Adelaide Steamship Company

File:Custom House and Garden Reach, Brisbane, Australia.jpg during the early 1900s]]

File:Townsville flinders street c.1940.jpg c. 1940]]

File:TSMV-Manunda-Postcard.jpg

The company was formed in September 1875 in Adelaide, South Australia, by a group of pastoralists and businessmen, some of whom already had steamship interests in the Spencer Gulf, namely Federal Wharf Co. Ltd, Port Adelaide Dredging Company Ltd, and Spencer Gulf Shipping Co. Ltd, and was incorporated on 8 October 1875.[http://www.gabr.net.au/biogs/ABE0002b.htm Adelaide Steamship Company Ltd (1875–1997)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090510021046/http://www.gabr.net.au/biogs/ABE0002b.htm |date=10 May 2009 }} (2006). Guide to Australian Business Records. Retrieved 25 June 2009.

Its promoters and founding directors included Andrew Tennant, Robert Barr Smith and Thomas Elder of Elder Smith & Co Ltd. The first ship of the new company was Flinders.SA Memory (2008). South Australian shipping lines: Adelaide Steamship Company: [http://www.samemory.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=728 Beginnings] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627124345/http://www.samemory.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=728 |date=27 June 2009 }}, [http://www.samemory.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=640 Expansion] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627141031/http://www.samemory.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=640 |date=27 June 2009 }}, [http://www.samemory.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=729 Cutbacks and containerisation] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627133302/http://www.samemory.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=729 |date=27 June 2009 }} State Library of South Australia, Government of South Australia. Retrieved 8 July 2009. In July 1876 the company's leading promoters amalgamated their private ship-owning interests to form the Spencer's Gulf Steamship Co Ltd, trading in South Australian coastal waters. The two companies amalgamated in December 1882.Hoskin, John (2008). [http://www.flotilla-australia.com/adsteam.htm Adelaide Steamship Company Ltd] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090602213043/http://flotilla-australia.com/adsteam.htm |date=2 June 2009 }}. Flotilla Australia. Retrieved 25 June 2009. The fleet circled the coast from Derby in northern Western Australia to Cairns in northern Queensland. Shipping operations were supported by a large network of agency offices in almost every major Australian port.

During World War I, several Adelaide Steamship Company ships were requisitioned, as were several other privately owned ships; Grantala and Warilda as hospital ships and Wandilla and Willochra as troopships.Wylie, Ron (2006). [http://merchant-navy-ships.com/index.php?id=7,0,0,1,0,0 The Australian Merchant Navy: Adelaide Steamship] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121101132/http://merchant-navy-ships.com/index.php?id=7%2C0%2C0%2C1%2C0%2C0 |date=21 November 2010 }}. Retrieved 30 June 2009. Yankalilla and Echunga were also commandeered.

Adelaide Steamship Company was liquidated and reconstructed twice for more efficient and profitable operation, first in 1900 and subsequently in 1920. On 20 January 1915 they took over Coast Steamships Limited, and kept it running as a subsidiary that retained its own identity until 1968.

By the start of World War II, the company owned 30 ships. With World War II, the company was again forced to surrender nine ships to the Navy, including Manoora and Manunda which became an Armed Merchant Cruiser and a hospital ship. Manunda was in Darwin harbour during the Japanese bombing and was able to bring 260 military and civilian casualties to safety in Fremantle. During the war she carried about 30,000 sick and wounded back to Australia from the Middle East and New Guinea. During the 1940s, a decline in trade necessitated the company to diversify and they began to acquire interests in other companies and projects. Consequently, after the war, the company diversified into towage, shipbuilding, and the shipping of salt, coal and sugar.

On 1 January 1964, its interstate fleet was merged with that of McIlwraith, McEacharn & Co in a new company, Associated Steamships Limited, in which Adelaide Steamship Company held 40%. Also in 1964, the merged company developed the world's first purpose built container ship, MV Kooringa.[http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/tia/515.html Technology in Australia 1788–1988] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090927175150/http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/tia/515.html |date=27 September 2009 }} (2000). Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre. Retrieved 2 July 2009.[http://www.fremantleports.com.au/About/OurHistory/1964.asp Our History: April 1964] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091003223126/http://www.fremantleports.com.au/About/OurHistory/1964.asp |date=3 October 2009 }} (2009). Fremantle Ports, Western Australia. Retrieved 2 July 2009.Rhiannon, Lee (2000). [http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/PARLMENT/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LC20000525033 World Maritime Day] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121104931/http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/PARLMENT/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LC20000525033 |date=21 November 2010 }}. Hansard: Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 2 July 2009. Bulkships, in which Adelaide Steamship held a 40% interest in 1965, acquired all the shares in Associated Steamship Limited in 1968. In 1977 the company's interest in Bulkships was disposed of and Adelaide Steamship Company ceased its connection with ship owning and operating. The company did, however, retain its interests in Tug boats and Tug boat operations and by the late 1980s, Adelaide Steamship was one of Australia's oldest surviving industrial companies.Carnegie, G and O'Connell, B. (2005). [http://www.edwards.usask.ca/special/5ahic/papers/Accounting%20scandals%20in%20Australia%20since%20the%20late%201980s.pdf Accounting scandals in Australia since the late 1980s] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706211354/http://www.edwards.usask.ca/special/5ahic/papers/Accounting%20scandals%20in%20Australia%20since%20the%20late%201980s.pdf |date=6 July 2011 }}. University of Ballarat and James Cook University. Retrieved 11 July 2009.

File:ASC Advertisement.jpg

Ships owned and operated by Adelaide Steamship Company included:

• Argosy Lemal, later Booya
• SS Beltana
• HMAS Bungaree
• SS Camira Built 1894 as SS Clan CampbellThese three ships were purchased from the Clan Line in 1914.
• SS Cantara Built 1894 as SS Clan Ross
• SS Ceduna Built 1894 as SS Clan Mackay
• SS Ferret
• MV Kooringa
• SS Koombana[http://www.museum.wa.gov.au/collections/maritime/march/shipwrecks/Wreckfinder/Koombana.htm SS Koombana] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060826203813/http://www.museum.wa.gov.au/collections/maritime/march/shipwrecks/Wreckfinder/Koombana.htm |date=26 August 2006 }}, Shipwrecks, WA Museum. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
• HMAS Manoora
• TSMV Manunda
• MV MinnipaLarsson, Björn (2008). [http://www.timetableimages.com/maritime/images/assc.htm Adelaide Steamship Co. Sailings c. Late 1920s] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091018060715/http://www.timetableimages.com/maritime/images/assc.htm |date=18 October 2009 }}, [http://www.timetableimages.com/maritime/images/assc20s.htm Images: MV Minnipa and SS Paringa] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090806023855/http://www.timetableimages.com/maritime/images/assc20s.htm |date=6 August 2009 }} Maritime Timetable Images. Retrieved 8 July 2009.
• MV Moonta[http://www.ssmaritime.com/Moonta.htm SSMaritime article] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020005127/http://www.ssmaritime.com/Moonta.htm |date=20 October 2012 }}
• SS Paringa
• Polly Woodside (1922–1953)
• SS Warilda, later HMAT Warilda[http://members.iinet.net.au/~dodd/gail/memorial/hughie/warilda.html HMAT Warilda] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061217103548/http://members.iinet.net.au/~dodd/gail/memorial/hughie/warilda.html |date=17 December 2006 }}, Memorial to Edward (Hughie) Dodd. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
• SS Willochra, later RMS Fort Victoria
• SS Yongala[http://www.townsvillemaritimemuseum.org.au/print.php?pageid=204 SS Yongala] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091013162756/http://www.townsvillemaritimemuseum.org.au/print.php?pageid=204 |date=13 October 2009 }} (2009). Townsville Maritime Museum. Retrieved 6 July 2009.[http://www.heritagecentre.org.au/NT_Ed_Kit_06.pdf The Yongala Story] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091024044404/http://www.heritagecentre.org.au/NT_Ed_Kit_06.pdf |date=24 October 2009 }}, Heritage Centre Education Kit, Sheet 6, Issue 2, April 2006, pp.3–4. Retrieved 19 July 2009.

