The Fleets
This page is about Queensland Steam Shipping Co. and Australasian United S.N. Co.
The Queensland Steam Shipping Co. was formed in 1881 to operate Australian coastal services between Sydney, Cooktown and Burketown. Later services were extended to Thursday Island. In 1887 the Queensland Steam Shipping Co. merged with Australasian Steam Navigation Co. to form Australasian United S.N. Co. Routes covered Australian coastal services and Pacific Islands, with emphasis on Fiji. After the war, air travel caused the passenger trade to be discontinued and competition and poor relations with the dockers and seamens unions caused the company to withdraw from the shipping business in 1961.
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 | see Australasian Steam Navigation Co. | 531 |
| Amra | 1890 | 1907 purchased from British India S.N. Co., 1923 sold to Singapore owners, 1929 scrapped. | 535 |
| Ant | 1871 | 1878 sold to Whitehead & Co., 1905 wrecked Rockhampton. | 17 |
| Aramac | 1889 | 1925 sold and hulked. | 2,114 |
| Arawatta | 1889 | 1924 sold and hulked. | 2,114 |
| Archer | 1882 | 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1891 sold to Circular Saw Line, 1934 hulked. | 694 |
| Auckland | 1863 | ex- Pawlet, 1869 purchased and renamed Auckland, 1871 wrecked on Beware Reef. | 698 |
| Babinda | 1936 | 1955 sold to South Pacific Shipping Co., Suva, 1962 sold to Panama, 1965 sold to Indonesia, 1975 renamed Bintang Samudra IV, 2000 stil listed in Lloyds Register. | 659 |
| Baralaba | 1921 | built as Nurnberg for Stettiner Dampfer AG, Stettin, 1924 sold to A/S Solskin, Oslo renamed Solskin, 1925 purchased renamed Baralaba, 1949 sold to John Manners & Co., Hong Kong, 1952 sold to Wallem & Co. renamed Brenda, 1956 sold to Cambodia renamed Bayon, fate unknown. | 998 |
| Barcoo | 1885 | 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1911 hulked. | 1,505 |
| Bingera (1) | 1905 | 1922 laid up at Brisbane, 1928 hull beached on Bishop's Island and scrapped. | 2,092 |
| Bingera (2) | 1935 | 1948 sold to I.C.I. Ltd, renamed Taranui, 1963 sold to South Pacific Co., Suva, 1971 sold to Panama renamed Locolina, 1978 sold to Costa Rica renamed Kah Wah, 1978 sold to Thailand renamed Pattana, 1988 deleted from Lloyds Register. | 922 |
| Birksgate | 1882 | see Australasian Steam Navigation Co. | 1,443 |
| Black Swan | 1853 | built for Launceston S.N. Co., 1867 sank off Williamstown, 1868 salvaged and sold to A.S.N. Co., rebuilt to 309 tons, 1880 scrapped. | 276 |
| Bonito | 1883 | see Australasian Steam Navigation Co. | 77 |
| Bulimba (1) | 1882 | 1888 purchased from British India S.N. Co., 1899 reverted to B.I.S.N. Co., 1922 sold to China, 1933 scrapped. | 2,510 |
| Bulimba (2) | 1928 | ex- Mirant, 1941 purchased from Burns Philp & Co. renamed Bulimba, 1942 to U.S. Navy, 1946 to Panama, 1947 to South China Nav. Co., Shanghai renamed Hwa Loong, 1948 wrecked Hainan Island. | 739 |
| Bunyip | 1873 | see Australasian Steam Navigation Co. | 58 |
| Buranda | 1918 | built as Solholm for Reiersen & Matland, Haugesund, 1921 to Adelaide SS Co. renamed Nalpa, 1938 purchased and renamed Buranda, 1946 sold to Chung Foo SS Co., Hong Kong renamed Chung Foo, 1955 deleted from Lloyds Register, fate unknown. | 685 |
