Slow Boats to Australia

The slower route was via the Cape and Blue Anchor's fleet was well suited to Third Class passengers and the growth of the emigrant trade.

In 1910, P&O entered into an agreement with the Agents General of the Commonwealth to carry migrants on an assisted passage scheme.

The rate paid by the Australian Commonwealth was £12 - virtually a penny per mile travelled.  P&O's then Chairman, Sir Thomas Sutherland, remarked that it was difficult to know "how ship owners can live by it".

But live by it they did and in just two years the company witnessed the quadrupling in numbers of emigrants carried to Australia.

P&O ordered new tonnage for the route and contracts were placed for two new 11,000 ton twin screw steamers Ballarat and Bendigo.