File:Adelaide Airways 1935-Short Scion&Monospar.jpg & Monospar]]

File:Adelaide Airways 1936-De Havilland DH89A VH-UVT.jpg]]

Adelaide Airways was formed as a subsidiary of the Adelaide Steamship Company on 3 July 1935 and commenced operations on 29 October. It had a number of different types of aircraft in its fleet, including the Short Scion, the General Aircraft Monospar ST-25, and the De Havilland DH.89A.[http://www.airwaysmuseum.com/Adelaide%20Airways%20postcard.htm Adelaide Airways postcard, 1935] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105205608/http://www.airwaysmuseum.com/Adelaide%20Airways%20postcard.htm |date=5 January 2009 }}, The Airways Museum & Civil Aviation Historical Society. Retrieved 30 June 2009.[http://www.airwaysmuseum.com/Adelaide%20Airways%20DH89A%20VH-UVT.htm Adelaide Airways DH89A VH-UVT, 1936] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105191457/http://www.airwaysmuseum.com/Adelaide%20Airways%20DH89A%20VH-UVT.htm |date=5 January 2009 }}, The Airways Museum & Civil Aviation Historical Society. Retrieved 30 June 2009.[http://www.gabr.net.au/biogs/ABE0727b.htm Adelaide Airways Ltd (1935–1936)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091017220100/http://gabr.net.au/biogs/ABE0727b.htm |date=17 October 2009 }}, Guide to Australian Business Records. Retrieved 30 June 2009.

On 12 June 1936, Adelaide Airways purchased West Australian Airways for £25,000. Ivan Holyman (of Holyman's Airways Pty Ltd) approached AdSteam with a view to an amalgamation, aiming to form Australia's most powerful airline which would effectively control airline traffic between Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. On 12 June 1936 the two companies merged and, on 2 November 1936 with Orient Steam Navigation Company and Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand, formed Australian National Airways (ANA), "the pre- and post-war giant among Australian domestic airlines". AdSteam retained partial ownership in ANA until Holyman's death in 1957. The ANA board then unsuccessfully attempted to sell out to the Government owned Trans Australia Airlines, before reaching agreement with Reg Ansett to sell the airline to him for £3.3 million. ANA and Ansett Airways merged to form Ansett-ANA on 3 October 1957.

Adelaide Ship Construction was set up as a subsidiary of the Adelaide Steamship Company in 1957, and was incorporated in July 1957. At the same time it was issued with the sole Australian licence for the hydroconic hull design patented by Burness, Corlett & Partners of the United Kingdom. This hull design for tugs gave them greater bollard pull from a given horsepower. Adelaide Ship Construction had been set up especially to address the issue of Australia's ageing fleet of tugs. The yard was built on the historic Fletcher's slip site at Birkenhead.SA Memory (2009). [http://www.samemory.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=711 Adelaide Ship Construction Ltd] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627124355/http://www.samemory.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=711 |date=27 June 2009 }}, Shipbuilding in South Australia: Twentieth century, State Library of South Australia, Government of South Australia. Retrieved 14 July 2009.

The keel for the first tug was laid 20 May 1958 and it was launched 12 February 1959. The shipyard site grew from two acres and one berth to four berths and 6½ acres in 1968, and to cater for vessels up to 425 feet long. At this time it employed more than 1,000 men. Adelaide Ship Construction had also acquired from Burness, Corlett and Partners the licence for their 'Towmaster' patent. Coupled with the Hydroconic hull design this enabled ever greater pull in its tugs. Hamersley Comet, built in 1968 had a bollard pull of 34.1 tons, the strongest to that time.

However, by 1973 the yard was running at a loss of $3.4 million, and it closed in August of that year. Its last ship was Cape York.

File:AdSteam Tugboat.jpg

A relatively minor sideline, started in the 1890s, was the company's tug boat operations. Gradually, tug boat operations extended over a number of ports, but until the middle of the 20th century they remained the poor relation of the more significant coastal shipping operations. With the decline of coastal shipping however, towage assumed more importance. By the 1960s, towage and associated operations represented a very significant part of the company's activities.

In 1977 the company's interest in Bulkships was disposed of, and Adelaide Steamship Company ceased its connection with ship owning and operating. It had diversified into investment and property ownership, vineyard and wine production, optical goods manufacturing and distribution, engineering, share investment, and, until 1973, shipbuilding. Thus towage and associated operations continued to have prominence, even during the 1970s and 1980s when the Adelaide Steamship Company became the foundation for one the country's major conglomerate organisations.

File:Adsteam-marine-logo.jpg

As this activity was happening, towage began to reassert itself as an important element of the company; From 1993 it exhibited a period of aggressive growth until the company had a fleet of 156 tug boats, and operated in over 40 Australian, Indian, Pacific Oceana and British ports. Strengthened by a series of industry rationalisations – Brambles' Port Kembla, Sydney and Newcastle operations and P&O's towage operations in Western Australia – the towage division became a valuable candidate for asset disposal. In April 1997 the company changed its name to Residual Assco Group Limited and in June 1997 floated its marine division which was registered on the Australian Stock Exchange as Adsteam Marine Limited.

Once it became a publicly listed company in its own right, Adsteam Marine established a strong investor following. In addition to towage, the company developed shipping agency and tug barging activities. Adsteam Marine doubled its size in May 2001 when it acquired the towage interests of Howard Smith, its partner in many towage ventures, for more than $500 million, making it the largest towage operator in Australia and the United Kingdom, together with operations in Papua New Guinea and Fiji. Other activities included barge operations in the United States, and ships agency services throughout Australia, New Zealand and India.

In 2006, it was acquired by AP Moeller-Maersk.

After becoming chief executive of the Adelaide Steamship Company in 1977, John Spalvins built up one of Australia's largest industrial conglomerates and became one of the most feared takeover specialists in corporate Australia.{{cite web| last1=Korporaal |first1=Glenda |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22576747-643,00.html |title=This time it's different, says '87 crash victim John Spalvins |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090615003654/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22576747-643,00.html |archive-date=15 June 2009 |date=13 October 2007 |website= The Australian |access-date= 11 July 2009}} Spalvins transformed himself into an entrepreneur, using vast amounts of debt to launch a series of massive takeovers.Porter, Ian (2006). "[http://www.smh.com.au/news/business/japanese-parent-foils-bid-to-unseat-bridgestone-four/2006/05/29/1148754938781.html Japanese parent foils bid to unseat Bridgestone four]" {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121105711/http://www.smh.com.au/news/business/japanese-parent-foils-bid-to-unseat-bridgestone-four/2006/05/29/1148754938781.html |date=21 November 2010 }}. The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 June 2009. Adsteam "aggressively acquired significant shareholdings in a variety of companies in a number of fields including retailing, hotels, leisure industries and civil engineering." "Adsteam's share price rose dramatically through much of the 1980s and it was hailed by some commentators as being entrepreneurial, well managed and with a highly disciplined reporting system."Clarke et al. (2003). Corporate Collapse p. 159.

