On today’s date in 1893, the steamship Miowera arrived in British Columbia after travelling from Australia as the first steamer of the Canadian-Australasian Line to reach Canada.
The Canadian-Australian Steamship Company (also known as the C-A Line and later called the Canadian Australasian Line Limited) ran between Sydney, Australia, and two British Columbia ports, including one in Victoria, from 1893-1953.
The Miowera left Sydney on May 18, 1893, and stopped in Brisbane two days later before setting out for British Columbia. It would make the voyage in 21 days, earning a warm welcome from locals, including the media, which covered many stories of the ship’s initial voyage.
Another cover was mailed aboard the Miowera in 1905.
ANOTHER TRIP
It would make another voyage from Sydney to Victoria between July 18 and Aug. 8; however, it eventually struck a reef in Honolulu harbour and was sent back to England for repairs.
After more than a year on land, the Miowera returned to the sea, but more trouble loomed.
In May 1895, it broke a piston nearly 2,000 kilometres from the coast of British Columbia and required additional repairs.