TSS Makura 1908-1936

The TSS Makura was a twin-screw steamship built in 1908 by Alexander Stephen and Sons in Linthouse, Scotland. It was the first ship built by the company for the Union Steamship Company (USSCo) of New Zealand since SS Bruce in 1874.

It was specially built for the Vancouver mail service, from which the USSCo had purchased shares in 1901. The USSCo eventually became sole proprietor of the line. The service route, known as the “All-Red Route”, was from Sydney to Brisbane, Honolulu, Victoria and Vancouver.

The TSS Makura served on this mail route for 28 years, and after many voyages the ship was sold in 1936 to China Shipbreakers Limited in Shanghai and scrapped shortly after.