At its height, the Adsteam group included Woolworths, David Jones, Tooth & Co, Petersville Sleigh, Farmers Union, Metro Meat, a stable of premium wineries and many others.Wineries acquired by AdSteam included: Penfolds, Wynns Coonawarra, Seaview, Glenloth, Kaiser Stuhl, Barossa Co-op, Tulloch and Loxton Co-op. These were sold to South Australian Brewing Company in 1990 who named them the Penfolds Wines Group and then in 1994, Southcorp Wines. They are currently owned by the Foster's Group.Jacinta Peachey, Elizabeth French, David Gianfrancesco and Brett Willey (2004). [http://www.johnwiley.com.au/highered/stratmgm/student-res/case-studies/003-smc-200407.pdf Southcorp Limited] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706105239/http://www.johnwiley.com.au/highered/stratmgm/student-res/case-studies/003-smc-200407.pdf |date=6 July 2011 }} Case Studies. johnwiley.com.au. Retrieved 14 July 2009.[http://www.winetitles.com.au/awol/overview/wineries_southcorp.asp Southcorp's Wineries] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080615133312/http://www.winetitles.com.au/awol/overview/wineries_southcorp.asp |date=15 June 2008 }}, February 2004, Australian Wine Online. Retrieved 14 July 2009. Also, at various stages, it held a 15% stake in Westpac,Porter, Ian (2006). "[http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/tyresome-approach-has-spalvins-trying-to-tread-on-board/2006/05/29/1148754937724.html Tyresome approach has Spalvins trying to tread on board]" {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104003034/http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/tyresome-approach-has-spalvins-trying-to-tread-on-board/2006/05/29/1148754937724.html |date=4 November 2012 }}. The Age: Business. Retrieved 27 June 2009. a 20% stake in Bell Resources,[http://www.supremecourt.wa.gov.au/publications/pdf/2008WASC0239.pdf "The Bell Group Ltd vs Westpac Banking Corporation"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090912061018/http://www.supremecourt.wa.gov.au/publications/pdf/2008WASC0239.pdf |date=12 September 2009 }} 2008 WASC 239, Supreme Court of Western Australia, 22 July 2003 to 22 September 2006. Judgement delivered 28 October 2008. and numerous other "strategic" stakes and investments. During this period of aggressive growth, AdSteam also had 156 tug boats and operated in over 40 Australian, Indian, Pacific Ocean and British ports. The company was Australia's fourth highest capitalised company during the 1980s.

A characteristic of the AdSteam Group during this period was a complex Group Structure of cross ownership where many of the companies of the group owned not-quite-50% of each other. This served the dual purposes of making the elements of the group "take-over proof", but did not trigger the financial reporting requirements of a consolidated set of accounts. In the 1990 Adelaide Steamship Company Annual Report, the following companies were reported as "Principal operating subsidiaries" of the AdSteam Group, with the following cross ownerships greater than 5%:Adelaide Steamship Company (1990). [http://www.audit.sa.gov.au/sbsa93/chapter9a.gif AdSteam Group Structure] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090924161157/http://www.audit.sa.gov.au/sbsa93/chapter9a.gif |date=24 September 2009 }}, 1990 Annual Report. Retrieved 14 July 2009.

;The Adelaide Steamship Company

• 100% Marine Interests (various)
• 100% Martin Wells Holdings – optical goods; acquired 1982[https://web.archive.org/web/20110706103348/http://delisted.com.au/CompanyDisplay.aspx?id=5170 Martin Wells Holdings Ltd], delisted.com.au Retrieved on 22 July 2009.
• 100% Sellers Atkins – building supplies; acquired 1976[https://web.archive.org/web/20110706103411/http://delisted.com.au/CompanyDisplay.aspx?id=7401 Sellers Atkins Ltd], delisted.com.au Retrieved on 22 July 2009.
• 100% Pioneer Property Group – House Building & Property Development[http://www.delisted.com.au/Company/6444 Percy Marks Properties Ltd] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091025150724/http://www.delisted.com.au/Company/6444 |date=25 October 2009 }} changed its name on 29 November 1973 to [http://www.delisted.com.au/Company/8479 Valinda Properties Ltd (VLP)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091025150751/http://www.delisted.com.au/Company/8479 |date=25 October 2009 }}, and again on 24 January 1985 to [http://www.delisted.com.au/Company/6568 Pioneer Property Group Ltd (PPG)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091025150819/http://www.delisted.com.au/Company/6568 |date=25 October 2009 }}. It was taken over by Sydney Slipway and Engineering Co Pty Ltd on 26 September 1990, and is currently delisted. delisted.com.au Retrieved on 22 July 2009.
• 100% WA Realty – real estate
• 49% David Jones – department stores and investments
• 50% Metro Meat (Holdings) Limited – meat
• 14% Tooth & Co – brewing, hotels, investments, wine, food; acquired 1981; brewing interests sold 1983 to Carlton & United Breweries
• 18% Petersville Sleigh – food, timber, woodchips, mining, distribution of earthmoving equipment, shipping agencies, investments, food product manufacture, distribution and marketing (sold to Pacific Dunlop)
• 13% National Consolidated – diversified manufacturing and marketing, investments[http://www.delisted.com.au/Company/5754 National Consolidated Ltd (NCL)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091024124834/http://www.delisted.com.au/Company/5754 |date=24 October 2009 }}, delisted.com.au. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
• 33% Industrial EquityIndustrial Equity Limited, which owned Woolworths, was one-third each owned by Adsteam, David Jones & Tooth food and beverages, energy and resources, manufacturing and distribution, property services, investments
• 18% AWA – manufacturing & installation of electronics & electrical communications products
• 23% Macmahon Holdings – civil engineering, leisure industries
• 48% Markheath Securities plc – property development, manufacturing, investment

;David Jones

• 100% John Martin's – department stores; acquired 1985
• John Martin Financial Services Limited
• John Martin Retailers Limited
• 44% The Adelaide Steamship Company
• 44% Tooth & Co – hotels, investments, wine, food
• 30% AAM Inc – coal handling, office supplies, investments
• 33% Industrial Equity Limited food and beverages, energy and resources, manufacturing and distribution, property services, investments

;Tooth & Co

• 50% Metro Meat (Holdings) Limited – meat
• 33% Industrial Equity Limited food and beverages, tnergy and resources, manufacturing and distribution, property services, investments
• 18% National Consolidated Limited – diversified manufacturing and marketing, investments

;Petersville Sleigh

• 30% AAM Inc – coal handling, office supplies, investments
• 51% Howard Smith Limited – shipping, distribution, heavy engineering, investments

;National Consolidated Limited

• 20% David Jones – department stores and investments
• 10% Markheath Securities plc – property development, manufacturing, investment

;Howard Smith Limited

• 7% Markheath Securities plc

;Industrial Equity Limited (IEL)

• 100% Woolworths – retail

Other companies, acquisitions and disposals in the group included:

