The English firm of Watts Milburn & Co. was founded in 1857 employing clipper ships to China in the tea trade. It turned its attention to Australia in 1874.
In 1879 it registered the name Wm. Milburn & Co. Prior to this date they only had indirect interests to Australia. In 1883 they introduced a direct service from London to Australia which became known as the ANGLO–AUSTRALIAN STEAM NAVIGATION CO.
In 1890 the company changed its name to the much simpler MILBURN LINE.
Most of its vessels were named after a port, such as ‘Port Phillip’ or ‘Port Albert’ and were very well known on the Australian scene. The years preceding the first world war were noted for a number of mergers between companies and it did not come as surprise when the Milburn Line announced it was merging with three other companies. These were G.D.TYSER & CO. , T.B.ROYDEN & CO.(INDRA LINE) and JAMES P. CORRY & CO.(STAR LINE). This took place in 1914 and the new concern became known as the COMMONWEALTH & DOMINION LINE.
Ref : North Star To Southern Cross by John Maber
