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Title |
Wanganella and the Australian Trans- |
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First Published |
March 2009 |
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Pages |
188 |
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Size |
225 mm x 150 mm |
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Type of Book |
Paper back |
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ISBN |
|
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Price (AUD) |
$40.00 |
Over 140 photographs including 24 in colour
This is the story of the Australian liners that were engaged in the trade across the Tasman Sea to New Zealand, with half the book concentrating on the career of the most famous liner of all, Wanganella. This vessel was operated by Huddart Parker Limited, who entered the Tasman trade in November 1893, and remained the only Australian company operating the service until 1961.
Over the seventy years Huddart Parker traded to
This is the story of the Australian liners that were engaged in the trade across the Tasman Sea to New Zealand, with half the book concentrating on the career of the most famous liner of all, Wanganella. This vessel was operated by Huddart Parker Limited, who entered the Tasman trade in November 1893, and remained the only Australian company operating the service until 1961.
Over the seventy years Huddart Parker traded to
New Zealand they operated a number of liners on the service, beginning with the TASMANIA, which was soon joined by ELINGAMITE and ANGLIAN. Going into the twentieth century a succession of liners of increasing size were built for the trade, beginning with ZEALANDIA, then VICTORIA and WIMMERA, culminating in 1908 with the delivery of ULIMAROA. The trade was not without its difficulties, as both TASMANIA and ELINGAMITE were wrecked off the New Zealand coast. In 1913 the former coastal liner RIVERINA also began operating to New Zealand, and during the First World War WIMMERA was sunk after hitting a mine in New Zealand waters.
During the 1920s the New Zealand service was maintained by only one ship, ULIMAROA, which was replaced by the larger ZEALANDIA IN 1932, but at that time Huddart Parker was considering the construction of a new liner. However, late in 1932 Huddart Parker was able to purchase a brand new liner originally ordered by a British company that could not take delivery of the vessel. Renamed WANGANELLA, this liner would become the most famous and well loved of all the liners to operate across the Tasman Sea.
During World War Two, WANGANELLA gave yeoman service as a hospital ship, then resumed its place on the Tasman service, only to run aground at the entrance to Wellington Harbour, and come close to being lost. The salvage of WANGANELLA is an epic tale in itself, and on returning to service the liner gave another decade of good service, and also made a number of cruises.
The final years of active service for WANGANELLA were not very happy, with two sales in quick succession, followed by a third sale which resulted in the liner being taken to the South Island of New Zealand for service as a floating hostel for workers on a hydro-electric scheme. When this role finished, the old liner was towed away to Hong Kong, and sold to shipbreakers.
During the 1920s the New Zealand service was maintained by only one ship, ULIMAROA, which was replaced by the larger ZEALANDIA IN 1932, but at that time Huddart Parker was considering the construction of a new liner. However, late in 1932 Huddart Parker was able to purchase a brand new liner originally ordered by a British company that could not take delivery of the vessel. Renamed WANGANELLA, this liner would become the most famous and well loved of all the liners to operate across the Tasman Sea.
During World War Two, WANGANELLA gave yeoman service as a hospital ship, then resumed its place on the Tasman service, only to run aground at the entrance to Wellington Harbour, and come close to being lost. The salvage of WANGANELLA is an epic tale in itself, and on returning to service the liner gave another decade of good service, and also made a number of cruises.
The final years of active service for WANGANELLA were not very happy, with two sales in quick succession, followed by a third sale which resulted in the liner being taken to the South Island of New Zealand for service as a floating hostel for workers on a hydro-
© Copyright 2007 - Chiswick Publications Pty Ltd
