Collections
Search our collections for images, objects and ship records. Get started with the search box or browse what you can see. You can also find out about our collections and how to access them.
AUSTRALIA (1912)
Service dates: 1915-1936
Official number: 136740
Shipping lines: BRITISH INDIA STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY LTD.
Ship type:
General Cargo Liner.
Career
- 17.10.1912
- Launched.
- 03.12.1912
- Completed as Australia for German-Australian Line (Deutsch-Australische DG) of Hamburg.
- 10.08.1914
- Captured by HMS Fox southwest of Colombo en route to Australia, just a mere six days after the official declaration of war.
- 26.01.1915
- Following a formal condemnation, she was sold to British India Steam Navigation Company Ltd for £91,500. She was the first BI ship to have been built outside of Britain or an Empire country.
- 21.10.1916
- When off Bishop Rock, outward bound for Australia via the Cape she sighted a mysterious light which attempted to close her. Captain Hunt turned his stern to the light and increased speed but the strange light kept its station, so a warning shot was fired from the stern gun and then a radio distress signal went out. Received a message that help was on its way, but the presumed submarine disappeared.
- 04.1917/05.1919
- Came under the Liner Requisition Scheme.
- 20.06.1920
- Collided off Portsmouth with the Admiralty oiler Plumleaf and sustained considerable damage above the waterline. She was able to reach Falmouth for repairs.
- 20.01.1923
- Inward bound to Antwerp, she ran down the steamer Nautilus, owned by the P&O subsidiary the General Steam Navigation Co Ltd off the Royers Lock. The Nautilus sank immediately with the loss of three lives, but the Australia sustained only minor damage.
- 1929
- Converted to a Cadet ship and was able to carry 39 at a time. She continued in that role until replaced by Nerbudda in 1934.
- 20.04.1936
- Fire broke out in her cargo of jute in the No.1 hold while unloading at Dundee.
- 04.08.1936
- Sold for £15,750 to Arthur Stott & Co Ltd of Newcastle who traded her under the Scrap and Build Scheme in order to build new motorships Hopecastle and Hopecrown.
- 08.1936
- Sold on to Japanese shipbreakers for £13,500.
- 1937
- Arrived at Osaka for breaking up by Mitsuwa Shoji KK.