View source for SS Koombana

{{Short description|Ship lost in 1912 off Western Australia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2017}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}} 
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image= SS Koombana.jpg
|Ship caption= ''Koombana'' in port, about 1910
}} 
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header= 
|Ship country= [[Australia]]
|Ship flag= {{shipboxflag|Australia|civil}}
|Ship name= ''Koombana''
|Ship namesake= Koombana, near [[Bunbury, Western Australia|Bunbury, WA]]
|Ship owner= [[File:Adelaide Steamship Company house flag.svg|border|20px]] [[Adelaide Steamship Company]]
|Ship operator= 
|Ship registry= [[Port Adelaide]]
|Ship route= 
|Ship ordered= 
|Ship builder= [[Alexander Stephen and Sons|A Stephen & Sons]], [[Linthouse]]
|Ship original cost= 
|Ship yard number= 429
|Ship laid down= 
|Ship launched= 27 October 1908
|Ship sponsor= 
|Ship completed= 
|Ship maiden voyage= 
|Ship acquired= 
|Ship in service= 
|Ship out of service= 
|Ship identification= *UK [[official number]] 122725
*[[code letters]] TQSF
*{{ICS|Tango}}{{ICS|Quebec}}{{ICS|Sierra}}{{ICS|Foxtrot}}
|Ship fate= Lost with all hands, 20 March 1912
|Ship notes= 
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship type= [[passenger ship]]
|Ship tonnage= {{GRT|3668}}, {{NRT|2182}}
|Ship displacement= 
|Ship length= {{cvt|340.1|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam= {{cvt|48.2|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught= 
|Ship depth= {{cvt|20.8|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship decks= 3
|Ship power= 423 [[Horsepower#Nominal horsepower|NHP]], 3,000 hp
|Ship propulsion= *1 × [[Propeller|screw]]
*1 × [[Marine steam engine#Triple or multiple expansion|triple expansion engine]]
|Ship speed= {{convert|14|kn|km/h}}
|Ship capacity= 
|Ship crew= 74
|Ship sensors= 
|Ship notes= 
}}
|}

'''SS ''Koombana''''' was a [[Passenger ship|passenger]] [[steamship]] that was built in [[Scotland]] in 1908 for the [[Adelaide Steamship Company]], for coastal liner services between [[Fremantle Harbour|Fremantle]] and the northwest coast of [[Western Australia]]. She sank in a [[tropical cyclone]] somewhere off [[Port Hedland, Western Australia|Port Hedland]] in 1912,<ref name="bom"/> with the loss of all 150 people aboard.<ref name="wa 12-05-11"/> Her loss was one of Australia's worst weather-related maritime disasters in the twentieth century.<ref name="bom"/>

In April and May 1909, ''Koombana'' took the [[Premier of Western Australia]], [[Newton Moore]], on a tour of the northwest, which included the official opening of the jetty at Port Hedland,<ref name="wm 09-04-24"/><ref name="wa 09-04-28"/> now the highest tonnage port in Australia.<ref name="PHPA"/> ''Koombana'' was also the first ship to berth at that jetty.<ref name="wa 09-04-28"/>

In November 1910, ''Koombana'' was part of a welcoming flotilla of vessels at [[Broome, Western Australia]] for the arrival in Australia of the [[Royal Australian Navy]]'s first two destroyers, {{HMAS|Parramatta|D55|6}} and {{HMAS|Yarra|D79|2}}. In November 1911, ''Koombana'' was the subject of an industrial dispute that had consequences throughout Australia.<ref name="smh 11-11-25"/>

''Koombana''{{'}}s loss in 1912 led to the Adelaide Steamship Co's withdrawal from serving the northwest coast.<ref name="nt 46-10-11"/> This led the [[Government of Western Australia]] to create the [[State Shipping Service of Western Australia]], which dominated that trade for the rest of the twentieth century.<ref name="plowman"/>

==Building, registration and identification==
[[File:Koombana.jpg|thumb|''Koombana'' (right) at low tide, possibly at Broome]]
''Koombana'' was the first passenger and cargo ship to be designed and built exclusively for the Western Australian coastal service. Her purpose was to develop trade with the northwest of the State.<ref name="wm 09-02-20"/> She was built under the British Corporation shelter deck rules, to carry first and second class passengers, many head of cattle, general cargo,<ref name="aa 09-02-17"/><ref name="smh 09-01-02"/> and refrigerated cargo.<ref name=LR-refrig/>

The Adelaide Steamship Co was the main operator of coastal shipping between Fremantle and the northwest coast when it ordered ''Koombana''. Since 1900 the {{GRT|1725}} ''Bullarra'' had worked the route. ''Koombana'' was to be her far larger replacement.<ref name="plowman"/> She was specially designed for the semi-tropical climate of the northwest coast.<ref name="plowman"/><ref name="wm 09-02-20"/>

[[Alexander Stephen and Sons]] built ''Koombana'' at their [[Linthouse]] shipyard in [[Glasgow]] as yard number 429.<ref name=SBS/> She was launched on 27 October 1908 by Mrs S Elgar, wife of one of the Adelaide Steamship Company's superintendents in Britain.<ref name="smh 09-01-02"/> Company policy was to give each of its ships a name from a local [[Aboriginal Australians|aboriginal]] language.<ref name="townsville"/> At the suggestion of the Premier, Newton Moore,<ref name="wa 12-04-10loss"/> the ship was named ''Koombana'', after Mr Robert Forrest's Koombana Mill, near [[Bunbury, Western Australia]].<ref name="wm 09-02-20"/><ref name="trove 1905"/> "Koombana", first recorded by [[John Arrowsmith (cartographer)|John Arrowsmith]] in 1838 as "Koombanah", is the [[Noongar language|Noongar]] name of a bay near Bunbury, now called Koombana Bay.<ref name="auevery"/> "Koombana" may mean bay ("ana") of spouting whales ("koomba"),<ref name="auevery"/> and also "calm and peaceful".<ref name="agf"/>

''Koombana''{{'}}s registered length was {{cvt|340.1|ft|abbr=on}}, her beam was {{cvt|48.2|ft|abbr=on}} and her depth was {{cvt|20.8|ft|abbr=on}}. Her [[tonnage]]s were {{GRT|3668}} and {{NRT|2182}}. [[Babcock & Wilcox]] supplied her water-tube boilers.<ref name="smh 09-01-02"/> She had a single [[Propeller|screw]], driven by a three-cylinder [[Marine steam engine#Triple or multiple expansion|triple expansion engine]], which was rated at 423 [[Horsepower#Nominal horsepower|NHP]]<ref name=LR-steamships/> or 3,000&nbsp;hp.<ref name="wa museum"/> She could achieve {{convert|14|kn|km/h|0}}, and her average speed, fully laden, was {{convert|13|kn|km/h|0}}.<ref name="a(a) 12-04-10"/>

The Adelaide Steamship Co [[Ship registration|registered]] ''Koombana'' at [[Port Adelaide]]. Her UK [[official number]] was 122725 and her [[code letters]] were TQSF.<ref name=LR-steamships/><ref name=MNL/>

''Koombana'' was described as "... as luxurious as the [[Titanic]] ..." and as "... the last word in seagoing opulence".<ref name="smh 2012-04-07"/> After her arrival in Fremantle on her delivery voyage, she was praised as "... the acme of perfection as regards the comfort of passengers, facilities for handling cargo, and appliances for skilful navigation ...".<ref name="wm 09-02-20"/> However, she was also criticised as "... too good for the trade".<ref name="wm 09-05-01"/>

==Architecture and equipment==
===Passenger facilities===
[[File:SS Koombana, first class dining saloon 1909 (no caption).jpg|thumb|''Koombana''{{'}}s first class dining room, {{circa|March 1909}}]]
[[File:SS Koombana, deck billiards, 1909.jpg|thumb|Passengers playing deck billiards (also called [[shuffleboard]]) on ''Koombana'', {{circa|April 1909}}]]
''Koombana'' had several decks with passenger facilities. Immediately above the lower hold was the [[orlop deck]], and above that, the [[main deck]]. Above that was the [[spar deck]], which had most of the [[cabin (ship)|passenger cabins]] and both dining saloons. Over the spar deck was a [[promenade deck]], above which was the [[bridge deck|bridge and]] [[boat deck]], with the [[Bridge (nautical)|navigating bridge]] on top.<ref name="wm 09-02-20"/>

The [[drawing room|drawing]] and [[smoking room|smoke room]]s were both on the promenade deck. In the drawing room, there were portable lounges and [[Waring & Gillow|Waring & Co]] furnishings,<ref name="wm 09-02-20"/> all upholstered in purple plush.<ref name="aa 09-02-17"/> The drawing room had satinwood panelled walls, a bookcase with up-to-date library, and other furniture, including a Broadway piano and a pair of [[Thomas Chippendale|Chippendale]]-style writing desks. Its ceilings were white painted canvas with a gilt-edged floral design; its main entrance and the stairway leading to the promenade deck were both panelled in mahogany. The smoke room was upholstered in scarlet.<ref name="wm 09-02-20"/>

''Koombana'''s [[dining room]] in the first saloon was roomy, well ventilated, and had green-upholstered seating for 75 people. Its walls were panelled in oak. The [[galley (kitchen)|galley]] and [[pantry|pantries]] had modern appliances, including a patent electric egg boiler in the kitchen, and an electrically driven dough mixer in the [[bakery|bakehouse]].<ref name="wm 09-02-20"/>

There were berths for 300 first and second saloon passengers.<ref name="dn 09-02-15"/> Most cabins had only two berths, and all had [[electric fan]]s. The first class cabins were built according to the island system, with each division having a separate entrance from the deck, and easy access to and from the saloon.<ref name="wm 09-02-20"/>

===Equipment===
''Koombana'''s bridge had various instruments and machines, including the latest navigation aids. There was an Alfred Graham patent telephone switch,<ref name="wm 09-02-20"/> which linked the bridge with the captain's cabin, the poop, and the engine-room. The telephone was used in emergencies, or when the officers on the bridge wanted to be more explicit in their instructions to the engine-room. It was supplemented by a telegraph, for communications between the bridge and the aft end of the ship.<ref name="dn 09-02-15"/> Also on the bridge were several automatic indicators, a telemotor to control the [[ship's wheel|steering gear]],<ref name="wm 09-02-20"/> and a portable chart table in a glass.<ref name="dn 09-02-15"/>

