CAMBRIAN was built in 1860 by Charles Lungley & Co. at Deptford Green with a tonnage of 1055grt, a length of 245ft, a beam of 33ft 7in and a service speed of 8 knots.

Costing £25,000 she was launched on 23rd April 1860 by Mrs Saxon the wife of Capt Saxon of Anderson, Saxon & Co, the Union Lines agent at Cape Town.

She was the first mail ship built for the company to exceed 1000grt and also the first steamer to be built specially and exclusively for the mail service.

Her passenger capacity was 64 First Class, 40 in the Fore Cabin (Second Class) she also carried 500 tons of cargo.

Her trial speed was 10 knots and she cost £25,000 to build.

She made her maiden voyage under the command of Captain William Strutt who had commanded the first Union mail steamer, Dane, three years previously.