REASON GIVEN.

Northern Times, Carnarvon, Saturday 13 March, 1909.

THE S.S. KOOMBANA.

When a party of shipping men and

Press representatives were making an

inspection of the Adelaide Co.'s new

steamer Koombana yesterday (says the

Fremantle Mail) Mr. W. E. Moxon, the

attorney for that company in this State,

made a trite remark. He said: " This

ship is ahead of the times, but with it

we will build up trade and coax people to

travel." Any one who looked over the

vessel must be convinced that it will prove

a powerful factor in developing trade with

the Nor'-West. 

The use of the word 'trite' - lacking in originality - is interesting. Mr. Moxon's statement suggests that there was an awareness of untapped wealth along the Nor'West coast that needed to be 'coaxed' onto his new steamer, AWAY from the competition. Koombana was certainly packed with the latest technology and viewed as an incentive to travel. 'Ahead of the times', in my opinion, suggests innovation not 'trite'. But perhaps there was a feeling of being patronised by this man, the Nor'West being compared with the more affluent and sophisticated East coast ?? 

"When she makes her first trip to the North

West, she will astonish the natives," and

many residents there will agree with Mr.

Durack, who remarked yesterday:-" This

ship means a lot to us; we will be always

travelling now. There is no doubt that

when people find out they can travel cool

and comfortably, the Koombana will

begin to fulfil her object, and develop the

trade of the North-West, but that trade

must increase before the new steamer 

can be made to pay."

So here we have it. The trade potential and wealth was there but needed to be both encouraged and lured by the fancy new steamer. From a practical point of view it must have been off putting to voyage on steamers along this coast in very hot weather. Everything had been done with Koombana to sort out this issue, but at the expense of stability?

In a brief description of the Koombana,

it may be explained that she is built on

beautiful lines, and presented a very

imposing picture when entering and leaving 

the harbor. 

Beautiful is exactly the description of this doomed steamer.

She is a steel screw steamer of 3,760 tons 

register, and was constructed by Messrs. 

A. Stephen and Sons, Ltd., Glasgow. She 

is equipped for the carriage of passengers, 

cargo, and stock, her dimensions being 

340ft. between perpendiculars, 

28ft. 2in. beam, and 

20ft. 8in. in depth. 

If these inaccuracies continue unabated no one will believe a word written in this Blog.

3668 tons; 340 ft. length; 48 ft. 2 in. beam; 20 ft. 8 in. draught.

Above the main deck is the spar

deck, where most of  the passenger's 

cabins are situated. These are mostly 

two-berth, but there  are a few three-berth 

cabins. They are all splendidly ventilated with

louvre as well as main doors; adjustable

electric fans, buttoned on curtains, large

windows with glass and louvres, life belts,

reversible couches, and the fittings are

everything that could be devised for the

comfort of the passengers. The dining

saloons for both classes are on this deck,

and both are done in green and oak.

Ventilation has been particularly studied,

and the pantry so arranged that orders

can be served from both sides as soon as

they arrive from the galley by the electric

lift. The first saloon has seating accommodation 

for 75, and electric fans are provided here 

as throughout the ship. In connection with 

the ventilation it should be noted that the 

main corridors run fore and aft, and that 

between each set of cabins an alley way 

runs out on to the deck, so that whatever 

way the wind may be there is sure to be 

abundance of air in circulation, quite apart 

from the service of the fans.

The ventilation no doubt also served the purpose of dispersing smells coming from the deck below.

The main companion-way leads up to the

hurricane or promenade deck, which

is one of the most interesting features of the

Koombana, the promenade deck having  

a length of 300 feet. At the head of the

companion-way is the social hall and

music room.

Captain Rees, who brought the ship out,

is in charge, and has with him the following 

officers :-

Chief, H. J. Clark ; 

second, J. Birch; 

third, S. J. Nelson; 

purser, D. B. Reid; 

surgeon, Dr. R. M'Mair;

chief engineer, J. R. M'Donald; 

second, W. J. Shimming; 

chief steward, A. E. Smith.

Koombana at low tide, possibly Broome - courtesy wikipedia
note single screw (wrecksite.eu is incorrect), similar to Yongala
such forces on her hull could not have been good for integrity of plates and rivets.