DAMAGED KOOMBANA IN DOCK.

The Sydney Morning Herald, Tuesday 15 June, 1909.

DAMAGED KOOMBANA IN DOCK.

The Adelaide Steamship Company's new steamer 

Koombana, which arrived here on Sunday night from 

Western Australia was yesterday morning floated into 

Mort's Dock on account of an injury while she sustained

recently whilst on a trip from Fremantle to north west ports 

when she struck a sunken object near Broome. Her place 

in the north west trade will be temporarily taken up by the 

Burrumbeet, which vessel was detained at the last minute.

It appears that during her last trip the Koombana was found 

to be making water in one of her tanks. On arrival at Broome 

an examination showed that portion of the cement on the 

bottom of the tank had broken away and one of the rivets 

broken off. Although the injury was not a serious one, the 

Adelaide S.S. Company, in order to have the vessel

thoroughly examined, decided to send her to Sydney. 

This step will mean considerable expense to the company 

and emphasises the necessity for expediting the construction 

of the dock at Fremantle.

Ironically it was at Broome during the previous round trip that Koombana struck an obstruction. It seems strange that cement could have broken off one of the tanks associated with one broken rivet, and yet with hull plates intact and undamaged !

Incidentally, the liner SS Waratah, was in Sydney Port at the same time Koombana was in dry-dock. Two doomed steamers brushing shoulders in the timeline of tragic history.

STEAMER STRIKES OBSTRUCTION.

EXAGGERATED REPORTS

Perth, May 4.

This morning mercantile and 

shipping circles at Fremantle 

were much agitated in connection 

with wild rumours floating round 

the town concerning an alleged 

mishap to the new steamer 

Koombana. It was reported that 

a private telegram received at 

Fremantle stated the vessel had 

struck a rock outside Broome. In 

fact, one rumour actually stated 

that she was a complete wreck.

Mr. Lewis, acting manager for

the A. S. S. Co., stated this 

afternoon that he had received 

a message from Captain John Rees

to the effect that the vessel had struck 

something on going into Broome. 

On her arrival there he had had 

her properly examined, and could 

find nothing wrong.

The Koombana left Broome yesterday 

morning at 8 o'clock, and is expected 

to arrive at Port Hedland, on her journey 

down to Fremantle, this morning.

It will be interesting to see what the Inquiry made of this incident.

Western Mail, Perth, Saturday 8 May, 1909.

REQUIREMENTS OF BROOME.

Port Hedland, May 4.

The steamer Koombana, with the 

Premier (Mr. Moore), the Minister for

Works (Mr. Price), and Mr. Pennefather,

M.L.C, on board, arrived at Broome on

Sunday morning at 8 o'clock, leaving on

the following day for Port Hedland. They

were met on arrival at the jetty by Mr. Male, 

M.L.A., the Mayor of Broome, and other 

representative residents.

I have not included the entire extract but nowhere was mention made of Koombana striking an obstacle. Whatever the details of the incident the dignitaries were not put off their stride, unless the incident occurred as Koombana departed Broome. 

The Advertiser, Adelaide, Monday 10 May, 1909

arrived Fremantle - Koombana Sunday 9 May, from Derby.

The Advertiser, Adelaide, 13 May, 1909

Koombana sailed for northwest ports. May 12

The Advertiser, Adelaide, 7 June, 1909

Koombana sailed from Fremantle for Eastern States - 6 june, 1909

SS Waratah - Port Adelaide.

"Dry-docking revealed a seventy-foot gouge in the bottom of the hull, with a split a few feet long at the keel. The repair took twenty days. Thirteen plates were removed and replaced, and a six-foot steel strap was used to reinforce the keelson.[9]"

Boyd, Annie. Koombana Days (p. 58). Fremantle Press. Kindle Edition. 

This extract from Annie Boyd's outstanding Koombana Days, illustrates the extent of the damage caused by the Shark Bay incident, and which was not picked up by divers inspecting the hull. One of the pieces of wreckage discovered after the Koombana disaster was a 150 ft. section of keel. It does not take a stretch of one's imagination to connect the dots: repairs pushed beyond the limit.