The Commonwealth Line was a shipping company owned and operated by the

Australian federal government The Australian Government, also known as the Commonwealth Government, is the national government of Australia, a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Like other Westminster-style systems of government, the Australian Government i ...

between 1916 and 1928. It was officially known as the Commonwealth Government Line of Steamers until 1923, and thereafter as the Australian Commonwealth Line of Steamers.

History

The Commonwealth Line began as a pet project of Prime Minister

Billy Hughes William Morris Hughes (25 September 1862 – 28 October 1952) was an Australian politician who served as the seventh prime minister of Australia, in office from 1915 to 1923. He is best known for leading the country during World War I, but ...

. While visiting England in mid-1916, Hughes purchased 15

tramp steamer A boat or ship engaged in the tramp trade is one which does not have a fixed schedule, itinerary nor published ports of call, and trades on the spot market as opposed to freight liners. A steamship engaged in the tramp trade is sometimes called ...

s to transport Australian commodities (particular wool and wheat) to export markets. This was a risky venture, as the British government had the right to

requisition Requisition may refer to: * Purchase requisition, a document issued by a buyer to a seller indicating types, quantities, and agreed prices for products or services *Requisition in military logistics *Requisition of property by a government under ...

some or all of the fleet for the war effort. However, Hughes managed to convince

H. H. Asquith Herbert Henry Asquith, 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith, (12 September 1852 – 15 February 1928), generally known as H. H. Asquith, was a British statesman and Liberal Party politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom f ...

not to take any of the vessels, so long as no more were purchased before the end of the war. Back in Australia, another 23 ships came under the new company's control, which had been seized by the government from German and Austrian owners. After the war's end, the Commonwealth Line built five large ocean liners to carry immigrants from England. By 1921, the company was making only a small profit each year and was often a target for industrial action. In 1923, Hughes was replaced as prime minister by

Stanley Bruce Stanley Melbourne Bruce, 1st Viscount Bruce of Melbourne, (15 April 1883 – 25 August 1967) was an Australian politician who served as the eighth prime minister of Australia from 1923 to 1929, as leader of the Nationalist Party. Born ...

, who opposed the government's ownership of the line as a financial burden and an unfair competitor against private operators. The Bruce regime sold off the fleet over the next few years, culminating in a final sale to the

White Star Line The White Star Line was a British shipping company. Founded out of the remains of a defunct packet company, it gradually rose up to become one of the most prominent shipping lines in the world, providing passenger and cargo services between t ...

in 1928. They were later onsold to the

Aberdeen Line The Aberdeen Line was a shipping company founded in 1825 by George Thompson of Aberdeen to take sailing vessels to the St. Lawrence river, carrying some passengers and returning with cargoes of timber. The business flourished and grew to 12 sa ...

, which renamed itself the Aberdeen & Commonwealth Line. On paper the fleet was valued at around £8 million, but the government received only £500,000 due to the buyer defaulting. In the final parliamentary vote to approve the sale, the entire Labor Party voted against and were joined by only non-Labor members,

Percy Stewart Percy Gerald Stewart (18 October 1885 – 15 October 1931) was an Australian politician. He was an original member of the Victorian Farmers' Union and long a radical campaigner for farming interests. He helped bring down Stanley Bruce's gov ...

and

William Watson William, Willie, Bill or Billy Watson may refer to: Entertainment * William Watson (songwriter) (1794–1840), English concert hall singer and songwriter * William Watson (poet) (1858–1935), English poet * Billy Watson (actor) (1923–2022), Ame ...

. Billy Hughes absented himself from the vote. In the prior debate, he described the line as "my progeny, and whether it be unique or a monstrosity, I, like most parents, am still attached to the poor thing ... I am present at the obsequies of the Line, as I was at its birth".

Ships

The fleet of ships that were operated included requisitioned sailing ships

References

{{reflist, 30em Australian companies established in 1916 1928 establishments in Australia Defunct shipping companies of Australia Former Commonwealth Government-owned companies of Australia Government-owned transport companies 1928 disestablishments in Australia

History

Ships

See also

References