Mishaps, Moments & Miscellany

During 13½ years of service the Wimmera experienced her fair share of mishaps. Some were only of a minor nature and simply involved the failure of equipment or negligence. Many incidents however, involved damage sustained in rough seas and several had potentially serious consequences.

There were also other moments in the Wimmera’s life when she happened to be in the same place at the same time as other events or occasions. In some of these she was involved but in others the vessel was just simply present, adding to the kaleidoscope of activities that touched the people of her time.

HMS New Zealand

The arrival in Auckland of the British battle cruiser HMS New Zealand on 29 April 1913 was another historic coincidental encounter made by the Wimmera. The warship was constructed at Govan, Scotland by the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company. She was launched in July 1911 and commissioned into the Royal Navy on 23 November 1912.…

In Poem, Prose & Picture

On several occasions the Wimmera was named or featured in works other than factual newspaper or magazine articles, diary or journal entries, or published works of travel. Some of those works of fiction and art are described below: Rovers All! On page 9 of the Special Christmas Section of the 4 December 1913 edition of…

A link to the Titanic

At about 11.40pm (ship’s time) on the 14th of April 1912 the White Star liner Titanic struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic Ocean. On the other side of the world, in Auckland, New Zealand it was then already about 10 past 2 in the afternoon of the 15th April. Berthed in that New Zealand…

The Wimmera in Miniature

A half-model of the Wimmera was also constructed by the ship’s builders

Fires

A fire is one of the worst situations to occur on board a ship at sea and even today is ‘one of the top three causes of loss for marine vessels’[i] Two fires occurred on the Wimmera during her period of service –the first just little over a year after her arrival, in December 1905. The…

Wild Weather

Damage to the ship and her cargo was more often than not sustained through severe weather and sea conditions than by close encounters with other vessels. The effects of the weather on shipping was often reported in the press. Amongst others the following recorded incidents provide clear example of the forces of nature: October 1907…

Collisions

The Wimmera had a number of close encounters with other vessels. Amongst those mishaps reported were collisions with the Balmain New Ferry Co’s S/S Lady Mary on 3 November 1908, the steamer Hunter on 19 July 1910, the S/S Alva on 7 October 1911, the Balmain ferry steamer Lady Manning on 4 October 1912, the coal…

Fatalities afloat & Casualties ashore

Passenger deaths and injuries Several passengers died and others injured whilst aboard the Wimmera. Ironically the first two fatalities were of a publican and a clergyman. Brief accounts of each fatality and injury, in chronological order, are provided below: Charles Siddells (July 1907) In July 1907, a number of supporters of the New Zealand champion…

Before the Courts

A number of court cases with connections to the Wimmera were held during her period of service. In addition to those matters relating to passengers such as stowaways, there were also the following cases involving her captains and crew: Crew in Court 1906 David Walker Munro first joined the Wimmera as Chief Cook in 1904. He was…

Wireless

The installation of wireless apparatus on the steamers of the Huddart Parker fleet began in 1910 with the construction of their newest liner Zealandia. Prior to departing the UK on her maiden voyage to Melbourne the Zealandia became the first Australian-owned steamship to be so fitted. Following the Zealandia’s arrival in June 1910, wireless equipment…

Marine Excursions

Despite the busy schedules of the Huddart Parker’s coastal and Trans-Tasman liners, the Wimmera was not always confined to her regular passenger and cargo runs. During the 1913 Christmas period her services were advertised for other activities. Southport Regatta For the sum of 4/- per adult and 2/- per child locals could enjoy a Boxing…

Industrial Disputes

Industrial disputes were commonplace in those days, as they have been in more recent times, and shipping companies and their vessels were often directly or indirectly affected by these disputations that could be either local or national in nature. During February of 1913 both affected the Wimmera: THE POSITION IN HOBART. THE WIMMERA. So far…

Visit of the Great White Fleet

In 1908, a fleet of the United States Navy conducted a world cruise. Amongst those ports visited were Auckland in New Zealand and Sydney and Melbourne in Australia. It was a memorable event. All berths on the Wimmera were booked in anticipation of her arrival in Auckland which coincided with that of the American fleet…

Arrival of the Australian Fleet

The Royal Australian Navy was formally established on 11 July 1911. Two years later the Navy’s first flagship, the battle cruiser HMAS Australia, arrived in Australian waters and, together with other warships of the fledgling Australian Fleet, assembled at Jervis Bay before making their way north for the Fleet’s official arrival to Sydney. Southward bound out…

Called to Help

On at least one occasion the services of the Wimmera were called upon to lend assistance to search for a missing ship. Hawea 1908 During August 1908 the Union Steamship Company’s collier Hawea was on a passage between Newcastle and Gisborne with a shipment of coal for the Gisborne Sheep Farmers’ Meat Co. when, during…

Message in a Bottle

On Monday 24 February 1908 whilst the Wimmera was at sea between Wellington and Sydney, a passenger wrote upon a postcard on which was a photograph of the butcher shop of his employer, Mr F. H. Steele, of Colombo Street, Christchurch. On the card was written: “When found, please post to 178 Columbo street, Christchurch,…

Subject of the Cinematograph

On board the Wimmera on her departure from Melbourne on Wednesday 22 February 1905 was one of Australia’s accomplished early cinematographers, 36-year old Major Joseph (Joe) Perry, head of the Salvation Army’s Limelight Department. Accompanying Perry on his trip were two of his sons – S[tan] (Stanley) and O[rrie] (Orizaba) Perry. Departing Hobart on Friday…

Loss of the SS Penguin

On the evening of Friday 12 February 1909 three ships entered New Zealand’s Cook Straits. Only two reached their ports of destination.

Mishaps, Moments & Miscellany

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