''Koombana'' had electric [[navigation light]]s with auxiliary oil lamps, and indicators to warn of failure of any of the navigational lights.<ref name="wm 09-02-20"/> The indicators were in the form of discs in the wheel house. Were anything to go wrong with a light, a coloured flame would flare up in the respective disc. If the indication were disregarded, an electric bell would ring.<ref name="dn 09-02-15"/>

''Koombana'' carried a motor launch. It was for use when she missed the tide at northwestern ports, and could be sent ashore as necessary.<ref name="dn 09-02-15"/>

===Cargo facilities===
''Koombana'' was designed and built to carry livestock. Her main deck had pens for transporting about 220 head of cattle or 1,500 sheep.<ref name="plowman"/> However, as early as her second northwest coastal run embarked 2,500 sheep at Carnarvon for Fremantle.<ref name="nt 09-05-10"/>

''Koombana'' had a refrigerating plant supplied by J&E Hall of London,<ref name="smh 09-01-02"/> and two large freezing chambers, with a total capacity of 1,800 tons of cubic space,{{clarification needed|reason=What is a "ton of cubic space"?|date=May 2023}} perishable cargo.<ref name="wm 09-02-20"/><ref name="nt 09-03-06"/> These chambers had capacity for about 800 tons of cargo, and were supplemented by an icemaking machine.<ref name="dn 09-02-15"/>

''Koombana''{{'}}s seven sets of [[Axel Welin|Welin]] quadrant davits<ref name="smh 09-01-02"/> were all worked by hydraulic power, apart from one steam crane at the No 1 hatch forward.<ref name="wm 09-02-20"/>

==Service history==
===Delivery voyage===
[[File:Victoria Quay, Fremantle Harbour, ca 1910.jpg|thumb|Victoria Quay, [[Fremantle Harbour]] and the [[Swan River (Western Australia)|Swan River]] from the Signal Station, [[Fremantle]], about 1910.]]
At the end of December 1908, ''Koombana'' left the UK on her delivery voyage to [[Melbourne]], Australia, via [[Cape Town]] and [[Durban]] in South Africa, and Fremantle and Adelaide in Australia.<ref name="smh 09-01-02"/><ref name="nt 08-12-19"/><ref name="gg 09-02-12"/> Her [[Master mariner|Master]] for the voyage was [[Sea captain|Captain]] John Rees,<ref name="wa 09-02-20"/><ref name="aa 09-05-05"/> who had been Master of ''Bullara''.<ref name="wm 09-02-20"/>

''Koombana'' left Glasgow on 29 December 1908 in a severe snowstorm. After 36 hours' delay at [[Greenock]] awaiting snowbound passengers, she sailed at 7am on 31 December. She passed [[Las Palmas]] on 6 January 1909, [[Cape Verde]] three days later, and crossed the Equator on 13 January. She reached Cape Town on 23 January, embarked passengers, and left the next day.<ref name="a(m) 09-02-19"/>

On arrival at Durban on 27 January 1909, ''Koombana'' embarked many passengers bound for Australian ports, among them one JH Taylor. Two days after the ship left Durban, on 30 January 1909, Mr Taylor vanished without trace. He had been observed to be behaving "in a peculiar and eccentric manner". He had told other passengers that he had been in South Africa for some years, and had lost a lot of money. It was therefore assumed that "his losses had preyed upon his mind", and that "in a fit of melancholia", he had "jumped overboard in the night".<ref name="wa 09-02-12"/>

''Koombana'' passed [[Île Amsterdam|Amsterdam Island]] on 5 February<ref name="a(m) 09-02-19"/> and reached Fremantle on 11 February.<ref name="wm 09-02-20"/><ref name="wa 09-02-20"/> There she unloaded cargo including valuable [[thoroughbred]] and [[Suffolk Punch]] horses, a [[Dorset horn]] ram and five Dorset horn ewes in lamb.<ref name="dn 09-02-12a"/> A well known former Australian trainer, Edwin Couch, had been engaged to accompany the horses from Glasgow to Fremantle. But after apparently displaying great interest in the matter, he had failed to appear to carry out his engagement, which had therefore had to be carried out by "another good man". Couch had later been discovered to have died by suicide using a revolver in an [[Exeter]] hotel.<ref name="dn 09-02-12b"/>

On 12 February 1909, ''Koombana'' left Fremantle for Melbourne.<ref name="wm 09-02-20"/><ref name="wa 09-02-20"/> At a reception held on board her in Melbourne on 5 March, the federal [[Attorney-General of Australia|Attorney-General]], [[Billy Hughes|WM Hughes]], responded to a toast to the [[Parliament of Australia|Commonwealth Parliament]] by acknowledging the immense proportions that the Australian shipping industry had recently assumed. His Western Australian colleague Senator [[George Pearce]], [[Minister for Defence (Australia)|Minister for Defence]], also gave a speech, in which he attributed the moves to establish a [[Royal Australian Navy]] to the need to keep the way open for coastal trade. In another speech, the [[Minister for Home Affairs (Australia)|Minister for Home Affairs]], [[Hugh Mahon]], who was also the federal [[Division of Coolgardie|Member for Coolgardie]] in Western Australia, asserted not only that the coastal trade was one of Australia's most precious possessions, but also, somewhat presciently, that no sacrifice should be too great to preserve it.<ref name="a(a) 09-02-27"/>

Soon afterwards, ''Koombana'' returned to Fremantle to replace ''Bullarra'' on the northwest trade.<ref name="nt 08-12-19"/> Shortly before dawn on 8 March 1909, she berthed at [[Fremantle Harbour|Victoria Quay]], Fremantle, to complete her delivery.<ref name="wa 09-03-09"/> During the delivery voyage, her seagoing qualities had proved to be exceptionally fine.<ref name="a(m) 09-02-19"/>

===Early northwest trips===
[[File:SS Koombana towed by SS Winfield, 1909.jpg|thumb|''Winfield'' towing ''Koombana'' off the Shark Bay sand bank, 25 March 1909]]
''Koombana'' left Fremantle on her first northwest trip to [[Derby, Western Australia|Derby]] on 12 March 1909, and from [[Geraldton]] the next night. She was expected to reach [[Carnarvon, Western Australia|Carnarvon]] on the evening of 15 March 1909, but that morning she ran aground on a sand bank known as Bar Flats, {{convert|14|mi|km|abbr=on}} from [[Denham, Western Australia|Denham]] in [[Shark Bay]].<ref name="nt 09-03-20"/>

A subsequent inquiry by the Chief Harbourmaster, Captain CJ Irvine, established that the master, Captain Rees, had mistaken the mark buoy in the north side of the channel leading to Denham for the outer or westerly buoy. In the hazy prevailing weather, Captain Rees had been unable to verify his position by bearings from the headlands, and there was little warning of the approach of shoal waters. The Chief Harbourmaster therefore concluded that more care should have been exercised when approaching Bar Flats, and the speed of the ship reduced to "slow" until the vessel's position had been definitely ascertained. However, in light of Captain Rees's past good record, and in the absence of any damage to the ship, he recommended that no further action be taken.<ref name="wm 09-05-29"/>

Initially, Captain Rees expected to be able to float ''Koombana'' off the sand bank the next day.<ref name="wm 09-03-20"/> With the haze having lifted by the following morning, the ship became visible from Denham by the aid of glasses. Efforts to refloat her by emptying her ballast tanks were unsuccessful.<ref name="nt 09-03-20"/> Crew members then sent the motor launch towards Denham, but in a heavy sea its motor was swamped, and it returned to ''Koombana'' using its sail. Denham was reached only on a second attempt.<ref name="nt 10-12-31a"/>

On 18 March 1909 at 02:30, SS ''Winfield'' left Geraldton to lighten her.<ref name="nt 09-03-20"/> The task of refloating ''Koombana'' took several more days, with the officers and crews of both ships working day and night. On 24 March 1909, ''Winfield'' herself ran aground for half an hour, while turning to come alongside. An attempted tow that day was unsuccessful, but at 14:30 the next day, after cargo had been taken out of ''Koombana''{{'}}s forehatch, she was finally refloated.<ref name="nt 09-03-27a"/>

Meanwhile, there was disquiet in Carnarvon about the non-arrival of the mail being carried by ''Koombana''. In a telegram to the Postmaster-General in Melbourne, Carnarvon's town clerk complained that the monthly delivery of mail had been delayed by eight days. He pointed out that plenty of boats were available at the scene of the stranding to convey them the {{convert|70|mi|km|abbr=on}} to Carnarvon. Further north, the Port Hedland ''Advocate'' called for Shark Bay to be cut off the list of northwest trade calling places, due to its ever-shifting sand banks.<ref name="nt 09-03-27b"/> However, ''Koombana'' was largely forgiven when she arrived in Carnarvon a few days later, even though a quantity of Carnarvon cargo had to be overcarried. Residents and local newspapers marvelled at the comfort of her cabins, while passengers spoke highly of the efforts of the officers and crew to refloat the ship. ''Koombana'' then covered the {{convert|280|mi|km|abbr=on}} from Carnarvon to [[Onslow, Western Australia|Onslow]] in the record time of 20½ hours.<ref name="nt 09-04-03"/>

[[File:SS Koombana, Port Hedland jetty, 1909.jpg|thumb|''Koombana'' alongside the new jetty at [[Port Hedland, Western Australia|Port Hedland]], 26 April 1909]]
[[File:Gantheaume Point, Broome, ca 1910.jpg|thumb|Gantheaume Point, [[Broome, Western Australia|Broome]], about 1910]]
''Koombana''{{'}}s second northwest trip left Fremantle on 17 April 1909. In Geraldton on 21 April 1909, the vessel embarked a party comprising the [[Premier of Western Australia|Premier]], [[Newton Moore]], the [[Minister for Works (Western Australia)|Minister for Works]], [[James Price (Australian politician)|James Price]], and four other State MPs.<ref name="wm 09-04-24"/> The party had come from Perth to Geraldton by train, and then continued by ''Koombana'' to Derby, before returning by ''Koombana'' to Fremantle.<ref name="wm 09-04-24"/> Their aim was to visit the northwest ports,<ref name="wm 09-04-24"/> inspect recent public works projects, and "... meet the residents of the various ports and ascertain their wants ...".<ref name="wa 09-04-27"/> A highlight of the party's tour was the opening on 27 April 1909 of the new Port Hedland jetty, at which ''Koombana'' was the first ship to berth. Building the jetty had been expedited to enable the landing of the rails to build the [[Marble Bar Railway]].<ref name="wa 09-04-28"/>