• Lockwood locks[http://www.infolink.com.au/c/ASSA-ABLOY/Lockwood-locks-ASSA-ABLOY-s-flagship-brand-n763974 Lockwood locks] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615153232/http://www.infolink.com.au/c/ASSA-ABLOY/Lockwood-locks-ASSA-ABLOY-s-flagship-brand-n763974 |date=15 June 2011 }}, ASSA ABLOY's flagship brand. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
• Buffum's – chain of Long Beach, California based department stores
• Wineries, including Penfolds, Wynns Coonawarra Estate, Seaview, Glenloth, Kaiser Stuhl, Barossa Co-op, Tulloch and Loxton Co-op, sold to South Australian Brewing Company in 1990. Other wineries owned by group members at one time or another included Seppelts and Woodley Wines (IEL).
• Bridgestone
• Farmers Union – subsequently floated as part of National Foods
• SAFCOL Food Processing – sold to Tropical Canning (Thailand) plc[http://www.alacrastore.com/storecontent/Thomson_M&A/Tropical_Canning_Thailand_PCL_acquires_Safcol_Food_Processing_from_Residual_Assco_Group_Ltd-340088040 Tropical Canning (Thailand) plc acquires Safcol Food Processing] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101127025803/http://www.alacrastore.com/storecontent/Thomson_M%26A/Tropical_Canning_Thailand_PCL_acquires_Safcol_Food_Processing_from_Residual_Assco_Group_Ltd-340088040 |date=27 November 2010 }}, www.alacrastore.com
• Vaniro – for some reason not explained, Vaniro is not included in the 1990 Annual Report Group Structure diagram. It does, however, feature significantly in the State Bank audit report.
• Dextran Pty Ltd – like Vaniro, another AdSteam subsidiary. Dextran is the owner of IEL.McIlwraith, Ian (2003). [http://www.smh.com.au/cgi-bin/common/popupPrintArticle.pl?path=/articles/2003/04/18/1050172758134.html IEL tax bill for Woolies float blows out to $3bn] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040513162120/http://www.smh.com.au/cgi-bin/common/popupPrintArticle.pl?path=%2Farticles%2F2003%2F04%2F18%2F1050172758134.html |date=13 May 2004 }}, 19 April 2003, Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 20 July 2009.

During the 1980s, AdSteam instigated a number of "share plays", and also made significant investments in a number of companies including:

• ANZ Bank
• Bell Resources
• BHP
• National Australia Bank
• Royal Insurance plc
• Westpac

All of this was financed by huge borrowings from about 200 banks. The lendings of just one bank, the State Bank of South Australia, are summarised in the following chart.SA Govt Auditor (1993) [http://www.audit.sa.gov.au/sbsa93/chapter9app.html Chapter 9, Appendix B: Summary of Movements in Facility – Adelaide Steamship Company] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090924161104/http://www.audit.sa.gov.au/sbsa93/chapter9app.html |date=24 September 2009 }}, 1993 Audit of the State Bank of South Australia. Retrieved 14 July 2009.

File:SBSA Lendings to AdSteam.jpg

The source of the above data (South Australian Government Auditor in 1993), in a comment dated 26 April 1990, states: "Papers also comment on 'off the record' discussions with Adsteam Group's major bankers and gives exposures of nine banks (including the Bank) which total $4,960M. There is little comment on this figure but an analysis of each company's results shows assets exceed liabilities in each company by a good margin... Paper also comments on recent press issues including potential worst case losses of $110.0M from Bell Resources investment – 'the impact of such a loss ..... is not considered a major concern'."

A subsequent comment dated 26 July 1990 states: "Lending Credit Committee minute notes planned reduction in exposure through maturity of facilities. Also notes extension of other facilities to August 1991 which illustrates 'the continued level of confidence this Bank held in Adsteam's continuity'." With the benefit of hindsight, further comments make interesting reading. Despite the assurances recorded in the board papers, from that point the State Bank of South Australia steadily reduced its exposure to the AdSteam Group.

The opaque nature of the AdSteam Group caused rising concern in a variety of circles. Although shareholders continued to enjoy bonus shares, rights issues, and significant dividends, the share price plateaued. Financial journalists started asking questions, and the share price faltered. After the 1990 Annual General Meeting and the announcement of the 25c dividend (per share) against a diminished share price, investor confidence deserted the company and the share price crashed from over $5 to under $1 in one day.

The previously "nervous" banks were far from happy, and started demanding the return of their capital, despite AdSteam having had this money invested in largely non-liquid assets. Also of course, the banks were not keen to force AdSteam into bankruptcy as such a situation would be unlikely to achieve the return of their assets. Hence, AdSteam organised an "arrangement" with the 200 banks, and in 1991 the Adsteam group was placed under an informal, receivership-type scheme of arrangement.Peers, M., (1991), "Adsteam disaster – the next phase", Australian Financial Review, 2 April, pp. 1–2. Under this arrangement, there was an orderly disposal of assets.

In order to facilitate the orderly disposal of assets, a number of the group members were renamed:

• The Adelaide Steamship Company became The Residual Assco Group.
• David Jones Limited[http://www.delisted.com.au/Company/2547 David Jones Limited] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090505201918/http://www.delisted.com.au/Company/2547 |date=5 May 2009 }} delisted.com.au Retrieved on 22 July 2009. became DJL Limited.[http://www.delisted.com.au/Company/2674 DJL Ltd] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090505215850/http://www.delisted.com.au/Company/2674 |date=5 May 2009 }} delisted.com.au Retrieved on 22 July 2009.
  David Jones Limited changed name to DJL Limited on 16 October 1995 and was "delisted at entity's request" on 24 December 1999 (at the same time as Residual Assco.) A note at delisted.com.au dated 9 January 2003 states: "company is an unlisted public company and part of the Residual Assco Group (see further details there) – according to our information DJL no longer has any operating entities but is an investor in Residual Assco Group Limited (42.2%), Tooth & Co Limited (44.2%) and Dextran Pty Limited (1/3) which in turn owns Industrial Equity Limited."
• Metro Meat Holdings became Ortem Holdings.[http://www.delisted.com.au/Company/5383 Metropolitan Wholesale Meat Company Limited] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080809210139/http://www.delisted.com.au/Company/5383 |date=9 August 2008 }} delisted.com.au Retrieved on 22 July 2009. – "name changed to Metro Meat Limited 23 March 1972"[http://www.delisted.com.au/Company/5367 Metro Meat Limited (MRM)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080809210218/http://www.delisted.com.au/Company/5367 |date=9 August 2008 }} delisted.com.au Retrieved on 22 July 2009. – "name changed from Metropolitan Wholesale Meat Company Limited 23 March 1972" – "taken over by Central Timber Traders (1946) Limited 10/03/1982"

During the course of the disposal, there were a number of sales, and four successful floats:

• National Foods (1991)
• Woolworths (1993)
• David Jones (1995)
• Adsteam Marine (1997)

Nevertheless, not all of the disposals were made under ideal circumstances, and Adsteam's loss of $4.49 billion represented one of Australia's largest corporate collapses.Clarke et al. (2003) Corporate Collapse p.153Mayne, Stephen (2009) [http://www.maynereport.com/articles/2008/03/05-1207-8115.html The $100m loss club by financial year] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090608225904/http://www.maynereport.com/articles/2008/03/05-1207-8115.html |date=8 June 2009 }}, 19 May 2009, maynereport.com. Retrieved 12 July 2009. – Refer to the data for Financial Years 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93.

