TSS Kanowna

An undated photograph of the Kanowna.

TSS Kanowna, also known as HMAS Kanowna, was an Australian steamer built during 1902.

The 126-metre (413 ft) long TSS Kanowna was constructed by Brothers of Dumbarton, Scotland and W. Denny, and had a twin screw design. Kanowna was operated by the Australian United Steam Navigation Company (AUSNC), and it served the Sydney to Fremantle route.

Kanowna was controlled by the Commonwealth between 8 and 21 August 1914. It was used to transfer troops for the Australian World War I involvement in New Guinea.

Twelve nurses aboard the requisitioned Kanowna, to service the floating hospital.

The steamer was again requisitioned on 1 June 1915 by the Commonwealth, and was transferred to England where it was converted to a hospital ship that could accommodate 452 patients. It was used to transfer ill and injured people between the United Kingdom and Australia for three years, during which time it was known as HMAS Kanowna.

The steamer was returned to AUSNC on 29 July 1919, after it left England just prior to the signing of the Treaty of Versailles which formally concluded World War I. It resumed a passenger and general cargo route, with varied routes.

On 18 February 1929, Kanowna ran into rocks whilst travelling between Sydney and Melbourne near Cleft Island, south of Wilsons Promontory. Passengers were transferred to the SS Mackarra prior to the sinking of Kanowna. The steamship Dumosa was used to transfer Kanowna’s officers and crew.

A 1914 photograph of Kanowna in Cairns after being requisitioned by the Commonwealth.

Originally it was believed that the Kanowna could be moved and saved, but the boiler fires had extinguished and attempts to beach the ship were unsuccessful. The ship remained afloat for several hours before sinking. Fog is believed to have been a major factor in the incident. A Court of Inquiry found the captain should have slowed his vessel in the fog. It is one of Victoria's largest shipwrecks.

On 23 April 2005, four explorers believe they found the shipwreck of the Kanowna, located 50 kilometres (31 mi) into Bass Strait and submerged in approximately 80 metres (260 ft) of water. A fortnight later a group of divers successfully reached the wreck and a comparison to the drawings of the ship indicate it is likely to be Kanowna.

References

• Fyfe, Melissa (2005-06-05). "One obscure clue leads divers to Gallipoli shipwreck". CDNN. p. 1. http://www.cdnn.info/news/article/a050605.html. Retrieved 2007-01-13. 
• "TSS Kanowna". Southern Ocean Exploration. 2005. p. 1. http://www.southernoceanexploration.com/kanowna.php. Retrieved 2007-01-13. 
• Spargo, Jo & Chappelow, Amelia (2005-06-09). "Shipwreck Survivor: Discovering the Kanowna". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. p. 1. http://www.abc.net.au/gippsland/stories/s1387063.htm. Retrieved 2007-01-13. 
• Fyfe, Melissa (2005-10-17). "Divers put lost passenger steamer in the picture". The Age. p. 1. http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/splash-and-treasure/2005/10/16/1129401144965.html. Retrieved 2007-01-13. 
• "Dive Sites: Kanowna Wreck". Dive Victoria. 2007. p. 1. http://www.divevictoria.com.au/sites.php?site=113. Retrieved 2007-01-13. 
• Alfano, L.. "Ship List". Document. p. 74. http://members.tripod.com/~L_Alfano/anz4.txt. Retrieved 2007-01-13. 
• "WW1; Mother Anzac and other WWI nurses". Digger History. p. 1. http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-nurses/ww1.htm. Retrieved 2007-01-13. 
• "The Burling Family History". 1998-01-25. p. 1. http://www.burling.info/bub_0002.html. Retrieved 2007-01-13.