Collection of 401 items relating to McIlwraith McEacharn Limited
Date1875-1987
Object numberANMS0863
NameArchive series
ClassificationsEphemera
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from McIlwraith McEacharn Limited
DescriptionThis collection of 401 items documents the company operations and vessels of McIlwraith McEacharn Limited.HistoryThe series consists of one MV KANIMBLA booklet; one program for the naming ceremony of tug boats; one note; one photo wallet; one photograph album, 66 negatives, 274 photographs and 56 transparencies depicting images of the following vessels AGNES MUIR, BELLARINE, BRACQ, CAMBRAIN, CARPENTARIA, CHARLES WAUGH, COMAL II, COMALCO BEAGLE, COMALCO INVESTIGATOR, DUNBAR CASTLE, DUYFKEN, ELEANOR, ELTON GRIFFIN, FRANCES FISHER, GULF EXPLORER, HMAS OVENS O class submarine, IRIS, JAMES PATERSON, KANIMBLA, KUNGURRI, LATROBE, MC WARRINGA, MT BBT, MT BUCCANEER, MT KOUMALA, MT KUTTABUL, MT LATROBE, MT THOMAS WEBB, MT YOUMALA, MV HEXHAM BANK, MV MANOORA, MV SEAWAY PRINCE, MV SYDNEY TRADER, MV WANGANELLA, MV WATAMURRA, MV WEELA, MV WILTSHIRE, NIVOSA, PEVA, PINOY, RANDLE, SCOTTISH ADMIRAL, SCOTTISH HERO, SCOTTISH KNIGHT, SCOTTISH LASSIE, SCOTTISH PRINCE, SCOTTISH WIZARD, SEEMEEUW, SHANDON, SOUTHERN CROSS MARU, SS ADELONG, SS ADRIDGE, SS BARWON, SS BELLAMBI, SS BIRJIIWA, SS CLONCURRY, SS COOEYANA, SS COOLGARDIE, SS EDDYSTONE, SS FEDERAL, SS FLINDERS, SS HETTON BANK, SS KALGOORLIE, SS KAROOLA, SS KATOOMBA, SS KOMURA, SS KOOLONGA, SS KOOMILYA, SS KOORAWATHA, SS KOORDA, SS KOORINGA, SS KOORLJA, SS KOOYONG, SS MORTLAKE BANK, SS MURIEL, SS NEW GUINEA, SS NORKOOWA, SS PELTON BANK, SS QUEEN FREDERICA, SS STRAITS BREEZE, SS TAGLIAFERRO, SS WERFA, SS WOOMERA, TSMS PATRIS, TSS KATOOMBA, WALUMBA, WESTRALIAN and ZEPHYR and of the following images Bellbird Colliery, BHP yard, Whyalla, groups of business men on vessels, cargo ships, coal conveyer system, container ships, an elevated view of Newcastle, a floating wharf, Glebe Island Bridge, launch of MV KOOLIGA, model ships, Scarborough Beach, WA, tug boats and wheat silos.
The shipping firm of McIlwraith, McEacharn & Co was founded in London in February 1875 by Andrew McIlwraith and Malcolm Donald McEacharn. McIlwraith, McEacharn & Co entered the Australian trade in 1887 bringing cargo and immigrants from Britain to Queensland. They also entered the coal trade. They entered into the fierce competition for passenger trade in the first decades of the twentieth century when competition for passengers required companies to provide more than converted cargo vessels. In 1909 their ship KAROOLA won a reputation for its salubrious accommodation and its size, and was the first Australian ship to exceed 7,000 tons. The company maintained the advantage in 1912 by commissioning KATOOMBA, which was larger and more luxurious than all its generation of passenger ships.
With the growth of rail and road transport, Australian shipping declined during the twentieth century. McIlwraith, McEacharn & Co was a survivor and bought the fleets of James Paterson and Huddard Parker in 1961. In 1957 McIlwraith, McEacharn & Co together with Adelaide Steamship Company and Melbourne Steamship Company, set up Bulkships Pty Ltd to work the heavy ore trade and bought four ships. In 1964 it merged shipping interests with those of the Adelaide Steamship Company to form Associated Steamships. They had a combined fleet of 12 conventional cargo vessels, which they replaced with three container ships.
McIlwraith McEacharn continued in the shipping trade until the 1990s when their ships were sold to a US company.SignificanceThis collection is significant in recording a comprehensive history of an Australian shipping company from the 1870s to the 1990s.
Archive Series (item)/Archive Item (series)
