SS Katoomba was a steamship built by Harland & Wolff, Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1913 for McIlwraith, McEacharn Ltd, Melbourne, Australia. She was launched on 10 April 1913 and travelled the passenger run around Australia.
The philatelic interest of this ship, apart from carrying mail, is that she appears on the 1938 Papua Airmail issue.
SS KATOOMBA STAMP
Prior to AUSTRALIA POST becoming a household name associated with stamps and mail delivery, the POSTMASTER GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT (PMG) was responsible for very wide sections of the Australian communications network. Shipping was included.
Like other merchant ships of the PMG era, ss KATOOMBA maintained close links with the Australian Postmaster General’s Department due to the fact that ship-to-shore communications were handled by the Radio Officer.
This member of the ship’s company would have held a Certificate of Competency, not only in Morse Code and International Maritime Regulations; but an ability to maintain all the radio equipment aboard the ship. The examination was held by the PMG Department.
Although directly under the command of the ship’s Captain, the Radio Officer would have been employed by Amalgamated Wireless (A/Asia) Ltd (AWA) which also operated the many radio stations around Australia’s coastline.
Radio telephone was in its infancy. Other means of communication in close range used Aldis signalling lamps or semaphore. All certificated shipmasters and mates were proficient in using these systems.
During this period tens of thousands of bags of mail to and from overseas were carried in the faster passenger liners operated by mail contracts awarded to companies such as P & O and Orient Steam Navigation Company.
These ships had specially designed lock-ups for registered mail and bullion in addition to cargo holds for standard bags of mail.
Unfortunately for all aboard the smaller KATOOMBA, passengers and crew had to suffer at times the indignity of prolonged sea-sickness caused by rough seas along the Australian coast.
Ships were not fitted with stabilisers in those days!
………….
David Sims, Master Mariner (retired)
ex P. & O.
Herberton, Queensland