However, the major lesson out of the AdSteam collapse was for the accounting profession; a newspaper report on its failure carried the sub-headline "Adsteam a humiliation for the accounting profession".Kohler, A., (1991), "In the bad books", Australian Financial Review, 2 April, pp. 1 and 52.Burge, G., (1991), "Adsteam's $4.49 billion loss is biggest ever", Sydney Morning Herald, 1 October, p. 25 Adsteam was "an excellent instance of how the rule-book approach to consolidation accounting imposed by the law and the Accounting Standards at the time determined managerial actions".

The "Adsteam saga" resulted in major changes to Australian accounting rules pertaining to consolidation and led to the issue of AAS 24 Consolidated Financial Statements by the accounting profession in June 1990 for application from 30 June 1991 (subject to a "legal impediment", see Deegan, 2005, p. 880)Deegan, C., (2005), Australian Financial Accounting, fourth edition, North Ryde: McGraw-Hill. and the issue of AASB 1024 Consolidated Accounts with statutory backing in 1991.Walker, R. G., (1992), "Consolidation standard – in practice", New Accountant, Vol. 5, No. 10, 28 May, p. 24.Walker, R. G. and Mack, J., (1998), "The influence of regulation on the publication of consolidated statements", Abacus, Vol. 34, No. 1, pp. 48–74.

Specifically, the definition of "control" for consolidation purposes was broadened beyond prescribed ownership interests to embrace control over an entity's financial and operating policies, making use of the notion of "substance over form" in determining the existence of a controlled entity.

Several matters from the collapse are still ongoing – over 15 years after "the collapse". Industrial Equity Limited (IEL) is worthy of particular mention:[http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/gems/eeo/company/oceania.htm Survey of Companies/Organisations] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006115033/http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/gems/eeo/company/oceania.htm |date=6 October 2008 }}, www.ilo.org. Refer to entry for Tooth & Co. Limited. Retrieved 20 July 2009.

• IEL acquired Woolworths in 1989 as a wholly owned subsidiary.
• AdSteam investment company Dextran purchased IEL from Brierley Investments in November 1989.
• Dextran was one-third each owned by AdSteam, David Jones & Tooth.
• IEL delisted in 1990.[http://www.delisted.com.au/Company/4225 Industrial Equity Limited (IEL)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706104507/http://www.delisted.com.au/Company/4225 |date=6 July 2011 }}, Status: Delisted from ASX 11 July 1990. delisted.com.au Retrieved on 22 July 2009.
• Woolworths floated in 1993 – very successfully – "it was floated in the biggest share sale (at that time) in Australia's history"
• The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) ruled to disallow IEL $524m of deductions.
• IEL challenged this ruling – the matter has been before the courts on and off ever since – "One of the largest and longest tax disputes in Australian history."
• In December 2007, IEL was given leave to challenge the ATO ruling.
• "While prime assets such as Woolworths and Adsteam Marine were floated, IEL and its tax liabilities remained within the corporate shell of Adelaide Steamship when it was renamed Residual Assco Group Ltd in 1997 and delisted in 1999. Residual Assco has no operating businesses but remains active while several IEL tax disputes wind their way through the courts."
• Residual Assco's October 2007 annual report notes that the group holds $429 million "on deposit pending resolution of the outstanding matters between IEL and the ATO". At that time, the ATO were claiming $7.3 billion.
• The dispute continues; the Chairman's address to the concurrent AGMs of Residual Assco, DJL and Tooth on 14 November 2008 is rather bleak.[http://media.wotnews.com.au/asxann/00903188.pdf Chairman's Address to 2008 AGM] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706113456/http://media.wotnews.com.au/asxann/00903188.pdf |date=6 July 2011 }}, ASX announcement, 14 November 2008. The Tooth & Co. Ltd. Annual Financial Report to 30 June 2008 summarises the then current situation in detail.[http://media.wotnews.com.au/asxann/00877188.pdf Annual Financial Report to 30 June 2008] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706113507/http://media.wotnews.com.au/asxann/00877188.pdf |date=6 July 2011 }}, Tooth & Co. Ltd.
• Other sources of information include "The Three Ugly Sisters", Australian Financial Review, 24 December 1999 and Tooth and Co.#Decline.

The Adelaide Steamship Company was involved in two court cases which led to changes in the way the Australian Constitution and Australian Law is interpreted.

{{Main|Amalgamated Society of Engineers v Adelaide Steamship Co Ltd|Reserved powers doctrine|Australian constitutional law#Reserved State powers doctrine and the Engineers case}}

Amalgamated Society of Engineers v Adelaide Steamship Co Ltd,{{Cite AustLII|HCA|54|1920|litigants=Amalgamated Society of Engineers v Adelaide Steamship Co Ltd (Engineers case) |parallelcite=[http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/HCA/1920/54.pdf (1920) 28 {{abbr|CLR|Commonwealth Law Reports}} 129]}}. (commonly known as the Engineers' Case) was a landmark Australian court case decided in the High Court of Australia on 31 August 1920.{{cite book |title=Federal Constitutional Law: An Introduction |last=Booker |first=Keven |author2=Glass, Arthur|author3= Watt, Rob |year=1998 |edition=2nd |publisher=Federation Press |location=Sydney |chapter=Chapter 3, paras [3.25]-[3.36] }} From a legal perspective, this case is widely regarded as one of the most important cases ever decided by the High Court of Australia, for it swept away the earlier doctrines of implied intergovernmental immunities and reserved State powers, firmly establishing the modern basis for the legal understanding of federalism in Australia and Australian constitutional law.{{rp|pp 141–2}} In essence, this meant that decisions of the Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Court were binding on State governments.{{cite web |url=http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/timeline/results.aspx |title=Timeline 31 Aug 1920 Engineers case |publisher=National Archives of Australia |work=Australia's Prime Ministers. |access-date=25 February 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804142705/http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/timeline/results.aspx |archive-date=4 August 2017 }}. and that the constitution is no longer read in a way which attempts to preserve the power of the states.

When providing his judgement on Strickland v Rocla Concrete Pipes Ltd, (where the Court unanimously rejected the decision in Huddart, Parker & Co Pty Ltd v Moorehead,{{cite AustLII|HCA|36|1909|litigants=Huddart, Parker & Co Pty Ltd v Moorehead |parallelcite=[http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/HCA/1909/36.pdf (1909) 8 {{abbr|CLR|Commonwealth Law Reports}} 330]}}. holding that it was based on the rejected doctrine of reserved State powers, which was abolished in Amalgamated Society of Engineers v Adelaide Steamship Co Ltd), Chief Justice Barwick stated "the earlier doctrine virtually reversed the Constitution".{{cite AustLII|HCA|40|1971|litigants=Strickland v Rocla Concrete Pipes Ltd |parallelcite=(1971) 124 CLR 468 |date=3 September 1971}} per Barwick CJ at p 489.

"Residual Assco and Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) vs former Adsteam directors and auditors.[http://www.asic.gov.au/asic/pdflib.nsf/LookupByFileName/00-452.pdf/$file/00-452.pdf Adsteam Settlement] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081130211846/http://www.asic.gov.au/asic/pdflib.nsf/LookupByFileName/00-452.pdf/%24file/00-452.pdf |date=30 November 2008 }}, 2 November 2000, Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). Retrieved 30 June 2009.