| Cahors | 1883 | 1885 wrecked Evans Head, NSW. | 1,254 |
| Caloundra | 1950 | ex- Balook, 1950 purchased from Australian Coastal Shipping Commission renamed Caloundra, 1961 sold to Broken Hill Properties renamed Iron Warrior, 1975 scrapped. | 4,053 |
| Canberra | 1948 | ex- Admiral Fraser, 1954 purchased from Phillips, Anderson & Co. renamed Canberra, 1958 renamed Cronulla to free name Canberra for P & O's passenger liner. 1961 sold to John Manners, Hong Kong, 1962 blown ashore in typhoon at Hong Kong and scrapped. | 2,330 |
| Centipede | 1913 | 1923 sold to Hetherington & Rylance, Brisbane, 1976 still in service as motor lighter. | 133 |
| Cintra | 1882 | see Australasian Steam Navigation Co. | 1,979 |
| City of Adelaide | 1864 | see Australasian Steam Navigation Co. | 838 |
| City of Melbourne | 1862 | see Australasian Steam Navigation Co. | 837 |
| Clio | 1873 | see Australasian Steam Navigation Co. | 64 |
| Coramba | 1948 | 1961 sold to McIlwraith, McEacharn & Co. renamed Koomilya, 1966 to John Manners & Co. renamed San Fernando, 1970 to Panama renamed High Star, 1976 scrapped. | 3,551 |
| Corea | 1875 | 1882 taken over from Gilchrist, West & Parbury, 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1893 wrecked off Fair Cape, north of Cooktown. | 606 |
| Corinda | 1937 | 1961 sold to Hong Kong renamed Silver Gulf, 1961 renamed Fortune Wind, 1971 scrapped. | 3,376 |
| Cronulla | see Canberra. | ||
| Croydon | see Gunga (2). | ||
| Currajong | 1875 | see Australasian Steam Navigation Co. | 603 |
| Dingadee | 1883 | see Australasian Steam Navigation Co. | 604 |
| Dolphin | 1884 | see Australasian Steam Navigation Co. | 131 |
| Dugong | 1875 | see Australasian Steam Navigation Co. | 83 |
| Egmont | 1864 | see Australasian Steam Navigation Co. | 401 |
| Elamang | 1876 | see Australasian Steam Navigation Co. | 946 |
| Emu | 1864 | 1877 sold to Port Jackson Steamboat Co. renamed Brightside, 1909 scrapped. | 269 |
| Eurimbla | 1884 | see Australasian Steam Navigation Co. | 1,055 |
| Fitzroy | 1883 | see Australasian Steam Navigation Co. | 870 |
| Francis Cadell | 1866 | paddle steamer, 1888 purchased from unknown owners, 1898 wrecked Burketown, Qld. | 140 |
| Glanworth | 1882 | see Australasian Steam Navigation Co. | 877 |
| Governor Blackall | 1871 | see Australasian Steam Navigation Co. | 487 |
| Gunga (1) | 1864 | see Australasian Steam Navigation Co. | 1,257 |
| Gunga (2) | 1878 | 1881 purchased from J. A. Shepherd, Glasgow, 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1890 renamed Croydon, 1898 sold to W. Collin & Sons, Brisbane renamed Lady Lamington, 1900 sold to H. Carr, Brisbane renamed Moreton, 1934 stripped and abandoned. | 357 |
| Havilah | 1853 | 1869 purchased from Launceston & Melbourne S.N. Co., 1873 sold to French owners at Noumea, 1878 returned to Sydney, later hulked and 1911 scrapped. | 301 |
| Hesketh | 1883 | see Australasian Steam Navigation Co. | 640 |
| Hornet | 1883 | see Australasian Steam Navigation Co. | 55 |
| Indarra | 1912 | 1920 sold to Lloyd Royal Belge renamed Pays de Waes, 1923 repossessed by A.U.S.N. Co. and sold to Osaka Shosen Kaisha renamed Horai Maru, 1942 sunk by U.S. air attack. | 9,735 |
