["Local News", Geraldton Guardian (WA), Saturday 12 December 1908, page 2]
...
Adelaide S.S. Co.'s New Steamer.--The manager of the Geraldton branch writes:--The s.s. Koombana, the new steamer, of 3,500 tons, built by the Adelaide Steamship Company to run the mail service between Fremantle and Wyndham is now approaching completion. She is expected to leave England early in January for Adelaide and Melbourne, via Capetown and Durban, from which ports her passenger accommodation is now almost filled. On arrival at Melbourne she will be docked and overhauled, and thereafter returns to Fremantle to take the "Bullarra's" running about March next. No expense has been spared in fitting her particularly for the tropical climate, and the company hopes she will be well patronised, as she is built in anticipation of an expansion of trade to the northern ports. Capt. Rees, who is well-known on the North-West coast, will bring her from England and retain command here. It has been suggested by irresponsible persons that, being so vastly superior to any vessel yet seen on the coast, she will only be run at a heavy loss, and consequently soon withdrawn from the trade. The company assures us that this is entirely incorrect, as the steamer has been specially built and designed for the Western Australian coastal mail service. They intend to give their patrons the encouragement by maintaining the service with this vessel.