Shortly after leaving Broome for Derby on the evening of 28 April 1909, with the ministerial party aboard, ''Koombana'' struck an uncharted submerged obstruction about {{convert|1|mi|km|abbr=on}} from the Gantheaume light, damaging her bottom on the port side forward. It seems that this incident was not immediately publicised, and that on arrival at Derby the vessel was examined and no damage was found.<ref name="aa 09-05-05"/> However, a Court of Marine Inquiry was held. After hearing evidence on 7 August 1909, the Court, consisting of Mr EP Dowley, RM, and Captains Cutler and Foxworthy, observed that an uncharted rock had since been found in the area, and that the course set by Captain Rees, under the guidance of the then available Admiralty chart, was perfectly safe through Roebuck Deep. The Court therefore dismissed a charge of laxity brought against the Captain, exonerated him, and returned his certificate.<ref name="wa 09-08-09"/>

Meanwhile, on 12 May 1909, ''Koombana'' had left Fremantle on her third northwest trip. By that stage the Broome incident had been made public, but ''The West Australian'' announced her impending departure with considerable enthusiasm:

<blockquote>On her recent trip she put up a tremendous performance for consistent fast steaming, and fully justified her claim to be ranked as one of the most speedy vessels on the Australian coastal trade. The demand for berths is still very keen, and on this trip she will take away a full complement of passengers.<ref>{{cite news |title= Shipping Notes |url= http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26227632 |newspaper=The West Australian |date=11 May 1909 |page=4 |via=Trove}}</ref></blockquote>

However, during the voyage ''Koombana'' was found to be making water in one of her tanks. On arrival at Broome, an examination revealed that some of the cement on the bottom of the tank had broken away, and that one of the rivets had broken off,<ref name="aa 09-06-09"/><ref name="smh 09-06-15"/> requiring repair.

===Repairs in Sydney===
Fremantle lacked a [[dry dock]], so the Adelaide Steamship Co decided sent ''Koombana'' to Sydney to be examined and repaired.<ref name="aa 09-06-09"/><ref name="smh 09-06-15"/> She steamed there from Fremantle after completing her third northwest trip, stopping only in [[Albany, Western Australia|Albany]] to land 100 tons of cargo on the way.<ref name="aa 09-06-09"/> The [[Huddart Parker|Huddart, Parker & Co's]] liner ''Burrumbeet'' stood in for her on the northwest route.<ref name="smh 09-06-15"/><ref name="aa 09-07-21"/>

''Koombana'' reached Sydney on the night of 13 June 1909, and entered [[Mort's Dock]] the next morning.<ref name="smh 09-06-15"/> According to one newspaper report, the Sydney docking revealed that – contrary to earlier reports in Western Australia – the grounding in Shark Bay had broken 13 plates of her hull. "She was evidently kept afloat only by the top skin of her ballast tanks", the report commented.<ref name="st 09-07-11"/> After undergoing repairs, ''Koombana'' returned to Fremantle in August 1909, taking up the westward run of ''Kyarra'' while she was being overhauled. ''Burrumbeet'' then left Fremantle to take up ''Kyarra''{{'}}s eastward run.<ref name="aa 09-07-21"/>

===Later service===
[[File:SS Koombana, Broome, ca. 1911.jpg|thumb|''Koombana'' at Broome, about 1911]]
[[File:SS Koombana, Derby, ca. 1911.jpg|thumb|''Koombana'' at the jetty at [[Derby, Western Australia|Derby]], about 1911]]
[[File:SS Koombana, Wyndham, ca. 1911.jpg|thumb|''Koombana'' at [[Wyndham, Western Australia|Wyndham]], about 1911]]
After ''Koombana''{{'}}s return from Sydney, she maintained regular monthly trips from Fremantle up the coast, with annual diversions to the eastern states for an overhaul. However, her routine continued to be punctuated by unusual events.

In June 1910, ''Koombana'' took another ministerial party on part of a tour of the northwest, when the [[Colonial Secretary of Western Australia|Colonial Secretary]], [[James Connolly (Australian politician)|Mr J D Connolly]], travelled aboard her between Fremantle and Port Hedland. On the tour, the Minister inaugurated steam traction on the Cossack – Roebourne tramway, using a steam engine that ''Koombana'' had brought there. After leaving ''Koombana'' at Port Hedland, the Minister continued his trip to Derby and back to Fremantle aboard the steamship ''Penguin''.<ref name="wa 10-06-27"/>

On 26 August 1910 the Adelaide Steamship Co's General Manager in Western Australia, Mr WE Moxon, hosted a luncheon on board ''Koombana'' at Fremantle, for members of the Fremantle Chamber of Commerce and the Australasian Steamship Owners' Federation. The luncheon also marked the return from London of the Premier, Sir Newton Moore, and the Collector of Customs. Sir Newton himself was unable to be present, but two other Ministers deputised for him. Toasts proposed included one to King [[George V]], who had recently succeeded to the throne, and another to ''Koombana''. After the luncheon, guests inspected the [[McIlwraith, McEacharn & Co]] interstate liner ''Karoola''.<ref name="wa 10-08-27"/>

In the early hours of 20 October 1910, on a voyage from Port Hedland to Broome, fire broke out in ''Koombana''{{'}}s No 1 cargo hold. The hatch was sealed down, and the ship's Clayton Patent [[fire extinguisher]] used to put out the fire. Passengers awoke later in the morning to find their cabins full of smoke, and ''Koombana'' making full speed for Port Hedland. After her arrival there at noon, parts of the ship remained very hot, and the No 2 hold was also sealed down. The cause of the fire was attributed to a cargo of wet wool that had been loaded at Shark Bay earlier in the trip.<ref name="wa 10-10-22"/><ref name="wa 10-10-28"/>

When ''Koombana'' reached Fremantle on the afternoon of 27 October 1910, the fire was still smouldering. Water was then pumped into the hold, and by the time hatches were removed, the fire was completely out. The cargo was damaged by fire and water, but no damage was found to the ship.<ref name="wa 10-10-28"/>

On her next trip, on 15 November 1910, a visit by ''Koombana'' to Broome coincided with the arrival in Australia from the United Kingdom via Singapore of the [[Royal Australian Navy]]'s first two destroyers, {{HMAS|Parramatta|D55|6}} and {{HMAS|Yarra|D79|2}}, accompanied by the [[cruiser]] {{HMS|Gibraltar|1892|6}}, and a Dutch steamship with [[heavy fuel oil]] to [[Bunkering|bunker]] the destroyers. ''Koombana'' formed the centrepiece of a welcoming flotilla of vessels, which also included the survey [[Sloop-of-war|sloop]] {{HMS|Fantome|1901|6}}, and numerous [[schooner]]s and [[lugger]]s. Two further days of celebrations then followed.<ref name="a(m) 10-11-17"/><ref name="wa 10-11-16"/>

''Koombana'' grounded in Shark Bay for a second time on the morning of 20 December 1910, as she steamed from Carnarvon to Denham. She struck a sandbank, and was held fast for 12 hours.<ref name="nt 10-12-24"/> Dense blue smoke rising from the ship while her crew strove to free her caused alarm in Denham, where observers feared a volcano might be erupting near [[Dirk Hartog Island]].<ref name="nt 10-12-31b"/> A motor launch was sent to Denham to report the grounding, but ''Koombana'' was able to slide off the bank, and catch up with the launch, before it reached its destination.<ref name="nt 10-12-24"/>

Late in the evening of 21 January 1911, a second fire broke out aboard ''Koombana'', this time while she was berthed at Victoria Quay, Fremantle. About four or five tons of fodder stored in the Nos 2 and 3 cargo holds were found to be ablaze, apparently by spontaneous combustion. Fremantle Fire Station quickly sent a fire engine, and soon afterwards the Harbour Trust fire plant was requisitioned. Once again the holds were flooded. By 4 am on 22 January 1911, the fire was extinguished, and again the ship seemed undamaged. A smoke helmet sent over by the captain of the German-Australian liner ''Augsburg'' did not need to be used, but greatly impressed the fire brigade staff.<ref name="wa 11-01-23"/><ref name="wm 11-02-11"/>

On 19 April 1911, ''Koombana'' sustained a collision while tied up at Victoria Quay. The Master of another steamship, ''Pilbarra'', became confused by the hoisting of berthing flags. He went astern, to prevent his ship from striking the wharf. ''Pilbarra'' then swung around, and struck ''Koombana''{{'}}s starboard quarter. A Court of Marine Inquiry later found that ''Pilbarra''{{'}}s Master had made an error of judgment.<ref name="a(a) 11-06-16"/>

On 6 September 1911, ''Koombana'' reached Fremantle after her annual overhaul in Sydney. Captain Rees had been transferred to ''Winfield'', and Captain Thomas M Allen became ''Koombana''{{'}}s Master.<ref name="kwa 11-09-12"/>

===Labor dispute===
[[File:SS Koombana, Broome, propeller, ca. 1911.jpg|thumb|upright|''Koombana'' and crew members at Broome jetty, about 1911]]
Early in November 1911, as ''Koombana'' steamed south from Shark Bay to Geraldton, her chief steward, Frank Johnson, entered the bakehouse. He allegedly abused, and broke a loaf of bread over the head of, the young baker, a German named Edwin Albrecht. After ''Koombana'' arrived in Fremantle, Albrecht summoned Johnson to the Fremantle Police Court for using insulting and abusive language towards him, but at the hearing on 10 November 1911, Resident Magistrate Dowley dismissed the summons, and ordered that neither party pay the other's costs.<ref name="st 11-11-12"/>

By that time, Albrecht had gained the sympathy of ''Koombana''{{'}}s crew. At a meeting of the [[Seamen's Union of Australia]] held in Fremantle the same evening, a large majority of the 60 members present, including representatives from other ships, decided that ''Koombana''{{'}}s crew should not resume work until the chief steward was removed from the ship. The decision was immediately conveyed to Captain Allen and the acting manager of the Adelaide Steamship Company, Mr AE Lewis.<ref name="st 11-11-12"/>

