Tag: Zealandia

SS Zealandia, nicknamed Z (or “Zed”) was a historically significant Australian cargo and passenger ship. It served as a troopship in both World War I and World War II. Zealandia transported the ill-fated Australian 8th Division. Its crew were the last Allied personnel to see HMAS Sydney, which was lost with all hands in 1941. Zealandia was sunk in the air raids on Darwin of 19 February 1942.
A 6,683 ton multi-decked single-funnelled vessel, Zealandia was built at Clydebank, Scotland and entered service in 1910. It was owned by the Melbourne-based Huddart Parker line. During 1910-13, it was chartered by the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Union NZ), mainly for use on the trans-Tasman route, but also undertaking voyages to ports as distant as Fremantle and Vancouver. Huddart Parker then used Zealandia on the Melbourne-Fremantle route.
In May 1918, the Zealandia was requisitioned as an Allied troopship and it was among the ships used to transport the American Expeditionary Force…