KOOMBANA STILL AGROUND.

The Register, Adelaide, Monday 22 March, 1909.

KOOMBANA STILL AGROUND.

An unsuccessful attempt was made on

Saturday to tow the koombana off the

sandbank near Shark's Bay, on which 

she grounded on Monday morning last. 

The steamer Winfield went alongside and

took off some of the cargo from the foreholds

of the Koombana, but evidently not sufficient.

To-day more cargo was lightered, and when 

the tide is full a further attempt to tow the

vessel off will be made. This was the

Koombana's first trip on the Nor'-west 

trade, for which she was specially built 

at the order of the Adelaide Company. 

She has not suffered the slightest damage 

nor is any danger anticipated. She has a full

complement of passengers, many of whom

are nor-'west squatters and mining men 

returning from Perth.

The tone of 'squatters' and 'mining men' hints at the way in which people from Adelaide viewed those of the Nor'west, perhaps forgetting the opulence the steamer offered and no doubt ticket prices to match. 

It is astounding to read that an assessment of 'not suffered the slightest damage' could be made after 10 days on a sandbank and numerous failed attempts to dislodge Koombana.

Koombana being towed by SS Winfield - courtesy National Library of Australia.