''Koombana''{{'}}s agents responded by deciding on 11 November 1911 to delay her next departure indefinitely. That day, the postal authorities were told that the mail contract would have to be suspended for the time being, and 16 firemen were paid off. Subsequently, the general secretary of the Firemen and Seamen's Union, Mr Cooper, telegrammed the crew from Sydney advising them to resume work, to avoid seriously jeopardising a case before the Arbitration Court in the eastern states.<ref name="st 11-11-12"/>

On 17 November 1911, the recently elected new Premier, [[John Scaddan]], intervened in the dispute, at the request of Labor Senators. He sent a delegation of two State MPs to a mass meeting of the union in Fremantle. The two MPs urged the crew to return to work, on the understanding that an investigation of their complaints would be made. The delegation, together with two union representatives, then met Captain Allen and the acting manager at the company's office. The company promised a thorough investigation into the grievances. Captain Allen guaranteed that food supplies would be of good quality and quantity, and that the chief steward should treat the firemen with respect. But after the delegation had reported back to the mass meeting, the members present voted overwhelmingly not to go back aboard, unless the chief steward was transferred to another ship.<ref name="a(m) 11-11-20"/>

Further negotiations followed between Mr Moxon, the WA general manager of the company, and the protesting firemen. Mr Moxon claimed that it would be an act of persecution to dismiss the chief steward without an inquiry being held into the allegations against him. However, the firemen were unmoved. At the request of Senator Guthrie, the general secretary of the Firemen and Seamen's Union in Melbourne, Mr Moxon then broke off the negotiations. Meanwhile, Senator Guthrie arranged for a fresh crew of 16 men, accompanied by two executive officers, to travel from Melbourne to Adelaide by express train, and from Adelaide to Fremantle by steamship.<ref name="wm 11-12-02"/>

On 24 November 1911, the chief steward "fell down in a fit" and was taken to a private hospital.<ref name="dn 11-11-24"/> The same day, the President of the Commonwealth Arbitration Court, Mr Justice [[H. B. Higgins]], sitting in Melbourne, delivered his proposed award in the claim by the Federated Seamen's Union against the Commonwealth Steamship Owners. Although Mr Justice Higgins indicated that he proposed to grant the union's main demands, he then observed that ''Koombana''{{'}}s crew, in defiance of the union's executive, was breaching the existing agreement. He therefore deferred for a week the making of an award, and indicated that he would not do so at all if the position of ''Koombana'' did not change.<ref name="smh 11-11-25"/>

Five days later, on the evening of 29 November 1911, the fresh crew for ''Koombana'' reached Fremantle from the eastern states aboard SS ''Riverina''. They were immediately signed on. ''Koombana'' sailed the next day, 30 November 1911, with her crew including chief steward Johnson, who had recovered.<ref name="a(m) 11-12-01"/> News of the resolution of the dispute was then telegramned to Melbourne, where it was welcomed by Mr Justice Higgins.<ref name="wa 11-12-01"/>

==Loss==
===Cyclone===
[[File:Koombana Postcard.jpg|thumb|A postcard of ''Koombana'' at sea, showing her [[Adelaide Steamship Company|Adelaide Steamship Co]] funnel livery of dark buff with a black top]]
''Koombana'' left Port Hedland for Broome on the morning of Wednesday, 20 March 1912 with a fresh north easterly blowing, followed by ''Bullarra'',<ref name="bom"/> which had recently returned to the northwest passenger and cargo trade.<ref name="nt 12-03-09"/> Before leaving, her Master, Captain Allen, had reported a falling [[barometer]] and suggested that the voyage may take longer than normal.<ref name="bom"/> However, he and Captain Upjohn, Master of ''Bullarra'', had decided in conversation prior to departure that there was nothing in it, and neither man expected to encounter such a storm as was later recorded in ''Bullarra''{{'}}s log book as "A Howling Hurricane".<ref name="wa 12-05-11"/>

Several hours after leaving, the two ships changed course as a heavy northeasterly gale set in, and they became separated. The storm increased and ''Bullarra'' suffered damage but was able to reach [[Cossack, Western Australia|Cossack]]. She later returned to Port Hedland missing her funnel, reporting that the eye of the cyclone had passed directly over. But ''Koombana'' was not seen again.

A sailing ship, ''Crown of England'', was wrecked on [[Depuch Island]]. Another ship, ''Concordia'', was beached nearby. Several lighter vessels and pearling luggers were also sunk or wrecked.<ref name="bom"/>

The cyclone crossed the coast two days later on 22 March just west of [[Balla Balla, Western Australia|Balla Balla]], a minor port for the [[Whim Creek]] copper mines. Damage was reported for more than {{convert|200|km}} along the coast.<ref name="bom"/>

After ''Koombana'' became overdue in Broome several days later, public concern was raised and a search organised. On 2 April one of the search ships steamed through a quantity of wreckage about {{convert|25|nmi|km}} north of [[Bedout Island]] and {{convert|100|km}} offshore.<ref name="bom"/> But the only wreckage recovered from ''Koombana'' was part of a starboard bow planking of a motor launch, a state-room door, and panel from the promenade deck, two planks for covering tanks of lifeboats, and some air tanks. The air tanks were found on the mainland. The other wreckage was found at sea.<ref name="wa 12-05-11"/>

===Passengers===
====Prominent passengers====
[[File:SS Koombana, passenger Buttle, ca. 1912.jpg|thumb|upright|Corporal Frank Buttle]]
[[File:SS Koombana, passenger Clinch, ca. 1912.jpg|thumb|upright|FWB Clinch]]
Aboard ''Koombana'' when she sank were several passengers prominent in the north of Western Australia. They included:
*Captain Pearson, the [[wharfinger]] at Derby. An old sea captain, he had formerly been employed by Melbourne Steamship Company, and had lived for many years in Fremantle.<ref name="st 12-03-31"/>
*Corporal Frank Buttle, who had been in charge of the Derby police for about three years. He was returning from a holiday in Perth.<ref name="st 12-03-31"/> His descendants include [[Brownlow Medal]] winning [[Australian Rules Football|Australian rules footballer]] [[Graham Moss]].<ref name="wa 2012-03-17"/>
*George Simpson, the [[Public Works Department (Western Australia)|Department of Public Works]] official in charge of public works on the north coast. His last major work was in connection with the building of the lighthouse at Broome.<ref name="st 12-03-31"/> Simpson was from NSW,<ref name="smh 12-04-13"/> a grandson of the colonial innkeeper, pastoralist and politician [[Nicolas Hyeronimus]].<ref name="auld"/> He was also more distantly related to the [[Suttor]] dynasty of early NSW politicians, and to [[Grosvenor Francis]], member of the [[Australian House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] for the seat of [[Division of Kennedy|Kennedy]] in Queensland between 1925 and 1929.<ref name="aslett"/> He left a widow and six children.<ref name="smh 12-04-13"/>
*Mr JS Davis, manager of the Broome office of [[Siebe Gorman|Siebe Gorman & Co Ltd]], "submarine engineers".<ref name="st 12-03-31"/>
*Mr WP Milne, of the Department of Public Works, who was going to Derby with a gang of five men – W Davis, A Baker, G Martin, H Hereford and E Green – to carry out works.<ref name="st 12-03-31"/> He had long been a member of a government boring party, and had done much boring work on one of the stock routes in the far north.<ref name="kwa 12-04-02"/>
*George Piper and RH Jenkins, who were managers of stations for Emanuel Brothers Ltd, and were returning to Derby from a trip to Perth. As of 1912, [[Isadore Samuel Emanuel|Emanuel Brothers]] were prominent suppliers of stock and meat to Perth and the goldfields.<ref name="emanuel"/> Piper had previously worked for [[Sidney Kidman]], who had sent him to Western Australia to manage [[Meda Station]] for [[Alexander Forrest|Forrest]] and Emanuel. He was accompanied on ''Koombana'' by his brother, Alfred C Piper, another former Kidman employee. Mr Kidman was quoted after ''Koombana''{{'}}s disappearance as saying that "George was one of the smartest men they have had in the west, and his brother was a very capable man, too."<ref name="r 12-04-05"/> Jenkins had been a stock manager for Emanuel Brothers for over a decade,<ref name="kwa 12-04-02"/> and was accompanied on ''Koombana'' by his daughter.<ref name="st 12-03-31"/>
*Deane Sparke, who was a storekeeper in Derby. He had been returning from holidays in Perth.<ref name="st 12-03-31"/>
*Frederick WB Clinch, of [[Elders Limited#1900–1910|Elder, Shenton & Co]], who had been on his way to Derby to supervise embarking cattle aboard ''Bullarra''.<ref name="st 12-03-31"/> His father, James Clinch, had founded the Berkshire Valley farm near [[Moora, Western Australia|Moora]], and was the first European settler in the Moora area.<ref name="carnamah"/><ref name="moora"/> Frederick Clinch left a widow and six daughters.<ref name="mclennan"/>
*Captain Charles Brown Stuart, who was engaged in pearling on his own account, and was returning to Broome from a business trip to Port Hedland.<ref name="wa 12-04-10"/>
*Abraham de Vahl Davis, a resident of Broome, and manager of the Australian business of his brother-in-law, Mr Mark Rubin, whose business interests embraced pearling, pastoral and other business concerns. As part of the pearling business, he accompanied the infamous Roseate Pearl which Mark Rubin had bought for A£12,000 in a chest of Broome Pearls due for London and Paris.<ref name="wa 12-04-10"/> Mr de Vahl Davis was an uncle of Mark Rubin's son, [[Bernard Rubin]], who won the [[1928 24 Hours of Le Mans]], in a [[Bentley 4½ Litre]]. His descendants include Graham de Vahl Davis, Emeritus Professor in the School of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering at the [[University of New South Wales]].<ref name="wa 2012-03-17rg"/><ref name="unsw"/>
*Rev Robert W Main, who had been travelling north on behalf of the Presbyterian Church of Western Australia to find a suitable place for a mission station for Aborigines.<ref name="ct 2012-04-12"/>

====Passenger list====
Passengers on ''Koombana'' when she left Port Hedland for Broome were recorded as follows:<ref name="kwa 12-04-09a"/>