| Kanowna | 1903 | 1929 struck rock in Bass Strait and sank. | 6,942 |
| Katoomba | 1878 | see Australasian Steam Navigation Co. | 1,006 |
| Kuranda | 1901 | 1926 sold to Teo Hoo Lye, Singapore, 1935 to Straits SS Co., 1936 scrapped. | 928 |
| Kyarra | 1903 | 1918 torpedoed and sunk off Anvil Point, English Channel. | 6,953 |
| Lady Bowen | 1864 | 1875 rebuilt to 705 tons, 1882 sold to Hunter River New S.N. Co., 1889 converted to sail, 1894 wrecked near Cardwell, Qld. | 527 |
| Lady Young | 1864 | 1868 scrapped. | 523 |
| Leichardt | 1865 | see Australasian Steam Navigation Co. | 368 |
| Levuka | 1910 | 1926 sold to Lloyd Brasileiro renamed Pedro II, 1935 renamed Dom Pedro II, 1963 scrapped. | 6,129 |
| Ly-Ee-Moon | 1859 | 1877 purchased from Dent & Co., 1886 wrecked off Green Cape. | 1,001 |
| Mackarra | 1919 | 1941 sold to James Patrick & Co. renamed Cardross, 1954 scrapped. | 2,515 |
| Macumba | 1919 | 1943 bombed and sunk by Japanese aircraft on voyage Brisbane - Darwin. | 2,525 |
| Mallina | 1909 | 1929 sold to Japan renamed Seiko Maru, 1935 sold renamed Siberia Maru, 1944 sunk by air attack in Sulu Sea. | 3,213 |
| Manly | 1874 | see Australasian Steam Navigation Co. | 89 |
| Maranoa (1) | 1883 | 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1911 scrapped Bombay. | 1,505 |
| Maranoa (2) | 1921 | ex- Eromanga, 1925 purchased from Commonwealth Government Line renamed Maranoa, 1935 sold to Japan, resold to Johan Gran renamed Mione, 1937 sold to V. K. Soong, 1940 sank on voyage Nauru - Japan. | 3,359 |
| Mareeba (1) | 1898 | ex- Harport, 1898 purchased from J & C. Harrison, London, 1900 renamed Mareeba, 1908 wrecked near Newcastle, NSW. | 1,747 |
| Mareeba (2) | 1921 | ex- Echuca, 1924 purchased from Commonwealth Government Line renamed Mareeba, 26th Jun.1941 sunk by German raider KORMORAN in Indian Ocean. | 3,663 |
| Matilda | 1874 | 1875 sold. | 11 |
| Mildura (1) | 1901 | 1907 wrecked off North Cape, W.A. | 2,217 |
| Mildura (2) | 1920 | ex- Enoggera, 1924 purchased from Commonwealth Government Line renamed Mildura, 1951 sold for scrap, 1954 scrapped Hong Kong. | 3,478 |
| Milora | 1921 | ex- Emita, 1925 purchased from Commonwealth Government Line, 1927 renamed Milora, 1934 wrecked near Point Lonsdale, Vic. | 3,346 |
| Moira | 1901 | 1928 sold to Japan renamed Toyei Maru, 1944 torpedoed and sunk by USS TAMBOR. | 2,184 |
| Mungana | 1920 | ex- Eurella, 1926 purchased from Commonwealth Government Line renamed Mungana, 1951 scrapped. | 3,315 |
| Murada | 1921 | ex- Erriba, 1926 purchased from Commonwealth Government Line, 1927 renamed Murada, 1947 sold to Panama renamed Nymphe, 1954 scrapped. | 3,345 |
| Ocean | 1874 | 1878 purchased, 1879 sold to Buckland & Brown, Newcastle, NSW, 1883 sold to Howard Smith & Sons, 1885 renamed Gambier, 1891 sunk in collision in Port Phillip Bay. | 1,486 |
| Ocean Queen | 1858 | 1880 purchased from Noumea, 1883 sold to Noumea. | 572 |
| Ormiston | 1922 | ex- Famaka, 1927 chartered from Khedivial Mail SS Co. renamed Ormiston, 1936 purchased, 1955 sold to Typaldos Bros, Piraeus renamed Atlantic, 1956 renamed Atlanticos, 1957 scrapped. | 5,832 |