• The litigation was commenced by ASIC in April 1994 under section 50 of the ASC Law, in the name of the Adelaide Steamship Company (renamed Residual Assco. in 1997) and dragged on, unresolved, for 6 years before a settlement was agreed.
• The essential allegation was that there had been an overstatement of profit in the company's accounts and that its investments in 4 subsidiary companies had not been accurately recorded. As a result dividends had not been paid out of profits.
• The proceedings involved numerous decisions and important regulatory outcomes, including:
• In May 1994 proceedings were brought by Deloitte under the ADJR Act challenging ASIC'sdecision to begin and carry on the Adsteam proceedings. The ADJR proceedings took approximately two and a half years to be finally determined. ASIC's decision was ultimately upheld.{{cite AustLII|FCA|1733|1996|litigants=Australian Securities Commission v Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu (Formerly Known As Deloitte Haskins and Sells and Deloitte Ross Tohmatsu) |parallelcite= |date=28 August 1996 |courtname=Federal Court (Full Court)}}.
• "The Adelaide Steamship Co Limited and Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Janis Gunars Spalvins, Michael James Kent, Neil Leslie Branford, Kenneth William Russell, Michael Stevenson Gregg, Deloitte Haskings & Sells and Deloitte Ross Tohmatsu", more concisely referred to as "Adelaide Steamship Co Ltd v Spalvins",{{cite AustLII|FCA|144|1998|litigants=Adelaide Steamship Co Ltd & Anor v Janis Gunars Spalvins & Ors |parallelcite=(1998) 152 ALR 418 |date=2 March 1998 |courtname=Federal Court (Full Court)}}.[http://netk.net.au/Australia/Adelaide.asp Adelaide Steamship Co Ltd v Spalvins 1998 152 ALR 418] (1998). Networked Knowledge. Retrieved 1 July 2009. This was an appeal by ASIC against an earlier ruling in favour of Spalvins et al. regarding client legal privilege. The appeal was only partially successful and ASIC were required to produce Counsel's advice on which privilege had been waived.
• In June 1999 the High Court held that the constitution did not allow State judicial power to be vested in the Federal Court.{{cite AustLII|HCA|27|1999|litigants=Re Wakim; Ex parte McNally |parallelcite=(1999) 198 CLR 511}}. As a result, the Adsteam proceedings, which had been brought in the Federal Court, could not proceed because the Federal Court did not have jurisdiction to hear them.
• Following the introduction of the Federal Courts (State Jurisdiction) Act 1999 (SA),{{cite Legislation AU|SA|act|fcja1999354|Federal Courts (State Jurisdiction) Act 1999}}. which was intended to address some of the effects of the decision in Re Wakim, an application was made in the Supreme Court of South Australia effectively to have the Adsteam proceeding transferred to that Court. The validity of the relevant provisions of the Federal Courts (State Jurisdiction) Act was challenged by some of the defendant directors. On 25 May 2000 the High Court upheld the validity of section 11 of that Act.{{cite AustLII|HCA|33|2000|litigants=Residual Assco Group v Spalvins |parallelcite=(2000) 202 CLR 629 |date=13 June 2000}}. (The application to have the matter transferred was still pending before the Supreme Court of South Australia at the time of the settlement.)

• 1875 Company formed September 1875
• 1875 Company incorporated 8 October 1875
• 1882 Amalgamated with Spencer's Gulf Steamship Co Ltd
• 1882 Bought out William Whinham
• 1883 Bought out Anderson & Marshall
• 1887 Locks out members of the Captains & Officers' Society when it seeks to affiliate with the Maritime Labour CouncilAustralian Trade Union Archives (2003). [http://www.atua.org.au/atua_timeline.htm#1851 Timeline: 1851–1900] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090912223420/http://www.atua.org.au/atua_timeline.htm#1851 |date=12 September 2009 }}. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
• 1900 Liquidated and reconstructed
• 1903 Adelaide building at 17 Currie Street(Images: [https://web.archive.org/web/20110406151540/http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/mpcimg/05500/B5266.htm 1][https://web.archive.org/web/20110406151600/http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/mpcimg/02750/B2584.htm 2][https://archive.today/20121130135000/http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/mpcimg/02000/B1800.htm 3][https://archive.today/20121127140348/http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/mpcimg/18250/B18019.htm 4])
• 1904 Adelaide Steamship Company building constructed in Melbourne
• 1911 SS Yongala lost without trace (discovered in 1958)
• 1912 SS Koombana lost without trace
• 1914–1918 World War I – several ships were requisitioned
• 1915 Took over Coast Steamships Limited
• 1920 Liquidated and reconstructed
• 1920 Amalgamated Society of Engineers v Adelaide Steamship Co Ltd (The Engineers' Case)
• 1933 First John Martin's Christmas Pageant
• 1935 Formed Adelaide Airways Limited
• 1936 Purchased West Australian Airways
• 1936 Merged with Holyman's Airways to form Australian National Airways
• 1939 Currie St (Adelaide) building changed significantlyImages: [https://archive.today/20121129171915/http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/prg/287/1/PRG287_1_8_103.htm 1][https://archive.today/20121127050720/http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/mpcimg/12500/B12331.htm 2]
• 1939–1945 World War II – several ships were requisitioned
• 1940s Diversified into towage, shipbuilding, and the shipping of salt, coal and sugar.
• 1957 Sold Australian National Airways to Ansett Transport Industries
• 1964 Interstate fleet merged with McIlwraith, McEacharn & Co to form Associated Steamship Limited
• 1964 The world's first purpose-built container ship was constructed
• 1965 Acquired 40% interest in Bulkships
• 1968 Coast Steamships Limited no longer "retained its own identity"
• 1968 Bulkships acquired Associated Steamship Limited
• 1976 Tooth & Co acquired Penfolds
• 1977 Bulkships sold; ceased connection with ship owning and operating
• 1980 Acquired a substantial interest in David Jones Limited
• 1980 Adelaide Steamship Company building in Melbourne destroyed
• 1981 Acquired Tooth & Co (via David Jones (Properties) Pty Ltd)
• 1981 Acquired Georges (via David Jones)
• 1982 Acquired Buckley & Nunn (via David Jones)
• 1983 Sold Tooth & Co brewing interests to Carlton & United Breweries
• 1985 Acquired John Martins
• 1986 Currie Street building demolished to make way for the State Bank Building, completed in 1988 ({{as of|2023|lc=yes}} RAA Tower)
• 1989 Industrial Equity Limited purchased from Brierley Investments
• 1990 Wine interests sold to South Australian Brewing Company
• 1990 Share price crash
• 1991 Adsteam commenced liquidation of assets
• 1991 National Foods floated
• 1993 Woolworths floated
• 1993 Adsteam Marine created as the last remaining operational division of Adelaide Steamship Company.
• 1994 The Australian Taxation Office ruled to disallow IEL $524m of deductions regarding the Woolworth float
• 1994 "Adelaide Steamship Company (via ASIC) vs former Adsteam directors and auditors" commenced
• 1995 David Jones floated
• 1997 Adelaide Steamship Company renamed Residual Assco Group
• 1997 Adsteam Marine floated
• 1999 Liquidation of assets completed – Residual Assco Limited delisted – "Residual Assco has no operating businesses but remains active while several IEL tax disputes wind their way through the courts."
• 2000 "Residual Assco (via ASIC) vs former AdSteam directors and auditors" reached settlement
• 2001 Adsteam Marine acquired tug operations of Howard Smith Limited for A$500m
• 2006 Adsteam Marine acquired by AP Moeller-Maersk
• 2007 Residual Assco's annual report notes that the group holds $429 million "on deposit pending resolution of the outstanding matters between IEL and the ATO"
• 2007 IEL given leave to challenge the ATO ruling

