Australasian Steam Navigation Company

Former ASN Co offices and warehouse, The Rocks, Sydney.

The Australasian Steam Navigation Company (ASN Co) was a shipping company of Australia which operated between 1839 and 1887.

Company history

The company was started as the Hunter River Steam Navigation Company in 1839 [1]

In March 1851, the company was reformed as the Australasian Steam Navigation Company.[2]

In 1887, the shipping company was amalgamated with the Queensland Steam Shipping Company with their respective vessels in 1887 to form the Australasian United Steam Navigation Company.[3][4]

Ships

The company's ships included:

Shipwrecks and disasters

Wreck of the Sovereign

On 11 March 1847, the Sovereign was wrecked in the South Passage off Amity Point, North Stradbroke Island, Queensland with the loss of 44 lives; there were 10 survivors.[2][5] While the actions of Captain Cape in the disaster were praised by the survivors, many questions were subsequently raised about the fitness of the vessel for the voyage. An inspection of the wreck showed that the planking and fastenings were not in good condition; the inner planking was described as "perfectly rotten". The engines were said to be suitable for river navigation but not for an ocean voyage to Brisbane. The storage of cargo on the deck was the direct cause of some deaths. There were no lifeboats (not being required at that time). The other concern was the use of the South Passage with its surf and shoals; while it was the shortest route from Sydney, it was not the safest entrance to Moreton Bay.[6]

Loss of the City of Sydney

On 7 November 1862, the City of Sydney was lost at Green Cape, fortunately without loss of life.[2][7]

Stranding of the Boomerang

In 1863, the Boomerang was stranded on the Upper Flats at Rockhampton.[2]

Wreck of the Cawarra

In April 1866, the steamship SS Cawarra was wrecked at Newcastle with the loss of all but one man.[2][8]

Wreck of the Telegraph

In October 1866, the steamship Telegraph was wrecked off Cape Perpendicular.[2]

Loss of the Auckland

In June 1871, the steamer Auckland was lost in fog off the Ram Head.[2]

Wreck of the Boomerang

In June 1874, the Boomerang went ashore near King's Reef.[2]

Stranding of the James Patterson

In August 1874, the James Patterson was stranded on Mast Head Reef.[2]

Wreck of the Rangatira

In May 1875, the steamer Rangatira was totally wrecked.[2]

Fire on the Ly-ee-moon

In November 1877, the Ly-ee-moon was partly destroyed by fire.[2]

Wreck of the Florence Irving

In December 1877, the Florence Irving was wrecked off Port Stephens.[2]

Stranding of the Queensland

In December 1877, the Queensland was stranded in the Fitzroy River.[2]

Loss of the Wotonga

In January 1882, the Wotonga was lost near Port Macquarie.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "Australasian Steam Navigation Company". Flotilla Australia. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 "THE AUSTRALASIAN STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY.". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 4 December 1886. p. 10. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  3. ↑ "Australasian United Steam Navigation Company". Flotilla Australia. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  4. ↑ McKellar, N. L. (Norman Lang) (1977), From Derby round to Burketown : the A.U.S.N. story, University of Queensland Press, ISBN 978-0-7022-1244-4
  5. ↑ "WRECK OF THE SOVEREIGN STEAMER ON THURSDAY MORNING LAST. FORTY-FOUR LIVES LOST.". The Moreton Bay Courier. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 13 March 1847. p. 2. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  6. ↑ "THE LATE DISASTROUS SHIPWRECK". The Moreton Bay Courier. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 20 March 1847. p. 2. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  7. ↑ "S.S. CITY OF SYDNEY.". Newcastle Morning Herald & Miners' Advocate. NSW: National Library of Australia. 3 November 1934. p. 7. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  8. ↑ "WRECK OF THE STEAMER CAWARRA.". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 13 July 1866. p. 5. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
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