John Brown & Company of Clydebank, Scotland, built Zealandia for Huddart Parker & Co of Melbourne, launching her on 20 November 1909 and completing her in May 1910.

[1] In 1910–13, she was chartered by the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand mainly for use on the trans-Tasman route, but also undertaking voyages to ports as distant as Fremantle and Vancouver.

On 29 June 1940, Zealandia embarked part of the 8th Division, the 2/21st Battalion, later known as Gull Force, at Sydney and took it and other units to Darwin.

Zealandia transported another part of the 8th Division, Lark Force (otherwise known as the 2/22nd Battalion), to Rabaul, leaving Sydney on 19 April 1941.

After several other war-related voyages, in November 1941 Zealandia visited several Australian ports en route to Singapore.

On 23 January, she left Sydney, transporting an anti-tank company and its equipment to Darwin, where it arrived on 6 February.

What remains of Zealandia lies in Darwin Harbour at position 12°29.00′S 130°51.05′E / 12.48333°S 130.85083°E / -12.48333; 130.85083 at a depth of 19 metres (62 ft),[4][5] and is a recreational dive site.