Throughout its history, many people have been involved with, played significant roles in and/or been associated with the company:

• Robert Barr Smith (1824–1915) – founding director. Brother-in-law of founding director Sir Thomas Elder, with whom he was partner in Elder Smith and Company. (Barr Smith married Elder's sister Joanna.)van Dissel, Dirk (1976). [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A060175b.htm 'Smith, Robert Barr (1824–1915)'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090419200733/http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A060175b.htm |date=19 April 2009 }}. Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 6, Melbourne University Press, pp 153–154. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
• Tom Elder Barr Smith (1863–1941) – director (eldest son of Robert Barr Smith)Linn, R W (1988). [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A110683b.htm 'Smith, Tom Elder Barr (1863–1941)'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080815002547/http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A110683b.htm |date=15 August 2008 }}, Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 11, Melbourne University Press, p. 664. Retrieved on 11 July 2009.
• Sir Tom Elder Barr Smith (1904–1968) – director and deputy chairman (1960–1968) (son of Tom Elder Barr Smith)Shanahan, Martin. (2002). [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A160330b.htm 'Smith, Sir Tom Elder Barr (1904–1968)'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080815003609/http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A160330b.htm |date=15 August 2008 }}, Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 16, Melbourne University Press, pp 274–275. Retrieved 11 July 2009.
• William Beardmore, 1st Baron Invernairn (1856–1936) – shipbuilder
• William Berry (1857–1928) – completed his qualifying sea service with the company and went on to become their chief engineerShorten, Ann R (1979). [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A070280b.htm 'Berry, William (1857–1928)'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080809114523/http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A070280b.htm |date=9 August 2008 }}. Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 7, Melbourne University Press, pp 277–278. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
• Neil Leslie Branford – Chief Accountant of John Martins, AdSteam Company Secretary from the mid-1980s to early 1990s
• Sir Ron Brierley – New Zealand investor, corporate raider, and chairman and director of a number of companies in Australia, New Zealand and the UK. He founded Brierley Investments in 1961 and purchased his first shareholdings in Industrial Equity Limited (IEL) in 1964. IEL purchased Woolworths in 1989, and later in 1989 Brierly sold IEL to the AdSteam Group.
• George Calder (1839–1903) – marinerMacdougall, R J (1979). [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A070528b.htm 'Calder, George (1839–1903)'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091022035004/http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A070528b.htm |date=22 October 2009 }}, Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 7, Melbourne University Press, pp 525–526. Retrieved 11 July 2009.
• David Charleston (1848–1934) – marine engineer and unionist who worked for the company after migrating to Australia in 1884Jaensch, Dean (1979). [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A070626b.htm 'Charleston, David Morley (1848–1934)'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080722224154/http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A070626b.htm |date=22 July 2008 }}. Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 7, Melbourne University Press, pp 616–617. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
• Bruce Corlett – Chairman of Adsteam Marine Limited
• Charles D'Ebro (1850–1920) – architect who in 1904 designed the Adelaide Steamship Building in Melbourne
• Deloitte Haskings & Sells and Deloitte Ross Tohmatsu – Adsteam auditors (?-1990)
• Frank Duffy (1852–1936) – High Court Judge involved in the decision of the Engineers' CaseFinlay, H.A. (1981). [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A080377b.htm 'Duffy, Sir Frank Gavan (1852–1936)'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091022225810/http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A080377b.htm |date=22 October 2009 }}. Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 8, Melbourne University Press, pp 352–353. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
• Sir Walter Gordon Duncan (1885–1963) – Director between 1932 and 1960Stock, Jenny Tilby (1996). [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A140057b.htm 'Duncan, Sir Walter Gordon (1885–1963)'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080801190214/http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A140057b.htm |date=1 August 2008 }}. Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 14, Melbourne University Press, pp 52–53. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
• Francis Vivian Dunstan – father of Don Dunstan; former Premier of South Australia; manager of the company's Fiji office from 1916 until the family's return to Adelaide in 1933[http://www.lib.flinders.edu.au/resources/collection/special/dunstan/dunstbiog.html Donald Allan Dunstan 1926–1999] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100122045803/http://www.lib.flinders.edu.au/resources/collection/special/dunstan/dunstbiog.html |date=22 January 2010 }} (2009). Flinders University, SA. Retrieved 10 July 2009.[http://adelaidia.sa.gov.au/people/donald-allan-dunstan-ac-qc Donald Allan Dunstan AC QC] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812095741/http://adelaidia.sa.gov.au/people/donald-allan-dunstan-ac-qc |date=12 August 2014 }} (2013). History SA, Government of South Australia, SA. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
• Sir Thomas Elder (1818–1897) – founding director. Brother-in-law of founding director Robert Barr Smith, with whom he was partner in Elder Smith and Company. Elder never married, but Barr Smith named his first-born Tom Elder Barr Smith.Gosse, Fayette. (1972) [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A040579b.htm 'Elder, Sir Thomas (1818–1897)'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090419131136/http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A040579b.htm |date=19 April 2009 }}, Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 4, Melbourne University Press, pp 133–134. Retrieved 11 July 2009.
• Alexander Forrest (1849–1901) – negotiated in 1893 the contract with the Adelaide Steamship for serving Western Australian portsBolton, G.C. (1981). [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A080562b.htm 'Forrest, Alexander (1849–1901)'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524163521/http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A080562b.htm |date=24 May 2011 }}. Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 8, Melbourne University Press, pp 540–543. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
• Clayton Frederick – Chief Executive Officer between 1993 and 2004, during Adsteam Marine's expansion to become Australia's largest towage operator
• James Gosse (1876–1952) – director and chairmanGosse, Fayette (1996). [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A140340b.htm 'Gosse, Sir James Hay (1876–1952)'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080815043327/http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A140340b.htm |date=15 August 2008 }}. Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 14, Melbourne University Press, pp 301–302. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
• Michael Stevenson Gregg – director (?-1990)
• Robert Holmes à Court – Australia's first billionaire; a feared corporate raider of the 1980s who set up Bell Resources, a company 20% owned by the AdSteam Group
• Sir Ivan Nello Holyman (1896–1957) – merged Holymany's Airways with AdSteam's Adelaide Airways in 1936, and initiated moves which led in November 1936 to the formation of Australian National AirwaysStrahan, Frank (1996). [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A140547b.htm 'Holyman, Sir Ivan Nello (1896–1957)'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508042107/http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A140547b.htm |date=8 May 2009 }}. Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 14, Melbourne University Press, pp 480–481. Retrieved 11 July 2009.
• Henry Keep (1863–1905) – shipping agent for AdSteam in Fremantle, 1893–1897
• Michael James Kent – director (?-1990)
• Herbert Lloyd (1883–1957) – board member of several companies, including the Adelaide Steamship Company, from 1946 to his retirementPerry, Warren (2000). [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A150135b.htm 'Lloyd, Herbert William (1883–1957)'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129113110/http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A150135b.htm |date=29 November 2010 }}. Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 15, Melbourne University Press, pp 107–108. Retrieved 11 July 2009.
• George R L Macdonald – company secretary (1990–1994) and corporate lawyer[http://www.ombdincountry.com/about/our-people/ OM Business Development > Our People and Sponsors] Retrieved 8 January 2020.
• Malcolm McEacharn (1852–1910) – shipowner and partner of McIlwraith, McEacharn & Co which merged with the Adelaide Steamship Co in 1964Dunstan, David. (1986). [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A100257b.htm 'McEacharn, Sir Malcolm Donald (1852–1910)'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090406014234/http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A100257b.htm |date=6 April 2009 }}. Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 10, Melbourne University Press, pp 263–264. Retrieved 11 July 2009.
• Andrew McIlwraith (1844–1932) – shipowner and partner of McIlwraith, McEacharn & Co which merged with the Adelaide Steamship Co in 1964Waterson, D.B. (1986). [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A100277b.htm 'McIlwraith, Andrew (1844–1932)'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080814031415/http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A100277b.htm |date=14 August 2008 }}. Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 10, Melbourne University Press, pp 282–283. Retrieved 11 July 2009.
• Hugo Muecke (1842–1929) – director of many companies, including the Adelaide SteamshipHancock, Joan and Eric Richards (1986). [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A100590b.htm 'Muecke, Hugo Carl Emil (1842–1929)'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091021195149/http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A100590b.htm |date=21 October 2009 }}. Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 10, Melbourne University Press, p. 604. Retrieved 10 July 2009.
• Guy Packard (1884–1963) – Manager and later Director; also had financial interests in Australian National AirwaysHardwick, G.A. (2000). [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A150643b.htm 'Packard, Guy Spencer (1884–1963)'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725195410/http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A150643b.htm |date=25 July 2008 }}. Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 15, Melbourne University Press, p. 553. Retrieved 10 July 2009.
• Daniel Poole DCM & Bar (1882–1959) – recommended for the VC during World War I; worked for both McIlwraith, McEacharn & Co and Adelaide Steamship CompanyFoldi, N.S. (1988). [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A110261b.htm 'Poole, Daniel (1882–1959)'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080812210957/http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A110261b.htm |date=12 August 2008 }}. Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 11, Melbourne University Press, p. 255. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
• Robert Dalrymple Ross (1827–1887) – Chairman of the company during the 1870s and 1880sHayman, Noel (1976). [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A060070b.htm 'Ross, Sir Robert Dalrymple (1827–1887)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080731044833/http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A060070b.htm |date=31 July 2008 }}. Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 6, Melbourne University Press, pp 62–63. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
• Ken Russell (Kenneth William Russell, ?-1999) – Chairman (?-1990)
• David J Ryan – held various senior positions in the company from 1997 to 2002; foundation Managing Director of Adsteam Marine LimitedTransurban (2002). [http://www.transurban.com.au/transurban_online/tu_nav_black.nsf/v/7F41D23AA5FDF9E7CA2570740030AC7A/$file/49-ASX-35922-AppointmentOfDirectors.pdf ASX Release: Appointment of Directors] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091014175551/http://www.transurban.com.au/transurban_online/tu_nav_black.nsf/v/7F41D23AA5FDF9E7CA2570740030AC7A/%24file/49-ASX-35922-AppointmentOfDirectors.pdf |date=14 October 2009 }}. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
• Charles Seymour (1853–1924) – seaman, journalist and militant unionist who worked for the company in the late 1800sGuyatt, Joy (1988). [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A110584b.htm? Seymour, Charles (1853–1924)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080802195731/http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A110584b.htm |date=2 August 2008 }} Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 11, Melbourne University Press, p. 572.

