A colour photograph of the Adelaide Steamship Company's vessel SS Minnipa berthed at Port Lincoln wharf. The ship features a distinctive black and white hull with its name "MINNIPA" clearly visible on the side. The vessel's wooden bridge structure and cargo handling equipment, including masts and derricks, are prominently displayed. A wharf with rail tracks is visible in the foreground.
The Minnipa holds the distinction of being the first motor-driven
passenger-cargo vessel purpose-built for an Australian shipping company.
Launched in 1927 from Burmeister & Wain's Copenhagen yard, she was designed
specifically for the Port Adelaide to Port Lincoln service, becoming a vital
link for South Australia's Eyre Peninsula.
Regular Service
The vessel operated a precise schedule, departing Port Adelaide at 7:00 PM on
Mondays and Thursdays, arriving at Port Lincoln the following morning. She
maintained a weekly side-trip to Tumby Bay every Tuesday afternoon, with return
departures to Port Adelaide at 7:00 PM on Wednesdays and Fridays. The ship's
versatility was demonstrated through its diverse cargo manifests, carrying
everything from racehorses and motor vehicles to everyday supplies and
agricultural equipment.
On May 26, 1928, Minnipa ran aground on the southern end of Boston Island in
thick mist. The tug Wato freed her two days later, but significant damage
necessitated five weeks of repairs in Melbourne's dry dock.
Wartime Service
During World War II, Minnipa was modified with a defensive gun mounted on the
stern deckhouse, and her small lifeboats were relocated to the bridge deck. Her
gross tonnage increased from 1,977 to 2,014 tons in 1942.
Final Years
The vessel's last departure from Port Lincoln on June 29, 1960, was marked by an
emotional farewell attended by over 1,500 people. Under Captain J.W. Halliday's
command, the departure featured the Salvation Army band playing the "Maori
Farewell" and a final whistle blast echoing across the harbor. She was sold to
Hong Kong owners, renamed Mayon, and ultimately broken up in Hong Kong in
1963, with her sale attributed to age and increasing trading losses.
Key Facts
Specification
Detail
Built
Burmeister & Wain, Copenhagen
Gross Tonnage
1,977 (2,014 from 1942)
Dimensions
77.2m x 12.1m
Engine
B&W motor, 2,700 horsepower
Speed
15 knots
Passenger Capacity
150 berths + 50 temporary
SS Minnipa at Port Lincoln Wharf, 1950s
A colour photograph of the Adelaide Steamship Company's vessel SS Minnipa berthed at Port Lincoln wharf. The ship features a distinctive black and white hull with its name "MINNIPA" clearly visible on the side. The vessel's wooden bridge structure and cargo handling equipment, including masts and derricks, are prominently displayed. A wharf with rail tracks is visible in the foreground.
A black and white photograph of the MV Minnipa, a combined passenger and cargo vessel, underway at sea. The ship, built in Copenhagen in 1927, features two masts, passenger accommodation decks, and cargo handling equipment. The vessel's name "MINNIPA" is clearly visible on its hull. The photograph shows the ship's distinctive profile with its passenger decks amidships and cargo handling gear, characteristic of coastal trading vessels of the era.
MV Minnipa and Barque Pamir at Port Lincoln Wharf, circa 1930
A black and white photograph showing two contrasting vessels moored at Port Lincoln wharf: the Adelaide Steamship Company's motor vessel MV Minnipa, a coastal trading ship, alongside the four-masted barque Pamir, a large sailing vessel. The wooden wharf structure extends into the calm waters, with natural vegetation visible in the foreground and hills in the background.
MV Minnipa and Barque Pamir at Port Lincoln Wharf, circa 1930
MV Minnipa Aground on Boston Island, 1921
A sepia photograph showing the Adelaide Steamship Company's vessel MV Minnipa run aground on the rocky shores of Boston Island, near Port Lincoln, South Australia. The ship's full profile is visible, listing slightly towards the rocky coastline, with its distinctive cargo handling equipment and passenger decks clearly visible. A small rowing boat can be seen in the foreground near the rocks.
MV Minnipa Aground on Boston Island, 1921
SS Minnipa Aground at Fanny Point, Boston Island, 1928
A dramatic black and white photograph showing the SS Minnipa, an Adelaide Steamship Company vessel, run aground on rocky shores at Fanny Point, Boston Island near Port Lincoln. The ship sits at an angle, its hull resting on the rocky coastline, with its distinctive cargo masts and superstructure clearly visible against the sky.
SS Minnipa Aground at Fanny Point, Boston Island, 1928
MV Minnipa at Port Adelaide Wharf, Late 1920s
A black and white photograph of the MV Minnipa, a passenger and cargo vessel operated by the Adelaide Steamship Company. The ship is shown berthed at Port Adelaide, with its distinctive profile displaying two masts, cargo handling equipment, and passenger accommodation. The vessel's dark hull contrasts against the waterline, with warehouse buildings visible in the background along the wharf.
MV Minnipa at Port Adelaide Wharf, Late 1920s
Port Adelaide Harbour During World War II with MV Yandra and Hart's Mill
A black and white photograph of Port Adelaide's harbour during World War II, showing multiple vessels including the MV Yandra in wartime livery berthed at Musgrave Wharf and the MV Minnipa. The historic Hart's Mill and its prominent chimney dominate the industrial shoreline, while numerous sailing boats are moored in the foreground. The first Jervois Bridge is visible in the distance.
Port Adelaide Harbour During World War II with MV Yandra and Hart's Mill
Ships at Port Lincoln's Brennan and Kirton Point Jetties, with Working Horses
A historic seaport scene showing multiple vessels at Port Lincoln's jetties. A steam-powered cargo ship and a three-masted barque are moored at Brennan Jetty, while the motor vessel Minnipa can be seen at Kirton Point Jetty in the distance. In the foreground, several working horses are tethered along the sandy shoreline with covered wagons nearby.
Ships at Port Lincoln's Brennan and Kirton Point Jetties, with Working Horses