Talk:SS Koombana

A fact from this article appeared on Wikipedia's Main Page in the "Did you know?" column on December 10, 2006.

The text of the entry was: Did you know ...that Australia's worst maritime disaster of the 20th century was the sinking of the Koombana (pictured) in a cyclone off Port Hedland, Western Australia?

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Some photographs of the S.S. Koombana in the Western Mail[edit]

This is some raw dates of newspaper entries held in Battye library if aanyone gets there before me - if any of them might be of siginificance to this article.

leaving Fremantle Western mail, 20 Feb. 1909, p.26
on sandbank in Shark Bay where she was stranded 15 March 1909 Western mail, 10 Apr. 1909, p.27,47
at Derby. Western mail, 8 Apr. 1911, p.28
at Broome. Western mail, 5 Aug. 1911, p.29
at Wyndham. Western mail, 15 July 1911, p.30
at the time of her loss in a cyclone March 1912. Western mail, 30 Mar. 1912, p.22; 6 Apr. 1912, p.24; 12 Apr. 1912, p.25

There is also one photograph in the volumes in the Photographic section of the same place

SatuSuro 14:29, 8 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Disappointing that she only got on page 22 (30 Mar) after going missing. I would have thought it'd be page 1 news! —Moondyne 15:07, 8 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Another photo here. Hesperian 10:38, 9 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Koombana Bay, Bunbury[edit]

What is the background to the names? Presumably one was named after the other (Ship<->Bay), and from where does the name "Koombana" come? Bunbury was originally called Port Leschenault. —Moondyne 15:21, 9 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]

"What does Koombana Bay mean? Koombana is taken from our region's indigenous people, the noongar which has a debatable meaning. It is suggested the following is either one of the names: 1. Place where the whales blow, place of whales 2. Calm and peaceful"[1] Hesperian 10:59, 10 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks, I suppose its safe to say that the ship was named after the Bay then. —Moondyne 13:07, 10 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]

What is the definition of a Maritime Disaster[edit]

This article states that the sinking of the Koombana was Australia's worst maritime disaster. What makes it so?

On the death toll front, the SS Waratah led to 200 deaths. The sinking of HMAS Sydney was 645 sailors and the sinking of Monetevideo -Maru led to the deaths of 845 Australian POWs. So perhaps deaths aren't the measure of 'worst disaster.' What is? Maustrauser 02:02, 10 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]

The Waratah (ship) was lost off Cape Town, so though en-route to Australia, was not really an Australian maritime disaster, and the HMAS Sydney was a naval loss. But I do take your point, and will change the tag as it is ~~misleading~~ incorrect. I accidentally misquoted the claim from a website [2] (end of 1st para.). —Moondyne 03:14, 10 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Good edit! Maustrauser 05:48, 10 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Where was it built?[edit]

According to [3] it was built in Glasgow in 1908, not Belfast. Are there any other references for this? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 124.168.138.9 (talk) 06:08, 10 December 2006 (UTC).[reply]

Whoops, my mistake (again). Fixed to Glasgow. —Moondyne 13:10, 10 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Boat names[edit]

Should this article be a SS Koombana; there is a convention for ship names somewhere. --Peta 01:15, 14 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Yep. 'SS' is an abbreviation for Steamship which the Koombana is. I'll move accordingly (ala SS Georgette). —Moondyne 01:39, 14 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks. --Peta 01:44, 14 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]