ZEALANDIA

Australian - Huddart Parker

Zealandia 1910-1942. (Pass-cargo ref.) USSCo. Charter 1910-1913.

ON: 120764
IDNo: 1120764
Year: 1910
Name: ZEALANDIA
Type: Passenger/cargo (ref)
Flag: AUS
Launched: 20.11.09
Completed: 5.10
Owner: Huddart, Parker Ltd, Melbourne.
Builder: John Brown and Co. Clydebank.
Yard No: 392
Link: 1569
Starke: V1910 #604
GRT: 6,660
NRT: 3,482
LPP: 125.1
Beam: 16.7
2Q-15 knots.

1910 chartered to USSCo. NZ Ltd. for their Vancouver service.

1913 returned to owners and placed on their Melbourne to Fremantle service.

1918-1919 requisitioned as a Troop Ship by the Admiralty. She carried American troops from
New York to Liverpool, British Troops from India to London and Australian troops back home.

1919 returned to owners and placed on their Sydney to Fremantle service.

1929 replaced by the Westralia and serviced the Trans-Tasman trade until the arrival of the
Wanganella. She then switched to the Sydney to Hobart trade, where she gained popular
notoriety, until the outbreak of WWII.

1940 requisitioned again as a Troop and Supply Ship. Plying Sydney to Darwin in December 1940,
Brisbane to Port Moresby in March 1941 and Darwin to Koepang in December 1941.

1942 19th February at Darwin with 145 on board, she was bombed and strafed with incendiary
bullets by Japanese aircraft which set her on fire. She eventually sank with the loss of 3 lives.

The wreck was finally removed in 1959, ironically, by a Japanese company.

Twin quadruple expansion engines producing 1157 nhp. The largest vessel of the fleet at the time. After delivery she was chartered to the Union Line for their Vancouver service. Upon return resumed with this concern operating out of Fremantle. Requisitioned by the Admiralty in May 1918 and carried American troops from New York to Liverpool and British troops from India to London. She also carried Australian troops back to the Commonwealth.

Resumed services Sydney - Western Australia in December 1919. Replaced by the Westralia in 1929 and serviced the trans-tasman trade up until the Wanganella arrived taking over that trade. Switched to the Sydney - Hobart trade where she gained popular notoriety until the outbreak of World War 11.

1940 engaged in trooping and re-supply, in the Darwin area in December that year transporting troops Brisbane-Port Moresby March 1941, Darwin-Koepang in December. The first Japanese air-raids on Darwin 19 February 1942 made her a target and she was lost, having being bombed and strafed with incendiary bullets. The huge amount of spot fires within left no option but to abandon ship, all saved however two later died from resultant wounds

Information supplied by John E. Hoskin www.flotilla-australia.com/

Photocredits: The Trove Australia National Library