Walkers Limited
Encyclopedia
Walkers Limited is an Australia
n engineering company, based in Maryborough, Queensland
, which built ship
s and locomotive
s. It is still in the locomotive-building business as part of Downer Rail.
.
The Ballarat assets were disposed of in 1879 and, in 1884, the business became a limited company
under the title John Walker & Co. Limited. The name was changed to Walkers Limited in 1888.
s, which made them the largest warships built in Australia before federation. During World War II
, Walkers constructed 2 River class frigate
s, a Modified River (Bay) class frigate and 7 Bathurst class corvette
s in addition to other smaller vessels. Post war naval projects included the 8 Balikpapan class landing craft heavy and 10 of the 20 Attack class patrol boat
s. The other 10 Attack class patrol boats were built by Evans Deakin Industries
(EDI) which was taken over by Downer holdings in 2001 to form the parent company; Downer EDi
. Evans Deakin's Brisbane yard closed in 1971, and Walker's Maryborough yard closed in 1974.
s arrived from Queensland Railways.
Other steam locomotives built for Queensland Railways include classes B18¼
and BB18¼
. For diesel locomotive
s, see Downer Rail.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n engineering company, based in Maryborough, Queensland
Maryborough, Queensland
Maryborough is a city located on the Mary River in South East Queensland, Australia, approximately north of the state capital, Brisbane. The city is serviced by the Bruce Highway, and has a population of approximately 22,000 . It is closely tied to its neighbour city Hervey Bay which is...
, which built ship
Ship
Since the end of the age of sail a ship has been any large buoyant marine vessel. Ships are generally distinguished from boats based on size and cargo or passenger capacity. Ships are used on lakes, seas, and rivers for a variety of activities, such as the transport of people or goods, fishing,...
s and locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
s. It is still in the locomotive-building business as part of Downer Rail.
History
John Walker and three friends set up the Union Foundry of John Walker & Co. at Ballarat, Victoria, Australia in 1863. In 1867, a branch was opened in Maryborough, QueenslandMaryborough, Queensland
Maryborough is a city located on the Mary River in South East Queensland, Australia, approximately north of the state capital, Brisbane. The city is serviced by the Bruce Highway, and has a population of approximately 22,000 . It is closely tied to its neighbour city Hervey Bay which is...
.
The Ballarat assets were disposed of in 1879 and, in 1884, the business became a limited company
Limited company
A limited company is a company in which the liability of the members or subscribers of the company is limited to what they have invested or guaranteed to the company. Limited companies may be limited by shares or by guarantee. And the former of these, a limited company limited by shares, may be...
under the title John Walker & Co. Limited. The name was changed to Walkers Limited in 1888.
Shipbuilding
In 1884 the firm began work on 5 hopper barges for the Queensland Department of Harbours and Rivers. During construction the decision was taken to convert them to also serve as Auxiliary GunboatGunboat
A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.-History:...
s, which made them the largest warships built in Australia before federation. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Walkers constructed 2 River class frigate
River class frigate
The River class frigate was a class of 151 frigates launched between 1941 and 1944 for use as anti-submarine convoy escorts in the North Atlantic....
s, a Modified River (Bay) class frigate and 7 Bathurst class corvette
Bathurst class corvette
The Bathurst class corvettes were a class of general purpose vessels produced in Australia during World War II. Originally classified as minesweepers, but widely referred to as corvettes, the Bathurst class vessels fulfilled a broad anti-submarine, anti-mine, and convoy escort role.Sixty Bathurst...
s in addition to other smaller vessels. Post war naval projects included the 8 Balikpapan class landing craft heavy and 10 of the 20 Attack class patrol boat
Attack class patrol boat
The Attack class patrol boats were small coastal defence vessels built for the Royal Australian Navy and operated between 1967 and 1985...
s. The other 10 Attack class patrol boats were built by Evans Deakin Industries
Evans Deakin and Company
Evans Deakin and Company was an Australian engineering company and shipbuilder. Originally based in Brisbane, the company was started in 1910 by Daniel Evans and Arthur Deakin. The company started out as a supplier of engineering equipment. The first workshop was acquired in 1913.The company later...
(EDI) which was taken over by Downer holdings in 2001 to form the parent company; Downer EDi
Downer EDi
Downer EDI is an Australian Stock Exchange Top-100 company that provides comprehensive engineering and infrastructure management services to the public and private transport, energy, infrastructure, communications and resources sectors, across Australia, New Zealand and the Asia Pacific...
. Evans Deakin's Brisbane yard closed in 1971, and Walker's Maryborough yard closed in 1974.
Locomotives
The company's first locomotive was built at Maryborough in 1873. The first major contract for locomotives came in 1896, when an order for thirty B15 class steam locomotiveSteam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
s arrived from Queensland Railways.
Other steam locomotives built for Queensland Railways include classes B18¼
Queensland B18¼ class locomotive
The B18¼ class steam locomotive was a 4-6-2 locomotive of the Queensland Railways .The locomotives operated on 1,067 mm gauge...
and BB18¼
Queensland BB18¼ class locomotive
The BB18¼ class locomotive was a type of 4-6-2 steam locomotive operated by the Queensland Railways.Fifty-five BB18¼ class locomotives were built. The first batch of 35, numbered from 1011 to 1045, were built in 1950 by the Vulcan Foundry in Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire. The final batch of 20,...
. For diesel locomotive
Diesel locomotive
A diesel locomotive is a type of railroad locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engine, a reciprocating engine operating on the Diesel cycle as invented by Dr. Rudolf Diesel...
s, see Downer Rail.