.N.Co., 1857 sold to China, 1860 wrecked China. | 201 |
| Sovereign | 1841 | Paddle steamer, 1842 purchased from R. Scott & partners, 11th March 1847 wrecked South Passage, Moreton Bay. | 119 |
| Star of Australia | 1862 | 1865 purchased from J. Byrnes, Sydney, 1865 went missing on voyage Sydney - Rockhampton. | 231 |
| Tamar | 1833 | Paddle steamer, 1843 purchased from R. Scott & partners. 1851 to A.S.N.Co., used as tug, 1856 rebuilt to 130 tons, 1861 sold to J & A. Brown, Newcastle. 11th January 1873 beached near Norah Head in bad weather, total loss. | 88 |
| Telegraph | 1854 | Paddle steamer, 1859 rebuilt to 367 tions, 1867 wrecked Camden Haven. | 352 |
| Tenterden | 1883 | 1884 purchased from Black Diamond Steam Collier Co., 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1893 wrecked MacDonnell Bay, S.A. | 1,339 |
| Thistle | 1841 | Paddle steamer, 1851 to A.S.N.Co., 1859 sold to Melbourne owners, 24th Dec.1859 wrecked Port Albert Bar, Vic. | 172 |
| Tinonee | 1866 | 1885 sold to B. Nicoll, Balmain. | 297 |
| Victoria | 1871 | ex- Siracusa, 1872 purchased from unknown owners renamed Victoria, 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1890 sold to Pauss & Partners, 1903 scrapped. | 1,255 |
| Waratah | 1851 | Paddle steamer, 1862 sold foreign at Shanghai, fate unknown. | 256 |
| Wentworth | 1873 | 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1887 wrecked Bowen, Qld. | 956 |
| Williams | 1854 | Paddle steamer, 1862 purchased from Hunter River New S.N. Co., 1872 sold to Melbourne owners, 1894 scrapped. | 218 |
| Wonga Wonga | 1854 | 1868 rebuilt to 1,002 tons, 1880 scrapped. | 681 |
| Yaamba | 1864 | Stern-wheeler, 1873 converted to Paddle steamer, 1877 sold to F. O'Brien, 1910 scrapped. | 98 |
| Yaralla | 1875 | 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1906 wrecked between Suva and Levuka. | 482 |
| Yarra Yarra | 1851 | Paddle steamer, 1862 rebuilt to 555 tons, 15th July 1877 wrecked off Newcastle, NSW. | 337 |