Formed in 1875 by two men named James Mills and Peter Denney to take over an old New Zealand concern known as the Harbour Steam Co. of Dunedin. At first the company serviced local New Zealand ports only but expanded its operations in 1877 to include Australia.
The Union Steamship Company became a very well noted and respected shipping line for many years after its inception. Its ships were amongst the finest and most luxuriously appointed vessels to be found. In 1891 it took over the services of the Tasmanian Steam Navigation Company and competed for the passenger trade between Tasmanian and mainland ports with the Melbourne firm of Huddart Parker & Co. After much price cutting these two rivals called a truce and together formed a company called TASMANIAN STEAMERS PTY. LTD.
During 1917 the Union Company came under the control of the giant shipping concern of P&O. It still traded under its own flag for many more years until 1975 when it seems to have disappeared from the scene.
