The Hobson's Bay

• Call sign: KLJT Official registration #: 151802
• Rigging: steel twin screws steamer; 2 steel decks & steel shelter deck sheathed in wood; 3rd steel deck in forward holds;
• 9 partly cemented bulkheads up to the shelter deck;
• fitted with electric light, refrigerating machinery & wireless;
• cellular double bottom 458 feet long, 2,228 tons;
• Midship Deep Tank 24 feet, 1,016 tons;
• Forward Peak Tank 128 tons;
• Aft Peak Tank 142 tons.
• Tonnage: 13,837 tons gross, 11,883 under deck and 8,440 net.
• Dimensions: 530.6 feet long, 68.3 foot beam and holds 39.9 feet deep;
• Bridge Deck 208 feet long;
• Forcastle on shelter deck 78 feet.
• Construction: 1922 by Vickers Ltd. in Barrow.
• Propulsion: 4 steam turbines double reduction geared to 2 screw shafts;
• operating at 220 p.s.i.;
• 1,977 nominal horsepower;
• 3 double ended & 2 single ended boilers;
• 32 corrugated furnaces;
• grate surface 663 sq. ft.;
• heating surface 25,923 sq. ft.;
• Engine: built by the same company as the hull.
• Owners: Commonwealth Government Line of Steamers.
• Port of registry: Melbourne
• Port of survey: London
  

 13,837 gross tons, length 549ft x beam 68.2ft (167.2m x 20.8m), one funnel, two masts, twin screw and a speed of 15 knots. There was accommodation for
12-1st and 738-3rd class passengers. Built by Vickers Ltd, Barrow, she was launched 4th Oct.1921 for the Commonwealth Government Line, Melbourne. On 28th Feb.1922 she sailed from London on her maiden voyage to Brisbane. In May 1928 she was sold to the White Star Line, re-registered in London and continued in the London - Australia service. In 1931 she was refitted to 14,198 gross tons with accommodation for 512-tourist class passengers and in Apr.1933 came under the ownership of Aberdeen & Commonwealth Line. In 1936 she was renamed ESPERANCE BAY to replace the original ship of that name which had been sold to Shaw Savill Line and renamed ARAWA. Fitted out as an Armed Merchant Cruiser at Brisbane in Sep.1939, she was operated by the Royal Australian Navy until 1941 when she became a troopship. She was utilised on South Africa, Middle East, India, North and South Atlantic trooping services and was refitted after the war to carry 290-tourist class passengers. She resumed London - Australia voyages in 1948 and continued until 1955. On 6^th Jul.1955 she arrived at faslane for breaking up.

[Great Passenger Ships of the World by Arnold Kludas, vol.2]

[Merchant Fleets by Duncan Haws, vol.17, Aberdeen & Copmmonwealth Line]

This ship was one of five sister ships, one of which was the famous JERVIS BAY which fought a duel with the German heavy cruiser ADMIRAL SCHEER and was sunk, allowing the rest of the convoy time to escape.