It was built by Poole & Steel of Adelaide, South Australia in 1922 for the Commonwealth Line and initially named SS Euwarra.

It was sold to BHP Shipping in October 1923 and renamed Iron Knob, becoming one of three "E" class steamships in BHP service.

[1] In its 32 years of service, it made 393 voyages between Newcastle and other Australian ports.

In 1955 it was sold to Panatiotis Vrangos of Italy, reregistered in Panama, and renamed SS Clarisse.

The Clarisse sank in heavy seas in the Indian Ocean near 8°4′N 51°10′E / 8.067°N 51.167°E / 8.067; 51.167 on 15 July 1957.