Stateships MV Pilbara

Article | Updated 3 months ago

This object is from the Maritime History collection.

The WA State Shipping Service was formed in 1912, by the State Government's Coastal Shipping Commission.

It was formed in response to a petition signed by residents of the State's north west coasts who demanded a regular coastal shipping service to provide residents with perishables and mail, and to transport bales of wool, pearling shell, cattle hides and other pastoral and marine produce to local and foreign markets.

The coastal shipping services were the only means of communication with the outside world for most of the residents at these north west ports. The service was eventually extended to the State's southern ports as well.

In 1979 the State Shipping Service was renamed Stateships. From around this time coastal shipping had to compete with the more efficient and cheaper road transports. Stateships ceased operations in 2005.

MV Pilbara was one of many Stateships that plied the coastal waters of Western Australia and offered its passengers and crew festive celebrations such as Christmas dinner.

This menu was from 1988 and features a rather traditional array of Christmas dishes including seafood vol-a-vents, turkey with cranberry and baked Cumberland ham and pineapple followed by steamed plum pudding with brandy sauce.