b'Full steam aheadSteamships first arrived in Australia in 1831 when theThe firm also worked for other shipping companies including Sophia Jane sailed from England and had its paddles fittedHoward Smith and Australian Steamships, regularly advising in Sydney. This marked the beginning of an illustrious eraon shipping collisions and other maritime matters. Through of steamship transport, which was often more efficient andhis work for the Melbourne Steamship Company, Colin Syme reliable than rail. The Melbourne Steamship Company wasbecame quite an expert on maritime navigation rules. a pioneer in this new Australian industry, and its fleet called at most major ports around the nation.A significant dispute handled by the firm was Melbourne Steamship Company Ltd v Moorehead, in which the company Hedderwick Fookes & Alston was appointed to undertakewas charged by customs officer Richard Moorehead under legal work for the Melbourne Steamship Company inthe Australian Industries Preservation Act 1906 (Cth) in 1908 the beginning of a decades-l ong relationship. Henryconnection with its refusal to answer questions about alleged Hedderwick, William Fookes and TC Alston (and later partnercoal price-fixing. The company suffered a serious legal and Stewart Jock Macindoe) all served as directors of thereputational setback when the charges were upheld at trial. Melbourne Steamship Company. Upon Fookess death in 1925Its standing was restored in 1912 when an appeal to the High the companys flags, both afloat and ashore, flew at half- mast.Court of Australia succeeded in overturning the decision. David Syme, the longstanding chairman of the MelbourneThe judgment of Chief Justice Griffith is still cited today as Steamship Company, introduced his grandson, Colin Symeauthority for the proposition that government entities should (later Sir Colin), to Hedderwick Fookes & Alston, and he becameact as a model litigants and should not, for example, take a partner and played a significant role in the firms history. overly technical pleading points.Melbourne Steamship Company advertising board.81'