END OF AN ERA.

The West Australian, 14 July, 1934.

SOLD TO SHIP-BREAKERS.

SOME AUSTRALIAN TRADERS.

End of Interstater Grantala.

Over 60 steamers, totalling nearly

250,000 tons, were sold to ship-breakers 

during May - that number constituting the

largest monthly aggregate since the 

abnormal scrapping periods of four years ago.

The total number of vessels scrapped during 

the first five months of the present year was 

225, representing about 825,000 tons gross. 

Not a few of the vessels, that have recently 

gone into the ship-knackers' yards, were 

previously well known in Australian waters.

Most familiar of them all was the

French steamer Figuig, which, under the

name of Grantala, traded for many

years on the Australian coast. Of all

the vessels owned by the Adelaide Steam

ship Company and operated in the coastal

trade during the peak period of seaborne

passenger traffic, the Grantala and the

Yongala were probably the best known and

the most popular. They were built by

the company to give its interest a fillip

in the then important passenger traffic

between the States. Their specifications

included a high standard of comfort for

the passengers, reasonable cargo space and

as great a speed as was compatible with

passenger requirements. They were both

handsome vessels with tall funnels and fine

lines. Both held several coastal speed

records. The Yongala first arrived on

the coast at the end of 1903 and was followed 

early in the following year by the Grantala. 

They were used on the Queensland coast 

as well as between Sydney and Fremantle 

and it was while on the former run that the 

Yongala was lost in a hurricane in 1911. 

During the war the Grantala was used as a 

hospital ship and in 1915 was sold to French 

owners who renamed her and used her in 

a service between Marseilles and Algiers.

Interstaters of 30 Years Ago.

When the Grantala entered the West

Australian run she replaced the familiar

vessel Wollowra, which had been purchased 

to meet the growing demand for passenger 

and cargo tonnage because of the number 

of people travelling to this State attracted by 

the gold discoveries.

When all is said and done on the subject, Grantala, identical to Yongala, enjoyed a full service history without mishap due to issues of stability.

There is, however, one detail which is significant and immediately apparent when comparing the two images below. 

Grantala's funnel was reduced in size by the time she served as SS Figuig. 

In my opinion, Yongala's tall funnel was a significant factor in terms of wind catchment and contribution to top heaviness when the steamer was in light condition, i.e. 23 March, 1911.

SS Figuig (Grantala), courtesy Tyne Built Ships.

SS Yongala - courtesy Hot Getaways.

Parting thought:

Newcastle Morning Herald, 30 November, 1946

The Amelia J., an old sailing ship,

carried a cargo of coal from New-

castle for Tasmania. She never

reached her destination. It is 

believed that her tall masts caused 

her to turn over when she ran into 

heavy Tasman weather.

Many seafaring men said that her

masts were too tall.

Amelia J - courtesy Passengers in History site.

courtesy Trove

Fix this tex