SS Benalla

The Benalla was one of five "B Class" ships ordered by P&O following their 1910 acquisition of Alfred Lund's Blue Anchor Line. She was built specifically for the England-Australia immigration route via the Cape of Good Hope, representing P&O's investment in what they termed their "Branch Service" to distinguish it from their premium Royal Mail Service via Suez.

Built by Caird & Co. of Greenock, Scotland, Benalla was the third of her class to be completed, following the tragic loss of Blue Anchor's Waratah in 1909. She featured the distinctive livery of a black hull with stone-colored superstructure, and under P&O operation displayed a black funnel with red boot topping while maintaining the traditional Blue Anchor on her funnels.

Early Service

Launched on October 17, 1912, and completed in March 1913, Benalla began her maiden voyage that same month on the London-Sydney route via Cape Town and Durban. She was designed primarily as an immigrant carrier, with accommodation for between 350 and 1,100 third-class passengers.

Wartime Service

Five months after entering service, Benalla and her sisters were converted to troop transports for World War I service. While she survived the conflict, her sister ship Ballarat was torpedoed off the Scilly Isles on April 25, 1917, though fortunately all 1,500 Australian troops aboard were safely evacuated before she sank.

Post-War Operations

Following the war, Benalla resumed passenger services along with her surviving sisters. The vessels proved highly practical, so much so that their replacements closely followed the original "B Class" design, becoming known as the Second "B Class."

Final Years

In July 1929, P&O abandoned the Cape route and laid up their "B Class" vessels. The Great Depression and introduction of the new Strath class ships rendered these vessels redundant. Benalla, along with Berrima and Borda, was sold to Japanese breakers in 1933.

Key Facts

Specification	Details
Tonnage	11,118 GRT
Dimensions	515 x 63 ft (157 x 19.2 m)
Draught	28 ft (8.5 m)
Engine	Quadruple-expansion (9,000 IHP)
Speed	14 knots
Capacity	350-1,100 third class passengers
Crew	260
Sister Ships	Ballarat, Beltana, Berrima, Border