'''For Derby:'''
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-break}}
''Saloon:''
*Captain Pearson
*Mr A C Piper
*Mr F Forrest
*Mr S H Slade
*Mr R H Jenkins
*Mr E J Dalton
*Mr J Hayes
*Mr Dean Spark
*Mr W W Purcell
*Mr W Poor
*Mr F Rustle
*Mr W P Milne
*Mr W Smith
{{Col-break}}
&nbsp;
*Mr J McGowan
*Mr F W B Clinch
*Mr W L Cowan
*Mr Jas Craigie
*Mr A S Taylor
*Miss Jenkins
*Mr G Piper
*Miss Price
*Mrs Sack
*Mr R Pearson
*Mr W J Davies
*Mr Thomas Barry
*Corporal Buttle
{{Col-break}}
&nbsp;
''Steerage:''
*Mr W L Davey
*Mr A Baker
*Mr G Martin
*Mr H Hurford
*Mr E Green
*Mr M Vasey
*Mr D McSwain
{{Col-break}}
&nbsp;
*Mr W J McKibbin
*Mr W E Vile
*Mr J Doyle
*Mr T Goddard
*Mr T Quinland
*Mr R Quinland
{{col-end}}
&nbsp;
'''For Broome:'''
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-break}}
''Saloon:''
*Captain Stuart
*Mr H Brider
*Mr J S Davis
*Mr G N Simpson
*Mr G Harper
*Miss S Skamp
{{Col-break}}
&nbsp;
*Miss G Skamp
*Mrs Piggott
*Rev R W Main
*Mrs Gilliam
*Miss Gilliam
{{Col-break}}
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
''Steerage:''
*Mr J Murphy
*Mr Drake
*Mr J Johnson
*John Evans
*W Smith
{{Col-break}}
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
*G Bailey
*A McRouble
*"a Japanese"
*"an aboriginal"
*"Malay prisoners"
{{col-end}}

===Crew===
====Master====
[[File:Captain T M Allen - WM 19120406.jpg|thumb|upright|Captain T M Allen, master of ''Koombana'' at the time of her loss.]]
Captain Thomas M Allen, master of ''Koombana'' on her last voyage, was a 52-year-old bachelor.<ref name="st 12-03-31ta"/> Born in South Australia, he had been educated at [[Port Adelaide Grammar School]].<ref name="m(h) 12-04-03"/> His father, [[Thomas Allen (captain)|Thomas Allen]] was a Cork Irishman who had been a shipmaster and owner between the 1850s and 1880s, and had frequently visited Albany and Fremantle.<ref name="st 12-03-31ta"/> As a child, Tom Allen had sailed with his parents around Australia, and later to [[New Caledonia]]. In 1873, he had sailed from Port Darwin aboard the [[barque]] ''Constant'', commanded by his father, for [[Rockingham, Western Australia]], to load [[jarrah]], but ''Constant'' was wrecked at Rockingham, after blowing from her anchors during a north-westerly gale.<ref name="st 12-03-31ta"/>

Early in his seafaring career, Captain Allen worked on sailing ships, as master of a tug, and on several occasions for the Adelaide Steamship Co. As quartermaster of the Orient Steam Navigation Company's ''Cuzco'', he was one of a couple of hands who, in heavy seas, volunteered to go over her stern and secure her propeller, after she had broken her [[Drive shaft|screw shaft]]. He also commanded several ships, beginning with the barque ''Verulam.'' In 1897, as commander of the coastal ship {{SS|Marloo||2}}, he was convicted by a jury of manslaughter because a man had fallen down a hold, but the Attorney-General ignored the verdict.<ref name="st 12-03-31ta"/>

Later that year, Captain Allen was appointed to the pilot service on the Port Adelaide River. In 1901 he was chosen to take the royal yacht HMS {{RMS|Ophir||2}} up the river, when the then Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York (later King [[George V]] and [[Mary of Teck|Queen Mary]]) visited Australia. One of the most skilful navigators in Australia, he was the first South Australian born seafarer to be awarded an extra master's certificate.<ref name="m(h) 12-04-03"/>

He left the pilot service in 1906 and rejoined the Adelaide Steamship Company, which sent him to England to bring out ''Junee'' in 1907 and ''Echunga'' in early 1908. After a voyage to [[Valparaíso]] in ''Echunga'', he commanded many of the company's coastal steamships, including {{HMAS|Grantala||2}}, ''Bullarra'' and ''Winfield''. In his career as master and pilot, he had had no mishaps before ''Koombana''{{'}}s disappearance.<ref name="st 12-03-31ta"/>

====Other crew====
Norman Jamieson, [[Chief mate|Chief Officer]] of ''Koombana'' when she sank, had formerly been Chief Officer of {{SS|Yongala||2}}. He had changed ships to ''Grantala'' immediately before ''Yongala''{{'}}s final voyage, and later was transferred to ''Koombana''.<ref name="a(a) 12-04-12"/>

''Koombana''{{'}}s chief steward when she sank was FW Johnson, who had been at the centre of the labor dispute four months earlier. He was from South Australia. His brother-in-law and niece were also aboard ''Koombana''{{'}}s final voyage.<ref name="a(a) 12-04-06"/>

====Crew list====
According to Adelaide Steamship Co records, the complete crew that left with ''Koombana'' was:<ref name="kwa 12-04-09b"/>

{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
*Thomas M Allen, master.
*NC Jamieson, chief officer
*WRA Kinley, second officer
*FG Peacock, third officer
*FH Harris, purser
*JLevins, boatswain
*HA Lyan, wireless telegraph operator
*TM Grant, ship's carpenter
*PC Clinton, F Wilson, HB Rea, C Stanley, F McDonnell, William A Farrell, W Carton, M Ryan, M Dwyer, P Jenkins, J McGuckin, and F Gunning, able seamen.
*M Stuart and F Herbert, ordinary seamen
*WB Innes, chief engineer
*A Wassell, second engineer
*W Kelly, third engineer
*AG Christie, fourth engineer
*JG Arrow, fifth engineer
*J Kearns, donkeyman
*W Clarke, J Smith, J Brown, O Norton, C Anderson, C Furlong, H Offord, O Olsen, W Fitzpatrick, AC de Montfort, T O'Loughlin, T McDermott, Thos Taylor, A Bryant, J Downie and C Peters, firemen.
*FW Johnson, chief steward
*JJ Mangan, second steward
*A Freer, stewardess
*J McDermott, assistant stewardess
*J Coughlan, fore cabin steward
*H Stanley, bar and store keeper
*GA Gee, saloon waiter
*WB Black, pantryman
*H Bow, night watchman
*Walter Tutt, chief cook
*H Stanbery, second cook
*G Jones, third cook
*J Jackson, kitchenman
*AG Leller, baker
*C Walker, butcher
*E Davies, scullion
*P Farrance, A Deerham, CH Benedicte, E Wardlaw, J Hughes, J Blades, A Salkild, SW Reynolds, FJ Winpenny, Wm Dick, James Crosbie, Wm Cant, R Davis, W Burkin, H Smith, and P Finnerty, stewards.
{{div col end}}

==Aftermath==
On 21 April 1912, a memorial concert in memory of ''Koombana''{{'}}s victims was held at [[His Majesty's Theatre, Perth]]. Many dignitaries, and hundreds of other people attended. In an address to the audience, the newly elected Dean of Perth, the Very Reverend HF Mercer, appealed for support to a ''Koombana'' relief fund, which had been established by the [[Lord Mayor of Perth]] and owner of the theatre, [[Thomas Molloy|TG Molloy]].<ref name="wa 12-04-22"/>

After ''Koombana''{{'}}s loss, the Adelaide Steamship Co sent another of its ships, ''Allinga'', to take over the northwest run.<ref name="wm 12-04-13"/> Soon after, the company withdrew ''Allinga'' from the route, after it lost the contract to the State Shipping Service of Western Australia,<ref name="wm 13-05-09"/> that the Scaddan government had recently established. The company's withdrawal was a major impetus for the early development of the State Shipping Service, which was to dominate the northwest trade for the rest of the twentieth century.<ref name="plowman"/>

===Court of Marine Inquiry===
At request of the Colonial Secretary, a Court of Marine Inquiry was held at Fremantle, just over a month after ''Koombana''{{'}}s loss. The Court comprised Mr EP Dowley as President, and Captains FL Parkes and JWW Yates as assessors.<ref name="wa 12-05-11"/> Evidence was led on 25, 26 and 29 April 1912 by the Crown Prosecutor, Frank Parker, on behalf of the Chief Harbourmaster. A closing address was made on 3 May 1912 by ML Moss KC, on behalf of Adelaide Steamship Co.<ref name="wa 12-05-04"/>

The Court gave its verdict on 10 May 1912. It found that ''Koombana'' had sailed from Port Hedland at about 10:20 am on 20 March 1912, drawing {{convert|19|ft|m|abbr=on}} aft and about {{convert|12|ft|m|abbr=on}} forward. She had been in excellent trim, and with her propeller well submerged. She had set course to round Bedout Island en route to Broome, on a voyage that was usually accomplished in about 24 hours. The southward bound ''Bullarra'', which had left about a half hour later, had ''Koombana'' in sight until about noon. At about 6:30 pm that day, the wind had risen until it became a violent hurricane lasting for several hours, ''Koombana'' had not been seen or heard of since.<ref name="wa 12-05-11"/>

The Court could not say what became of ''Koombana'', but it seemed reasonably clear that the hurricane had caused her total loss at sea. When leaving Port Hedland, she had been carrying 260 tons of cargo, properly stowed, 460 tons of coal, 871 tons of water in her tanks, 60 tons of stores, 76 passengers and 74 crew. Her stability with her known load had been tested with Ralston's stability indicator, and seven other tests had been made with the indicator under varying conditions of load. In each test, ''Koombana''{{'}}s stability had been shown to be entirely satisfactory.<ref name="wa 12-05-11"/>

Further confirmation of the ship's stability and seaworthiness was found in her career. All witnesses with experience in her had deposed to her very excellent seagoing qualities. Both Captain Allen and his Chief Officer had held extra masters' certificates, and were men of great experience on the Australian coast. The Court was satisfied that ''Koombana'', in construction, stability and seaworthiness, was equal to any ship in her class in the Australian coastal trade. It concluded that her stability and seaworthiness were unassailable, the competency and carefulness of her Master beyond question, and that after being lost sight of at sea on 20 March 1912, "... her fate passes beyond human knowledge and remains a mystery of the sea."<ref name="wa 12-05-11"/>

