The house flag of Huddart Parker Ltd, Melbourne. A rectangular, red flag with a blue saltire overall. The letters 'H P' in white are at the sides. The flag is made of a wool and synthetic fibre bunting. It has a cotton hoist and is machine sewn. A rope is attached.

The coastal waters around Australia were essential to transport cargo and passengers to develop a nation where most of the population live and work on the coast. The company had its origin when Captain Peter Huddart, master of the ‘Aberfoyle’ set up business in Geelong as a merchant and broker in 1852. By 1876 the business interests of Huddart and T.J. Parker (a Geelong importer and agent) were amalgamated into the firm of Huddart Parker and Company, coal importers and Geelong merchants. Between 1882, when it became a limited company and 1893, the firm entered the trades between Melbourne, Sydney, Tasmania and New Zealand.

The supplying of coal from Newcastle (New South Wales) to the growing urban communities played an important part in the trade and successful development of Huddart Parker. In 1890 the offices were moved from Geelong to Melbourne and by 1911 the firm had become a public company. During World War I, five of the company’s vessels were requisitioned for war service.

In the inter war years, competition grew from the expanding railways in Australia. However, long distance train journeys were uncomfortable for passengers, many of whom still preferred to travel by sea. When World War II started, Huddart Parker’s fleet comprised nine ships. The fleet included three passenger carriers, namely ‘Zealandia’, ‘Westralia’ and ‘Wanganella’. Respectively, these three vessels saw war service as a troopship, an armed merchant cruiser and a hospital ship. After the war, the surviving ‘Westralia’ and ‘Wanganella’ returned to the coastal passenger trade.

However, by the mid 1950s the improving railways were attracting business from the cargo ships and the expanding air services ensured that speed outweighed the comfortable sea passages. Cargo ships became larger and were confined to bulk cargoes between the larger ports. With exception of the Tasman Sea route operating ro-ro vehicle ferries, with a Government subsidy for social reasons, the passenger services ended in 1962 when the ‘Wanganella’ was withdrawn. Huddart Parker was finally taken over by Bitumen and Oil Refineries Australia Limited in October 1961, the ships being taken into the control of McIlwraith McEarcharn Ltd.