The Australasian Steam Navigation Company (ASN Co) was a

shipping Freight transport, also referred to as freight forwarding, is the physical process of transporting commodities and merchandise goods and cargo. The term shipping originally referred to transport by sea but in American English, it has been ...

company of

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

which operated between 1839 and 1887.

Company history

The company was started as the Hunter River Steam Navigation Company in 1839. In March 1851, the company was reformed as the Australasian Steam Navigation Company. In 1887, the shipping company was amalgamated with the

Queensland Steam Shipping Company The Queensland Steam Shipping Company (QSS Co) was a shipping company of Australia from 1881 to 1887. History In 1881, the British India Steam Navigation Company was operating a regular mail steamer service from Brisbane to England via the Torr ...

with their respective vessels in 1887 to form the

Australasian United Steam Navigation Company The Australasian United Steam Navigation Company (AUSNC) was an Australian shipping company formed in 1887 by the merger of the Australasian Steam Navigation Company and the Queensland Steam Shipping Company and their fleets. It existed fro ...

Ships

The company's ships included: * ''Alexandra'' (590 tons) * ''Auckland'', lost June 1871 * ''Birksgate'' (916 tons net) * ''Bonito'' (77 tons register) * ''Boomerang'' (stranded 1863) * ''Bunyip'' (39 tons net) * '' SS Cawarra'' (lost in April 1866) * ''Cintra'' (1175 tons net) * '' SS City of Adelaide'' (117 tons net), built 1863 * ''City of Melbourne'' (615 tons net) * ''City of Sydney'', lost 7 November 1862 * ''Dingadee'' (393 tons net) * ''Egmont'' (419 tons net) * ''Elamang'' (490 tons net) * ''Eurimbla'' (598 tons net) * ''Fitzroy'' (504 tons net) * ''Florence Irving'', wrecked December 1877 * ''Glanworth'' (558 tons net) * ''Gunga'' (798 tons net) * ''Hesketh'' (393 tons net) * ''James Patterson'' (387 tons net) * ''Katoomba'' (489 tons net) * ''Leichardt'' (459 tons net) * ''Ly-ee-moon'' * ''Palmer'' (133 tons net) * ''Porpoise'' (62 tons net) * ''Queensland'' (369 tons net) * ''Quiraing'' (653 tons net) * ''Rangatira'', wrecked May 1875 * ''Rockton'' (1198 tons net) * ''Rose'' (172 tons), their first vessel * ''Shamrock'', their second vessel * ''Sovereign'' * ''Tamar'' * ''Telegraph'', wrecked October 1866 * ''Thistle'', their third vessel * ''Tenterden'' (867 tons net) * ''Victoria'' (934 tons net) * ''Wentworth'' (610 tons net) * ''Wonga Wonga'' * ''Wotonga'', lost January 1882 * ''Yaralla'' (303 tons net)

Shipwrecks and disasters

Wreck of the ''Sovereign''

On 11 March 1847, the ''Sovereign'' was wrecked in the South Passage off Amity Point,

North Stradbroke Island North Stradbroke Island (Janday language, Jandai: ''Minjerribah''), colloquially ''Straddie'' or ''North Straddie'', is an island that lies within Moreton Bay in the Australian state of Queensland, southeast of the centre of Brisbane. Original ...

Queensland Queensland ( , commonly abbreviated as Qld) is a States and territories of Australia, state in northeastern Australia, and is the second-largest and third-most populous state in Australia. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Austr ...

with the loss of 44 lives; there were 10 survivors. While the actions of Captain Cape in the disaster were praised by the survivors, many questions were subsequently raised about the fitness of the vessel for the voyage. An inspection of the wreck showed that the planking and fastenings were not in good condition; the inner planking was described as "perfectly rotten". The engines were said to be suitable for river navigation but not for an ocean voyage to Brisbane. The storage of cargo on the deck was the direct cause of some deaths. There were no lifeboats (not being required at that time). The other concern was the use of the South Passage with its surf and shoals; while it was the shortest route from Sydney, it was not the safest entrance to

Moreton Bay Moreton Bay is a bay located on the eastern coast of Australia from central Brisbane, Queensland. It is one of Queensland's most important coastal resources. The waters of Moreton Bay are a popular destination for recreational anglers and are ...

Loss of the ''City of Sydney''

On 7 November 1862, the ''City of Sydney'' was lost at Green Cape, fortunately without loss of life.

Stranding of the ''Boomerang''

In 1863, the ''Boomerang'' was stranded on the Upper Flats at

Rockhampton Rockhampton is a city in the Rockhampton Region of Central Queensland, Australia. In the , the population of Rockhampton was 79,293. A common nickname for Rockhampton is "Rocky", and the demonym of Rockhampton is Rockhamptonite. The Scottish- ...

Wreck of the ''Cawarra''

In April 1866, the steamship '' SS Cawarra'' was wrecked at

Newcastle Newcastle usually refers to: *Newcastle upon Tyne, a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England, United Kingdom *Newcastle-under-Lyme, a town in Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom *Newcastle, New South Wales, a metropolitan area ...

with the loss of all but one man.

Wreck of the ''Telegraph''

In October 1866, the steamship ''Telegraph'' was wrecked off Cape Perpendicular.

Loss of the ''Auckland''

In June 1871, the steamer ''Auckland'' was lost in fog off the Ram Head.

Wreck of the ''Boomerang''

In June 1874, the ''Boomerang'' went ashore near King's Reef.

Stranding of the ''James Patterson''

In August 1874, the ''James Patterson'' was stranded on Mast Head Reef.

Wreck of the ''Rangatira''

In May 1875, the steamer ''Rangatira'' was totally wrecked.

Fire on the ''Ly-ee-moon''

In November 1877, the ''Ly-ee-moon'' was partly destroyed by fire.

Wreck of the ''Florence Irving''

In December 1877, the ''Florence Irving'' was wrecked off Port Stephens.

Stranding of the ''Queensland''

In December 1877, the ''Queensland'' was stranded in the Fitzroy River.

Loss of the ''Wotonga''

In January 1882, the ''Wotonga'' was lost near

Port Macquarie Port Macquarie, sometimes shortened to Port Mac and commonly locally nicknamed Port, is a coastal city on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia, north of Sydney, and south of Brisbane, on the Tasman Sea coast at the mouth of the ...

References

{{reflist Transport companies established in 1839 Defunct shipping companies of Australia 1887 disestablishments in Australia Transport companies disestablished in 1887 1887 mergers and acquisitions Australian companies established in 1839 Australasia