===Theories about the loss===
[[File:SS Koombana, Broome jetty, ca. 1911.jpg|thumb|''Koombana'' at Broome jetty, about 1911.]]
The Court's findings were not universally accepted. A number of commentators asserted that ''Koombana'' was "top heavy".<ref name="nt 46-10-11"/><ref name="st 46-09-22"/><ref name="wa 2012-03-17cpp"/> She was said to have been "... built to scrape into the most horrible little bays and estuaries", and "... slightly unstable because [she] had to be shallow enough to get over the sandbar at Port Hedland".<ref name="smh 2012-04-07"/> ''Koombana'' has also been described as narrow-bottomed, wide-topped and built for speed more than anything else.<ref name="st 46-09-22"/> In 1946, [[Edward Angelo]], a former long time [[Western Australian Legislative Assembly|MLA]] for northwest electorates, who had travelled on over 100 ship voyages, wrote that "Although I greatly admired [''Koombana''{{'}}s] appointments, I never liked her, considering her too top heavy. She always had a list, even when tied up at jetties."<ref name="nt 46-10-11"/> However, the assertions made soon after the disappearance of ''Koombana'' that she was top heavy were disputed by her inaugural chief engineer.<ref name="a(a) 12-04-10"/>

It was also asserted that ''Koombana'' left Port Hedland unballasted, so that she could clear the sand bar at the harbour mouth.<ref name="st 46-09-22"/><ref name="wa 2012-03-17cpp"/>

In light of all of these claims, there has been speculation that ''Koombana'' may have capsized in the heavy sea, due to a combination of structural top heaviness and empty ballast tanks.<ref name="wa 48-11-06"/>

In an article published on 19 May 1912, ''The Sunday Times'' (Perth, WA) observed that ''Koombana'' had not survived the first big storm she had encountered. In response to the Court of Marine Inquiry's report, the article commented that "[n]o attempt whatever was made to produce independent expert evidence as to the stability of the steamer, and by that we mean her ability to live in a cyclone, and not her constructional strength." The article went on to report a number of comments by a Port Hedland journalist, Mr Barker, on the Court's findings. According to Barker, who had interviewed Captain Allen in Port Hedland, many pearling luggers had run into the creek for shelter before ''Koombana'' left Port Hedland, and Captain Allen himself had been reluctant to leave until after speaking with Captain Upjohn. Barker also claimed that upon leaving, ''Koombana'' had had "an ugly list to port", and "was rolling heavily, her propeller at times being out of the water".<ref name="st 12-05-11"/>

''The Sunday Times'' therefore called for a second inquiry, by the Commonwealth government,<ref name="st 12-05-11"/> but no such inquiry was held.

==Possible discoveries==
In 1973, what seemed to be the remains of a large ship were found in deep water about {{convert|20|nmi|km}} off [[Eighty Mile Beach]], about midway between Port Hedland and Broome. In 1985, crew members testing magnetic detection equipment on a [[Royal Australian Air Force]] [[Lockheed P-3 Orion]] reported a significant magnetic anomaly on the seabed {{convert|75|km|nmi}} off Bedout Island.

In August 1987, a specially equipped [[United States Navy]] research aircraft was sent to Port Hedland to search for the wreck in conjunction with the [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] (NOAA) and an Australian research group. A US Navy crew flew the aircraft, another Lockheed Orion (RP-3D BuNo. 158227, operated in support of NOAA's Project Magnet), equipped with a vector magnetometer, and carrying scientists from NOAA. The Navy crew comprised aviators Deborah Anderson, Brad Huotari and Glenn Gosnell with navigators John Sheppard and Ruth Perron. The unique aircraft was painted international orange and white and had the "Road Runner" cartoon as nose art. It made several flights over the suspected area of the ship, seeking magnetic anomalies. Several promising indications were to be investigated by the Australian group.

In the years leading up to the centenary of ''Koombana's'' loss, there have been numerous deep-water expeditions to seek her wreck, but by the time of the centenary, she had still not been found.<ref name="smh 2012-04-07"/>

==Legacy==
===The "death pearl"===
Aboard ''Koombana'' when she sank was a Broome resident and pearl dealer, Abraham de Vahl Davis, the secretary of Mark Rubin, who had bought the "Roseate Pearl" for 12,000 Australian pounds. The loss led to Mark Rubin buying De Grey in 1912 with 63,000 sheep for a 100,000 pounds, and Mulyie and Warrawagine Stations in 1916 providing the wool for the [[British Army]] in both World Wars. Davis boarded ''Koombana'' there for the voyage to Broome, supposedly taking the Roseate Pearl with him.<ref name="plowman"/> Mark travelled to Europe after the loss of ''Koombana'' to try to recover the loss, realised the World was going to war, and sold Broome Pearls and bought the stations. Jenny Hardie's book ''Nor'Westers of the Pilbara breed'' and [[Ion Idriess]]'s book ''Forty Fathoms deep'' verify the ownership of the pearl. Legend had seven of the previous owners die after acquiring the pearl.<ref name="plowman"/><ref name="beatty"/><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.abc.net.au/kimberley/stories/s552132.htm |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20020819174124/http://www.abc.net.au/kimberley/stories/s552132.htm |url-status= dead |archive-date= 19 August 2002 |title=ABC Interview with grandson of pearls owner|website=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] }}</ref> After ''Koombana''{{'}}s loss, a further legend grew, blaming her loss on this allegedly cursed stone.<ref name="plowman"/>

===Centenary commemorations===
Early in 2012, to commemorate the centenary of ''Koombana''{{'}}s loss, the Port Hedland Historical Society organised a program of activities for the weekend of 17–18 March 2012. It included a Captain's Table dinner, a ceremonial laying of floral tributes at Port Hedland's Koombana lookout and an exhibition of artefacts at Dalgety House Cottage. At least 13 descendants of those lost on ''Koombana'' planned to make the trip to Port Hedland for the weekend.<ref name="nwt 2012-02-11"/> However, on 15 March 2012 the Society was forced to postpone the event, due to the impending approach of [[2011–12 Australian region cyclone season#Severe Tropical Cyclone Lua|Tropical Cyclone Lua]].<ref name="smh 2012-04-07"/><ref name="wa 2012-03-15"/>

On 24 March 2012, a ''Koombana'' centenary exhibition opened at the [[Western Australian Maritime Museum]] in Fremantle. The exhibition, which was replicated in Port Hedland, was developed by the [[Western Australian Museum]] in consultation with the Port Hedland Historical Society, with financial support from the Port Hedland Port Authority. According to WA Museum chief executive Alec Coles, "The exhibition relates what is known of ''Koombana''’s final hours, and describes the far-reaching search which took place following her disappearance."<ref name="wam exhibition"/>

The Port Hedland Historical Society's postponed commemorative activities were rescheduled to the weekend of 27–28 April 2012. They culminated in the laying of a wreath for those lost aboard the ship.<ref name="smh 2012-04-07"/>

==See also==
{{Portal|Transport|Western Australia}}
*[[List of maritime disasters]]
*[[Shipwrecks of Western Australia]]
*{{SS|Waratah||2}}, a steamship lost in 1909 off South Africa
*{{SS|Yongala||2}}, a steamship lost in 1911 off Queensland

