Westralia

The Westralia was a passenger vessel built in 1929 for Huddart Parker & Co's Australian coastal service. Over her 33-year career, she served as a passenger liner, armed merchant cruiser, landing ship, and transport vessel before ending her days as a sheep carrier.

Construction and Early Service

Built by Harland & Wolff at their Govan yard on the Clyde, Scotland, Westralia departed Glasgow on her maiden voyage on August 18, 1929, arriving in Melbourne on September 18. She began her intended Australian coastal service between Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Fremantle on September 28, 1929. During her early career, she suffered damage to her propellers while entering Port Adelaide on April 18, 1931.

Wartime Service

On November 2, 1939, Westralia was requisitioned by the Royal Australian Navy as an armed merchant cruiser, being commissioned on January 17, 1940. She was later converted to a landing ship infantry (APA) on June 25, 1943, playing a vital role in General MacArthur's Amphibious Navy during the Pacific War campaign against Japan. She continued in this capacity until September 19, 1946.

Post-war Operations

Following the war, Westralia was requisitioned for occupation duty in Japan on December 8, 1947, completing over nine voyages to Kure in support of the Allied Army of Occupation. The British Government then requisitioned her for Mediterranean transport service. She returned to Sydney on August 20, 1949, and after arriving from Singapore on March 1, 1950, underwent conversion for peacetime service.

Returning to commercial operation with Huddart Parker, she commenced her first post-war commercial voyage from Sydney to Fremantle on March 30, 1951.

Final Years

In 1959, ownership transferred to International Shipping and Export Agency Pty Ltd in Sydney. She was later acquired by Asian & Pacific Shipping Co in Suva and converted to a sheep carrier, being renamed Delfino. In 1961, she was renamed Woollambi. Her final journey was under tow by the Nissho Maru to Hirao, Japan, where she was broken up by the Marsukura Company in 1962.

Key Facts

Specification	Details
Built	1929
Builder	Harland & Wolff, Govan
Tonnage	8,108 tons
Length	448 feet (136.6 meters)
Beam	60 feet (18.3 meters)
Engines	Two Harland Burmeister & Wain diesels
Power	1,304 nhp