Retrieved on 22 July 2009

• John Spalvins (Janis Gunars Spalvins) – Managing Director (1977–1990)
• Andrew Tennant (1835–1913) – founding directorCombe, Gordon D (1976). [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A060273b.htm 'Tennant, Andrew (1835–1913)'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080816002909/http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A060273b.htm |date=16 August 2008 }}. Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 6, Melbourne University Press, pp 255–256. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
• Alfred Wells – designer of original company building at 17 Currie Street, Adelaide{{Cite web|url = https://www.flickr.com/photos/state_library_south_australia/8554082586/in/set-72157632985933882|title = Adelaide Steamship Company building, Currie Street, 1917|date = 1917|access-date = 17 April 2015|website = Flickr|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150418072647/https://www.flickr.com/photos/state_library_south_australia/8554082586/in/set-72157632985933882|archive-date = 18 April 2015|df = dmy-all}}
• Robert Wright – executive director, 1991–1995[http://business.smh.com.au/business/make-sure-the-roof-is-secure-20080616-2rn4.html?page=-1 Make sure the roof is secure], 17 June 2008, Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 July 2009.

The archives of the Adelaide Steamship Company are held by the Noel Butlin Archives Centre at the Australian National University in Canberra.{{Cite web|url=https://archivescollection.anu.edu.au/index.php/adelaide-steamship-company|title = Adelaide Steamship Company - Archives}}

• Mosquito Fleet (Johnstone River, Queensland)#The Adelaide Steamship Company
• Timeline of Australian history

{{Reflist|30em}}

• Clarke, Frank, Graeme Dean and Kyle Oliver (2003). [http://www.cambridge.org/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=0521826845 Corporate Collapse: Accounting, Regulatory and Ethical Failure], 2nd Edition. Published by Cambridge University Press. {{OCLC|51637715}}. {{ISBN|0-521-82684-5}}. [http://assets.cambridge.org/97805218/26846/frontmatter/9780521826846_frontmatter.pdf Front matter] [http://assets.cambridge.org/97805218/26846/index/9780521826846_index.pdf Index]

;Shipping

• Mann, J.W. (1965). Well afloat in changing time [Adelaide Steamship Co.], Port Melbourne Quarterly, V.16, April–June 1965.
• Page, Michael (1975). [https://books.google.com/books?id=gSiFQgAACAAJ Fitted for the Voyage: The Adelaide Steamship Company, 1875–1975]. Published by Rigby, Adelaide SA. {{OCLC|2526032}} {{ISBN|0-85179-918-3}}.
• Parsons, Ronald (1975). [https://books.google.com/books?id=qt7SAAAACAAJ&dq The Adelaide Line: A Centenary History of the Adelaide Steamship Company Ltd., 1875–1975]. Published by rhParsons, Magill, SA. {{OCLC|3241371}}. {{ISBN|0-909418-06-3}}.
• Stapleton, A. (1975). "Festina Lente": the Adelaide Steamship Company's 100 years of service, Cargo Handling and Shipbuilding Quarterly, V.14, September 1975 .

;Australian corporate governance

• Clarke, Frank and Graeme Dean (2007). [http://www.cambridge.org/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=9780521701839 Indecent Disclosure: Gilding the Corporate Lily]. Published by Cambridge University Press. {{OCLC|122526160}} {{ISBN|978-0-521-70183-9}}.
• Government of South Australia, Auditor-General's Department (1993) [http://www.audit.sa.gov.au/publications/sbsa-1993/chapter-9 Report of the Auditor-General on an investigation into the State Bank of South Australia : pursuant to Section 25 of the State Bank of South Australia Act 1983 (as amended), volume 6 The management of credit: case studies, Chapter 9: Case Study in Credit Management: The Adsteam Group] {{isbn|0-7308-3836-6}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110811081532/http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse/ Australian Light Horse Studies Centre]

{{Business in Australia|state=collapsed}}

Category:Australian ship owners

Category:Defunct shipping companies of Australia

Category:Shipbuilding companies of Australia

Category:Maritime history of Australia

Category:Corporate raiders

Category:Companies based in Adelaide

Category:Legal history of Australia

Category:History of Port Adelaide

Category:Transport companies established in 1875

Category: Australian companies established in 1875