| Orungal | 1923 | ex- Fezara, 1927 chartered from Khedivial Mail SS Co. renamed Orungal, 1936 purchased, 1940 wrecked on Barwon Heads, Vic. | 5,826 |
| Palmer | 1882 | see Australasian Steam Navigation Co. | 267 |
| Paroo | 1897 | 1903 sold to West Australian S.N. Co., 1917 to Persian Gulf S.N. Co. renamed Iran, 1922 sold to Japan renamed Mikage Maru, 1944 torpedoed and sunk by USS CROAKER. | 2,665 |
| Pilbarra | 1897 | ex- Cape Otway, 1898 purchased from Australian Transport Co. renamed Pilbarra, 1915 sold to Mitchell, Cotts & Co. renamed Sunstream, 1917 to Persian Gulf S.N. Co. renamed Shustar, 1924 to Government of Hedjaz renamed Radwa, 1928 scrapped. | 2,664 |
| Platypus | 1864 | 1868 sold to Clarence & Richmond S.N. Co., Sydney, 1898 scrapped. | 217 |
| Polly | 1879 | 1882 taken over from McIllwraith, 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1889 wrecked in Johnstone River, Qld. | 194 |
| Porpoise | 1875 | see Australasian Steam Navigation Co. | 91 |
| Pretty Jane | 1870 | 1879 purchased from Auckland owners, 1881 sold, 1882 wrecked Ninety Mile Beach, Vic. | 134 |
| Queensland | 1861 | see Australasian Steam Navigation Co. | 372 |
| Quiraing | 1881 | see Australasian Steam Navigation Co. | 1,166 |
| Ranelagh | 1881 | see Australasian Steam Navigation Co. | 836 |
| Redbank | 1863 | 1896 purchased from unknown owners, 1901 sold. | 79 |
| Ripple | 1872 | 1875 purchased, 1880 sold to Ferguson & Kelly, 1887 wrecked Solomon Islands. | 72 |
| Rockton | 1882 | see Australasian Steam Navigation Co. | 1,970 |
| Star of the South | 1863 | 1884 wrecked Greymouth, NZ. | 202 |
| Suva | 1906 | 1928 sold to Madrigal & Co., Manila renamed Sirius, 1929 sold to Fernandez Bros renamed Bohol, 1941 sunk by Japanese air attack at Manila. | 2,229 |
| Taldora | 1881 | 1882 purchased from Parbury, Lamb & Co., 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1913 sold to W. R. Black & Co., converted to lighter. | 232 |
| Tay | 1901 | 1930 sold to Hong Kong owners, 1931 scrapped. | 360 |
| Tenterden | 1883 | see Australasian Steam Navigation Co. | 1,339 |
| Tinana | 1901 | 1925 sold to Collin & Son, Brisbane, 1946 sold to Foo Shin SS Co., Shanghai renamed Foo Shin, 1947 sold renamed Pei Yuan, 1949 sold renamed Yung Yao, fate unknown. | 808 |
| Truganini | 1876 | 1882 taken over from J.Burns, 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1891 wrecked New Hebrides. | 203 |
| Victoria | 1871 | see Australasian Steam Navigation Co. | 1,255 |
| Waroonga | 1882 | 1888 purchased from British India S.N. Co., 1899 reverted to B.I.S.N. Co., 1913 sold to Japan renamed Bansei Maru, 1926 scrapped. | 2,513 |
| Warrego | 1883 | 1887 to A.U.S.N. Co., 1912 sold to Royal Australian Navy, storage hulk at Darwin, 1942 destroyed by Japanese air attack. | 1,552 |
| Wasp | 1905 | 1918 sold to Mort's Dock & Eng. Co., Balmain, 1941 scrapped. | 24 |
| Wentworth | 1873 | see Australasian Steam Navigation Co. | 956 |
| Wodonga | 1890 | 1924 sold and hulked. | 2,341 |
| Wotonga | 1876 | 1882 wrecked Port Macquarie, NSW. | 997 |
| Wyandra | 1902 | 1926 scrapped Japan. | 4,058 |
| Wyreema | 1908 | 1926 sold to Lloyd Brasileiro renamed Pedro I, 1935 renamed Dom Pedro I, 1958 scrapped. | 6,338 |
| Yaralla | 1875 | see Australasian Steam Navigation Co. | 482 |