First shipbuilding in South Australia at Osborne on Port River near end of World War I; continues until 1930s
The crowd at the launch of the Eurimbla from Poole and Steele's shipyard at Adelaide's Osborne on the Port River in 1922.
Image courtesy State Library of South Australia
South Australia’s first big shipbuilding project was at Osborne on the Port River from the end of World War I. Late in the war, when the Australian government faced a shortage of ships in Australia, partly due to wartime losses, it brought in a scheme to promote shipbuilding in the states by advancing loans to companies.
The Sydney firm of Poole and Steele won a contract to build four ships in South Australia. Their shipyard at Osborne was gouged out of mangroves, reclaiming a 800 feet frontage, a workshop area of 384 x 128 feet, tramways, slipways, cranes, and wharfs.
By January 1920, work began on the first ship Eurimbla, and the keel for the second ship was soon laid.The Poole and Steele yard using the most up-to-date methods and equipment, including lathes. The Eurimbla – 5,500 tons deadweight, 331 feet long with 48 feet beam – was launched in 1921 and handed over to the government that year.
Poole and Steele yard’s work standard was reputed to be Australia’s best but its contract was reduced to three ships by 1921.
After completing the third ship in 1922, Poole and Steele was kept in business by building two dredges for the state government. By 1925, it had diversified into building wagons for the South Australian Railways and the steelwork for the new bridge at Murray Bridge.
But the shipyard was unable to survive beyond 1937 when it was sold to the South Australian government and all its equipment auctioned. The property was then taken over by the Harbors Board. The site was later occupied by a power station.