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name=LR-refrig>{{harvnb|''Lloyd's Register'' 1908|loc=[https://archive.org/details/HECROS1909ST/page/n1100/mode/1up List of vessels fitted with refrigerating appliances]}}</ref>
<ref name=LR-steamships>{{harvnb|''Lloyd's Register'' 1908|loc=[https://archive.org/details/HECROS1909ST/page/n572/mode/1up KON–KOR]}}</ref>
<ref name=MNL>{{harvnb|''Mercantile Navy List'' 1910|p=283}}</ref>
<ref name=SBS>{{cite web |url= https://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?&ref=16398 |title=Koombana |work=Scottish Built Ships |publisher=Caledonian Maritime Research Trust |access-date=1 May 2023}}</ref>
<ref name="a(a) 09-02-27">{{cite news |title=Australia's Shipping Industry. A Question of Defence. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5177313 |newspaper= The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA) |date=27 February 1909 |access-date=25 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="a(a) 11-06-16">{{cite news |title=Steamers Collide. An error of judgment. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5293063 |newspaper= The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA) |date=16 June 1911 |access-date=13 March 2012}}</ref>
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<ref name="a(a) 12-04-12">{{cite news |title=The Steamer Koombana. Good and bad fortune. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5335572 |newspaper= The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA) |date=12 April 1912 |access-date=22 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="aa 09-02-17">{{cite news |title=New Nor'-West Steamer. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article69965752?searchTerm=koombana&searchLimits= |newspaper=Albany Advertiser |date=17 February 1909 |access-date=8 February 2012}}</ref>
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<ref name="a(m) 09-02-19">{{cite news |title=New Steamer Koombana. Due Tomorrow. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10682881 |newspaper=The Argus (Melbourne) |date=19 February 1909 |access-date=21 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="a(m) 10-11-17">{{cite news |title=The Destroyers. Broome's Welcome. Series of Festivities |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10477894?searchTerm= |newspaper=The Argus (Melbourne) |date=17 November 1910 |access-date=24 February 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="a(m) 11-11-20">{{cite news |title=SS Koombana's Firemen. Still refuse to work. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11633240 |newspaper=The Argus (Melbourne) |date=20 November 1911 |access-date=15 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="a(m) 11-12-01">{{cite news |title=SS Koombana's New Firemen. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11636272|newspaper=The Argus (Melbourne) |date=1 December 1911 |access-date=15 March 2012}}</ref>
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<ref name="bom">{{cite web |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/lam/climate/levelthree/c20thc/cyclone1.htm |title=The wreck of the "Koombana", March 1912 |work=Climate Education |publisher=Bureau of Meteorology |access-date=11 March 2012|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20090317054300/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/96122/20090317-1643/www.bom.gov.au/lam/climate/levelthree/c20thc/cyclone1.html|archive-date=17 March 2009}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
<ref name="carnamah">{{cite web|url=http://carnamah.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/ss-koombanas-connections-to-north.html |title=The S.S. Koombana's Connections to the North Midlands |date=22 March 2012 |publisher= Carnamah Historical Society |access-date=26 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="ct 2012-04-12">{{cite news |last=Main |first=Jean |title=Opinion: Koombana link |url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/opinion/no-drawbacks-from-smokefree-act-that-is-almost-18-years-old-20120411-1wsfd.html |newspaper=The Canberra Times |date=12 April 2012 |access-date=22 May 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="dn 09-02-12a">{{cite news |title=Valuable Horses and Sheep. Arrive by Koombana. In Excellent Condition. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article77112515 |newspaper=The Daily News (Perth) |date=12 February 1909 |access-date=22 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="dn 09-02-12b">{{cite news |title=Edwin Couch's Suicide. Death of an Ex-Australian Trainer. Particulars by Koombana. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article77112452 |newspaper=The Daily News (Perth) |date=12 February 1909 |access-date=22 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="dn 09-02-15">{{cite news |title=A Fine New Steamer. The SS Koombana. Built for Nor'-West Trade. A model of style and comfort. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article77117048 |newspaper=The Daily News (Perth) |date=15 February 1909 |access-date=25 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="dn 11-11-24">{{cite news |title=Chief Steward Collapses. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article76808481|newspaper=The Daily News (Perth) |date=24 November 1911 |access-date=15 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="emanuel">{{cite web|url=http://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/emanuel-isadore-samuel-352/text353 |title='Emanuel, Isadore Samuel (1860–1954) |publisher=[[Australian National University]] |access-date=19 March 2012}}</ref>
'Emanuel, Isadore Samuel (1860–1954)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/emanuel-isadore-samuel-352/text353. Retrieved 20 March 2012.<ref name="gg 09-02-12">{{cite news |title=Shipping News |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66275604?searchTerm=ss_koombana&searchLimits= |newspaper=Geraldton Guardian |date=12 January 1909 |access-date=3 February 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="kwa 11-09-12">{{cite news |title=The Koombana |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article33396967 |newspaper=Kalgoorlie Western Argus |date=12 September 1911 |access-date=12 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="kwa 12-04-02">{{cite news |title=Relatives on the Goldfields. Anxious inquiries. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article33406100|newspaper=Kalgoorlie Western Argus |date=2 April 1912 |access-date=21 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="kwa 12-04-09a">{{cite news |title=List of the Passengers |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article33406243|newspaper=Kalgoorlie Western Argus |date=9 April 1912 |access-date=19 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="kwa 12-04-09b">{{cite news |title=Members of the crew |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article33406241|newspaper=Kalgoorlie Western Argus |date=9 April 1912 |access-date=19 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="mclennan">{{cite web|url=https://www.angelfire.com/folk/buff/smithnov/smith17.html |last=McLennan |first=J E & E A |title=Eliza Ellen Smith |date=30 November 1999 |publisher=J E & E A McLennan |access-date=26 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="m(h) 12-04-03">{{cite news |title=Captain of the Koombana |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10214476 |newspaper=The Mercury (Hobart) |date=3 April 1912 |access-date=21 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="moora">{{cite web|url=http://www.moora.wa.gov.au/Moora_Shire_-_About_Us/shireofmoorahistory/ |title=History of the Shire of Moora |date=4 July 2011 |publisher=[[Shire of Moora]] |access-date=26 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="nt 08-12-19">{{cite news |title=Local and General |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74880950?searchTerm=ss_koombana&searchLimits= |newspaper=Northern Times (Carnarvon) |date=19 December 1908 |access-date=3 February 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="nt 09-03-06">{{cite news |title=Baston & Co.'s Report |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74881369?searchTerm=ss_koombana&searchLimits= |newspaper=Northern Times (Carnarvon) |date=6 March 1909 |access-date=3 February 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="nt 09-03-20">{{cite news |title=The SS Koombana. Aground at Shark Bay. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74881469?searchTerm=ss_koombana&searchLimits= |newspaper=Northern Times (Carnarvon) |date=20 March 1909 |access-date=5 February 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="nt 09-03-27a">{{cite news |title=The SS Koombana. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74881472?searchTerm=ss_koombana&searchLimits= |newspaper=Northern Times (Carnarvon) |date=27 March 1909 |access-date=6 February 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="nt 09-03-27b">{{cite news |title=Non Delivery of Mails. Local Protests. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74881472?searchTerm=ss_koombana&searchLimits= |newspaper=Northern Times (Carnarvon) |date=27 March 1909 |access-date=6 February 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="nt 09-04-03">{{cite news |title=Local and General. SS Koombana. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74881512?searchTerm=ss_koombana&searchLimits= |newspaper=Northern Times (Carnarvon) |date=3 April 1909 |access-date=6 February 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="nt 09-05-10">{{cite news |title=Ministers' Northern Tour. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26227518?searchTerm=koombana&searchLimits= |newspaper=Northern Times (Carnarvon) |date=10 May 1909 |access-date=6 February 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="nt 10-12-24">{{cite news |title=Koombana Aground Again. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74886112 |newspaper=Northern Times (Carnarvon) |date=24 December 1910 |access-date=15 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="nt 10-12-31a">{{cite news |title=Sandbank Humour |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74886207 |newspaper=Northern Times (Carnarvon) |date=31 December 1910 |access-date=25 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="nt 10-12-31b">{{cite news |title=A Volcano? |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74886220 |newspaper=Northern Times (Carnarvon) |date=31 December 1910 |access-date=15 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="nt 12-03-09">{{cite news |title=Carnarvon Chamber of Commerce |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74892560 |newspaper=Northern Times (Carnarvon) |date=9 March 1912 |access-date=25 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="nt 46-10-11">{{cite news |title=Ships that Pass. Sixty Years of North-West Travel. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article76433842 |newspaper=Northern Times (Carnarvon) |date=11 October 1946 |access-date=22 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="nwt 2012-02-11">{{cite web|url=http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/regional/pilbara/a/-/news/12834801/ceremony-to-mark-koombana-loss/ |title=Ceremony to mark Koombana loss |author=Massey, Alex |date=11 February 2012 |publisher=West Australian Newspapers Ltd |access-date=15 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="PHPA">{{cite web |title=Port Hedland Port Authority |url= http://www.phpa.com.au/ |access-date=3 December 2006}}</ref>
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<ref name="r 12-04-05">{{cite news |title=Smart Cattle Men. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article59060590 |newspaper=The Register (Adelaide) |date=5 April 1912 |access-date=21 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="smh 09-01-02">{{cite news |title=The Koombana Leaves London. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15002537?searchTerm=ss_koombana&searchLimits= |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=2 January 1909 |access-date=5 February 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="smh 09-06-15">{{cite news |title=Damaged Koombana in Dock. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15065205?searchTerm=koombana&searchLimits= |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=15 June 1909 |access-date=8 February 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="smh 11-11-25">{{cite news |title=Seamen's Victory. Pay increase. Main demands granted. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15291846 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=25 November 1911 |access-date=15 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="smh 12-04-13">{{cite news |title=Personal. Vice regal. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15325252 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=13 April 1912 |access-date=19 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="smh 2012-04-07">{{cite news |title=Fateful voyage of Australian 'Titanic' remains a riddle |author=Meacham, Steve |url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/fateful-voyage-of-australian-titanic-remains-a-riddle-20120406-1wgor.html |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=7 April 2012 |access-date=13 November 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="st 09-07-11">{{cite news |title=Notes and Comments |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article57614315 |newspaper=The Sunday Times (Perth, WA) |date=11 July 1909 |access-date=11 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="st 11-11-12">{{cite news |title=Trouble on the Koombana. The baker and the steward. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article57722179|newspaper=The Sunday Times (Perth, WA) |date=12 November 1911 |access-date=15 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="st 12-03-31">{{cite news |title=Story of the Koombana: Some of the passengers |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page4351575 |newspaper=The Sunday Times (Perth, WA) |date=31 March 1912 |access-date=19 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="st 12-03-31ta">{{cite news |title=Captain Tom Allen: A Sketch of His Career |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article57729216 |newspaper=The Sunday Times (Perth, WA) |date=31 March 1912 |access-date=21 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="st 12-05-11">{{cite news |title=Wreck of the Koombana A Decidedly Unsatisfactory Inquiry |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article57736663|newspaper=The Sunday Times (Perth, WA) |date=11 May 1912 |access-date=12 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="st 46-09-22">{{cite news |title=After 30 Years Mystery Still Surrounds the Wreck of Coffin-Ship Koombana |last=Gary |first=John |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article59452332 |newspaper=The Sunday Times (Perth, WA) |date=22 September 1946 |access-date=12 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="townsville">{{cite web|url=http://www.townsvillemaritimemuseum.org.au/the_yongala/ss_yongala.php|title=SS Yongala|publisher=Maritime Museum of Townsville|access-date=6 February 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207140644/http://www.townsvillemaritimemuseum.org.au/the_yongala/ss_yongala.php|archive-date=7 February 2012}}</ref>
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<ref name="unsw">{{cite web|url=http://www2.mech.unsw.edu.au/content/staff/deVahlDavis.cfm?ss=4 |title=Emeritus Professor Graham de Vahl Davis |date=21 July 2011 |publisher=[[University of New South Wales]] |access-date=19 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="wa 09-02-12">{{cite news |title=Lost at Sea. Incident on the Koombana. Disappearance of a Passenger |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26220655?searchTerm=ss_koombana_durban&searchLimits= |newspaper=The West Australian |date=12 February 1909 |access-date=3 February 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="wa 09-02-20">{{cite news |title=Shipping Port of Fremantle |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article37588463?searchTerm=ss_koombana&searchLimits= |newspaper=The West Australian |date=20 February 1909 |access-date=6 February 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="wa 09-03-09">{{cite news |title=SS Koombana. Sails Friday Next. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26222664?searchTerm=ss_koombana&searchLimits= |newspaper=[[The West Australian]] |date=9 March 1909 |access-date=6 February 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="wa 09-04-27">{{cite news |title=Ministers on Tour. Visit to the Nor'-West. Local Requirements. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26226557?searchTerm=moore&searchLimits= |newspaper=The West Australian |date=27 April 1909 |access-date=7 February 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="wa 09-04-28">{{cite news |title=Ministers on Tour. Visit to the Nor'-West. New Jetty at Port Hedland. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26226604?searchTerm=moore&searchLimits= |newspaper=The West Australian |date=28 April 1909 |access-date=7 February 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="wa 09-08-09">{{cite news |title=The Koombana's Mishap. Investigation by Marine Court. Captain Rees Exonerated. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26234635?searchTerm=ss_koombana&searchLimits= |newspaper=The West Australian |date=9 August 1909 |access-date=7 February 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="wa 10-06-27">{{cite news |title=The North West. Tour of Colonial Secretary. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26261138 |newspaper=The West Australian |date=27 June 1910 |access-date=13 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="wa 10-08-27">{{cite news |title=Luncheon on the Koombana. Some interesting speeches. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26289407 |newspaper=The West Australian |date=27 August 1910 |access-date=13 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="wa 10-10-22">{{cite news |title=Fire on the Koombana. Vessel reaches Port Hedland. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26294273 |newspaper=The West Australian |date=22 October 1910 |access-date=13 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="wa 10-10-28">{{cite news |title=News and Notes |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26294585 |newspaper=The West Australian |date=28 October 1910 |access-date=13 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="wa 10-11-16">{{cite news |title=The Australian Destroyers. Safe Arrival in Broome. The Northern Port En Fete. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26296205 |newspaper=The West Australian |date=16 November 1910 |access-date=13 March 2012}}</ref>
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<ref name="wa 11-12-01">{{cite news |title=Seamen's Wages. The proposed award. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23858054 |newspaper=The West Australian |date=1 December 1911 |access-date=15 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="wa 12-04-10loss">{{cite news |title=The Nor'-West Disasters. The Loss of the Koombana. Arrival of the Gorgon. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23869388 |newspaper=The West Australian |date=10 April 1912 |access-date=22 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="wa 12-04-10">{{cite news |title=The Nor'-West Disasters. Two Queensland Passengers |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23869388 |newspaper=The West Australian |date=10 April 1912 |access-date=19 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="wa 12-04-22">{{cite news |title=The Koombana. Memorial Concert. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23870394 |newspaper=The West Australian |date=22 April 1912 |access-date=15 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="wa 12-05-04">{{cite news |title=Koombana Inquiry. Mr Moss, KC, addresses the Court. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23871596 |newspaper=The West Australian |date=4 May 1912 |access-date=11 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="wa 12-05-11">{{cite news |title=Koombana Inquiry. Finding of the Court of Marine. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23872152 |newspaper=The West Australian |date=11 May 1912 |access-date=11 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="wa 48-11-06">{{cite news |title=The Koombana Sinking |last1=Walkerden |first1=W J |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47140534 |newspaper=The West Australian |date=6 November 1948 |access-date=25 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="wa 2012-03-15">{{cite web |url=http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/newshome/13176378/kimberley-braces-as-cyclone-lua-nears/ |title=Kimberley braces as Cyclone Lua nears |last1=Prior |first1=Flip |last2=Massey |first2=Alex |date=15 March 2012 |publisher=West Australian Newspapers Ltd |access-date=15 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="wa 2012-03-17">{{cite web |url=http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/wa/13191402/cyclone-brings-sad-memories/ |title=Cyclone brings sad memories |last=Massey |first=Alex |date=17 March 2012 |publisher=West Australian Newspapers Ltd |access-date=19 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="wa 2012-03-17cpp">{{cite news |title=Curse of the Pink Pearl. WA's Titanic |last=Cox |first=Sally |newspaper=The Weekend West (Perth, WA) |date=17–18 March 2012 |pages=57–59}}</ref>
<ref name="wa 2012-03-17rg">{{cite news |title=The Rabbi's Ghost. |last=Massey |first=Alex |newspaper=The Weekend West (Perth, WA) |date=17–18 March 2012 |pages=59–60}}</ref>
<ref name="wm 09-02-20">{{cite news |title=Nor'West Shipping Trade. Adelaide Company's new steamer |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article37588628 |newspaper=[[Western Mail (Western Australia)|Western Mail]] |date=20 February 1909 |access-date=29 December 2011}}</ref>
<ref name="wm 09-03-20">{{cite news |title=Summary State News |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article37590379?searchTerm=ss_koombana&searchLimits= |newspaper=Western Mail |date=20 March 1909 |access-date=5 February 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="wm 09-04-24">{{cite news |title=Notes of the Week |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article37589118?searchTerm=ss_koombana&searchLimits= |newspaper=Western Mail |date=24 April 1909 |access-date=7 February 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="wm 09-05-01">{{cite news |title=The Great Nor'West. Marble Bar and its Railway |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article37583432?searchTerm=ss_koombana&searchLimits= |newspaper=Western Mail |date=1 May 1909 |access-date=5 February 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="wm 09-05-29">{{cite news |title=The Steamer Koombana. Sharks Bay Stranding |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article37584185?searchTerm=ss_koombana&searchLimits= |newspaper=Western Mail |date=29 May 1909 |access-date=5 February 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="wm 11-02-11">{{cite news |title=Smoke helmet and gear used by firemen |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38365586 |newspaper=Western Mail |date=23 January 1911 |access-date=13 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="wm 11-12-02">{{cite news |title=The Koombana Firemen. A definite understanding. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38838247 |newspaper=Western Mail |date=2 December 1911 |access-date=15 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="wm 12-04-13">{{cite news |title=The Koombana. All hope abandoned. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article37417583 |newspaper=Western Mail |date=13 April 1912 |access-date=15 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="wm 13-05-09">{{cite news |title=State Steamers. Statement by Mr Moxon. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article37962263|newspaper=Western Mail |date=9 May 1913 |access-date=15 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="wa museum">{{cite web|url=http://www.museum.wa.gov.au/maritime-archaeology-db/wrecks/koombana |title=Shipwreck Databases - Koombana |publisher=[[Western Australian Museum]] |access-date=5 February 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="wam exhibition">{{cite web|url=http://museum.wa.gov.au/about/latest-news/centenary-display-tells-fateful-story-ss-koombana |title=Centenary display tells fateful story of SS Koombana |date=21 March 2012 |publisher=[[Western Australian Museum]] |access-date=26 March 2012}}</ref>
}}

