Tasmanian Steamers

Loongana, built in 1904 and scrapped in 1934

Tasmanian Steamers Proprietary Limited was a company that operated passenger ferries across the Bass Strait from 1921 to 1959. It was jointly owned by the Union Steam Ship Company and Huddart Parker.

History

Nairana, built in 1914–17 and scrapped in 1953–54

The company was established on 22 December 1921. Their ships experienced many difficulties over the next nearly four decades of operations; Amidst the ongoing Second World War, some of its ships were encountering intermittent attacks whilst at sea, having already witnessed the First World War. During the latter, one of its ships, Taroona, was an Australian troopship, and also serving in the same capacity with New Zealand for a brief time.

The company ceased passenger operations in 1959 after the Australian National Line purchased its assets.

Fleet

• Oonah
• Loongana
• Nairana
• Taroona
• Tatana

Streets in the Burnie suburbs of Shorewell Park and Malonga Park are named after the fleet.

References

Taroona, built in 1935, sold in 1959 and scrapped in 1989

Further reading

• Hopkins, David L. The short history of the Bass Strait Crossing. ISBN 0-646-18635-3.
• Plowman, Peter (2004). Ferry to Tasmania, A Short History. ISBN 1-877058-27-0.

Links

Media related to Ships of Tasmanian Steamers at Wikimedia Commons

• Hoskin, John E (2009). "Tasmanian Steam Navigation Co and Tasmanian Steamers Pty Ltd". Flotilla Australia.