Historical information

HMAS Koolonga was a cargo ship built by Sunderland Shipbuilding Company, England, in 1914 and bought by McIlwraith, McEacharn Line Pty Ltd, Melbourne and named SS Koolonga.

She was requisitioned by the Royal Australian Navy on 6 August 1914, as a collier and supply ship and commissioned as HMAS Koolonga. She participated during the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force occupation of German New Guinea until May 1915 when she was later returned to her owners.
After being returned, she was employed on cargo trades from Whyalla, South Australia to Newcastle, New South Wales.

She was sold in October 1917 through Scott Fell & Company, Newcastle to BHP Shipping and renamed Iron Monarch, before being sold again in 1920 to Interstate Steamships Ltd.

Significance

This ship linked to record VC 0747. The ship played a role in WW1

Physical description

small black and white photograph of steamship.