An excerpt from "Beachcomber - the story of the Sandringham," by Vic Hodgkinson.

Photograph of "Beachcomber" the sister ship of "Princess of Cairns" mentioned below.

 ZK-AME (NEW ZEALAND) (ex NJ179) - delivered  4-9-46. Overheated engines mid-Tasman Sea and returned to Sydney (baggage and mail jettisoned) on 3-12-47. Last Tasman flight 19-12-49. Sold to BARRIER REEF AIRWAYS 1950 and became VH-BRD (PRINCESS OF CAIRNS). Sank Brisbane River 1952 on moorings after launch collision.

 VH-BRD ( "PRINCESS OF CAIRNS") operated twice weekly services between Brisbane (their base ) and Townsville, Cairns, Lindeman, Daydream and South Molle Islands until it was badly damaged while at moorings on the Brisbane river, at night, by a ship, prior to its departure on service, and sank on the l0th September 1952.

It was salvaged and purchased to become a night club at Coolangatta. While under tow, in an unseaworthy condition, it capsized at sea and sank off the coast approximately opposite the border of New South Wales and Queensland.  It was not recovered.

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Last updated 04/11/2003

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