After Sail - The Era of Steam

In this part of the Museum you can see models of two very different ships, the beautiful passenger-cargo ship Koolama (1938) and Ashridge (1905), a tramp steamer.

Ashridge was powered by a triple expansion steam engine which pushed the ship along at 9 knots. Ashridge was a frequent visitor to WA ports from the early 1900s until after World War II. In 1942 it was one of the last ships to escape Singapore before finally taken by Japanese troops.

The ship was laden with civilian evacuees who were put ashore in Fremantle. Those people must have thanked their lucky stars to have been transported safely in such a venerable ship. Ashridge remained in service until 1948 when, worn out, it was broken up for scrap.

Koolama, in contrast, was a motor ship, propelled by the latest in diesel engines, which gave a top speed of 16 knots. Koolama had a busy, though short career, carrying passengers, livestock and general cargo all along the WA Coast and up to Singapore. However, it is for some dramatic incidents that Koolama is remembered. On 20 February  1942, en-route to Wyndham, three Japanese float planes attacked her.  The damage was serious, but not fatal. After emergency repairs Koolama reached Wyndham. On March 3 the Japanese mounted another air attack. At 4.45 pm, Koolama capsized alongside the jetty. With no chance of salvage, the wreck remained until after the war when it was raised and scuttled outside the harbour.