J Wigham Richardson & Company of Low Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne built the ship for Blue Anchor Line as yard number 235.

She had a single screw, driven by a three-cylinder triple-expansion engine that was rated at 420 NHP.

[5] One of Blue Anchor Line's trades was wool from Australia to Europe.

But in the early 1890s, freight rates for wool were low, so in 1894 Blue Anchor had refrigerating equipment installed in 35,121 cubic feet (995 m3) of Bungaree's holds to carry perishable cargo.

[1][6] In 1903 the Quebec Steamship Company bought Bungaree and renamed her Parima.