BURNS, PHILP & CO. LTD.

Early Lloyds and Brown sources omit the two narrow white bands edging the chequered funnel band, but a black-and-white photograph of Bulolo confirms them; Jordan describes two white rings. Lloyds 1904 shows a wider white flag band. The green device queried in the FOTW account is identified by Rosanoski as a thistle. Its B493 form follows Lloyds 1904.

Brown from 1943 and post-war Stewart editions show vertical flag bands. Rosanoski considers this mistaken because Australian nautical sources record no change. The thistle in Stewart 1957 and 1963, US Navy 1961 and LJC 1966 follows B495 rather than B494; LJC gives it a blue top. Stewart later amended the blue funnel chequers shown in B495 without comment.

Burns, Philp & Co. was formed in April 1883 from a Burns–Philp partnership dated to 1876. Sir James Burns opened a Townsville store and took Robert Philp into partnership with funds he lent him. The account gives the store year as “1972”, despite then dating entry into shipping to 1873 and the move to Sydney to 1878. Burns was managing director from 1883 to 1923. The company held a controlling interest in Queensland Steam Shipping and the subsequent Australasian United Steam Navigation in 1886. Other sources date steamship ownership to 1894 or sailing operations to 1873; Rosanoski questions the latter account. Many early ship names began with M. Rank Group Australia is named as the later owner.

Shipping-related acquisitions included Henderson & Macfarlane in 1938, held through Burns Philp (New Zealand), Howard Smith & Patrick Travel in January 1985, and Anchortank Australia from Allied Petrochemicals. Terminals Pty. Ltd. was also owned. Dalgety’s Australian shipping-agency business was acquired in 1993 and combined as Burns Philp Shipping Agencies, then sold to Adsteam Marine in 1998. Southwest Pacific Container Line was formed through the PNG, South Sea and Vanuatu subsidiaries; the main account dates its termination to September 1984.

The 50/50 P&O venture Western Tug & Barge became Century Group; Burns Philp later sold its share to P&O (PNG). Conaust interests were sold to P&O Australia in July 1987. Shares were acquired in Consolidated Stevedores companies in 1984. The 50% Five Star Shipping & Agency venture with China Ocean Shipping was sold to that partner in 1994. A 49/51 NYK venture began on 1 July 1991. Other joint operations included Panda Shipping with Stateships from September 1988 and Yarra Shipping Agencies with Dalgety. Management included Carpentaria Shipping Services and Southern Oceans Container Line.

Australia, Sydney.