SS ALLINGA PROMPTLY STEPS IN.

Geraldton Guardian, 4 April, 1912.

THE MAIL SERVICE.

S.S. ALLINGA TAKES THE

KOOMBANA'S PLACE.

Mr. Faulkner informs us that the

Adelaide Steamship Co. have decided 

to replace the ill-fated Koombana

by the s.s. Allinga, a steamer which

for some years past has been engaged 

in the Queensland trade. She is a

twin-screw steamer of 2,342 tons

gross register, and was built by

Scott and Co. at Greenock in 1897. 

She is described as a fine, roomy 

steamer with accommodation amidships 

for about 60 saloon passengers, and 

she can also accommodate about 100 

second-class passengers. She has  a 

fine promenade deck for saloon 

passengers, whilst the second-class 

passengers will, as was the case with 

the Koombana, have the use of the poop 

deck. The Allinga will leave Fremantle on 

May 7, running as far as Derby, and her

subsequent trips will be in accordance 

with the mail contract.

The s.s. Bullarra, on her return

from the search in which she is now

engaged, will resume her running under 

the time-table fixed in continuation with 

the North-West mail steamer.

Once the saloon door had been picked up by the crew of the SS Gorgon, it was time to move on. Relatives of those lost might have viewed this decision as mercenary. It was, however, necessary. 

SS Allinga comprised 279.5 ft.length; 42.5 ft. beam and 13 ft. draught. Clearing the spring tide outer bar at Port Hedland, 19 ft., did not present the same challenge to this steamer. Powered by twin triple expansion engines driving twin screws (272 nhp) Allinga was slow, gaining her a reputation and the nickname, "Lingerer".

Given the standing fine rate of £ 5 per hour for mail delivery delays, one wonders what bill this ageing steamer racked up...

The Week, Brisbane, 12 July, 1912

STEAMER ALLINGA

Strikes an Uncharted Reef.

The Adelaide Steamship Company's

steamer Allinga, which recently was taken

off the company's east coast service to

replace the ill-fated Koombana on the

west coast, was not long in her new

sphere when she met trouble, but, 

fortunately, she escaped without serious 

damage. When on her way southward 

from Wyndham, the north-west terminus 

of her run, to Fremantle, the steamer 

struck an uncharted reef in the vicinity of 

Onslow.

She was able to resume her voyage a few

hours afterwards. The exact position of the

reef is said in be 21 degrees 36 minutes

south, and 115 degrees 31/2 minutes west. (east) 

Since her arrival on the west coast, the Allinga 

has undergone some important structural 

alterations. Most of the deck stock fittings 

have been removed. This does not, in any way, 

interfere with the stock tarrying capacity of

the vessel, but adds greatly to the comfort 

of the passengers. These alterations having 

been made permit of awnings being spread 

on the main deck, and, as in the Queensland 

trade, sleeping accommodation and shower 

baths are provided on saloon decks. Such 

appointments as these are a boon to hot 

climates, and the vessel bids fair to become 

a popular one on the coast.

courtesy Trove, Google Earth and Flotilla Australia.