==Bibliography==
{{Refbegin}}
*{{cite book |last=Aslett |first=Geoffrey Garrard |year=2000 |title= Henry Francis – Gentleman of Cumberland Street |place=Jindalee, QLD |publisher=G Aslett |isbn=0-9578534-1-6}}
*{{cite book |last=Bailey |first=John |year=2001 |title=The White Divers of Broome |place=Sydney |publisher=Pan Macmillan |isbn=0-7329-1078-1}}
*{{cite book |last=Barker |first=Malcolm |year=2001 |title=The truth is so precious |place=Dianella, WA |publisher=Success Print |isbn=0-646-49948-3}}
*{{cite book |last=Beatty |first=Bill |title=A Treasury of Australian Folk Tales and Traditions |year=1960 |place=Sydney |publisher=U Smith |oclc=252002047}}
*{{cite book |last=Boyd |first=Annie |year=2013 |title=Koombana Days |place=Fremantle |publisher=Fremantle Press |isbn=978-1921888885 |url= http://www.fremantlepress.com.au/books/currentaffairs_culture_social_history/1387}} *{{cite book |last=Idriess |first=Ion L |year=1937 |title=Forty Fathoms Deep |url= https://archive.org/details/fortyfathomsdeep0000unse |url-access=registration |place=Sydney |publisher=Angus & Robertson |oclc=561458581}}
*{{cite book |year=1908 |title=Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping Vol. I – Steamers |place=London |publisher=Lloyd's Register |via=[[Internet Archive]] |ref={{harvid|''Lloyd's Register'' 1908}} }}
*{{Cite book |last1=McCarthy |first1=Mike |author2=Western Australian Maritime Museum. Dept. of Maritime Archaeology |year=1991 |title=The Flamingo Bay voyage: including reports on Japanese submarine I 124, the iron barque Ann Millicent, Indonesian divers at Cartier Island, inspection of a site thought to be the SS Koombana |place=Fremantle, WA |publisher=WA Maritime Museum |url= http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/6945094 |access-date=11 March 2012}}
*{{cite book |year=1910 |title=Mercantile Navy List |place=London |via=Crew List Index Project |url= https://www.crewlist.org.uk/data/viewimages?&name=Koombana&steamsail=Steam&submit=Enter&year=1910 |ref={{harvid|''Mercantile Navy List'' 1910}} }}
*{{cite book |last=Plowman |first=Peter |title=Coast to Coast: The Great Australian Coastal Liners |year=2001 |place=Dural, NSW |publisher=Rosenberg Publishing |pages=39–45 |isbn=978-1-877058-60-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7H8zjawqLSQC&q=koombana&pg=PA39 |access-date=9 February 2012}}
*{{Cite journal |last=Thom |first=Kerry |year=2009 |title=The searches for SS Koombana |journal=Iron, Steel and Steamship Archaeology: Proceedings of 2nd Australian Seminar, Held in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney, 2006 |place=Fremantle, WA |publisher=Australian National Centre of Excellence for Maritime Archaeology and Australasian Institute for Maritime Archaeology Inc |pages=38–39 |isbn=978-1-876465-01-8 |issn=0812-9444}}
*{{cite book |last=Wilson |first=Helen Helga |year=1980 |title=Cyclone Coasts: Australia's North-West Frontier |place=Adelaide |publisher=Rigby |isbn=0-7270-1390-4}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Koombana (ship, 1909)}}
*[https://digitalcollections.anu.edu.au/ ANU Digital Collections] – high resolution images – [http://hdl.handle.net/1885/8887 SS ''Koombana'' at Fremantle] – [http://hdl.handle.net/1885/8886 close-up of SS ''Koombana''{{'}}s decks]
*{{cite web |url= http://www.ahc.gov.au/infores/publications/national-stories/transport/chapter2.html |archive-url= https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20040204130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/39856/20040205-0000/www.ahc.gov.au/infores/publications/national-stories/transport/chapter2.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 February 2004 |title=Chapter 2: Ports and Shipping, 1788-1970 |work=Australia: Our National Stories – Linking a Nation |publisher=Australian Heritage Commission |access-date=11 March 2012}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
*{{cite web |url= https://www.koombana.net/ |last=Flowers |first=Greg |title=Help discover the Koombana |work=Find the Koombana |publisher=Marine Archaeology Association of Western Australia}}
*{{cite web|url= http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/history/wa/pthed.shtml |title=Tropical Cyclones Affecting Port Hedland |work=Bureau of Meteorology |access-date=22 May 2012}}

{{coord unknown|Western Australia}}
{{1912 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Koombana}}
[[Category:1909 ships]]
[[Category:Adelaide Steamship Company]]
[[Category:Iron and steel steamships of Australia]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1900]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1910]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1911]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1912]]
[[Category:Missing ships of Australia]]
[[Category:Passenger ships of Australia]]
[[Category:Ships built in Glasgow]]
[[Category:Ships lost with all hands]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks of Western Australia]]
[[Category:Ships of Western Australia]]