IBERIA was built in 1873 by John Elder & Co. at Glasgow with a tonnage of 4671grt, a length of 433ft 6in, a beam of 45ft and a service speed of 14 knots. She cost £151,600 to built and when launched, on 6th December 1873, was the world's largest ship with the exception of the Great Eastern. Because of strikes which delayed her completion she did not commence her maiden voyage until 21st October 1874. On 12th May 1880 she made her first voyage to Australia for the joint PSNC - Orient Line service and in the following year replaced the Aconcagua as a standby ship on the London - Suez - Melbourne - Sydney service. During the Egyptian Arabi Pasha Campaigns in 1882 she was used by the Government for trooping duties. On 25th January 1883 she began to operate a regular service to Australia which continued until 11th June 1890 when she returned to the Liverpool - Valparaiso route. She was fitted with a triple expansion engine in 1893 and, at the same time, had the yards removed from the masts. In 1895 she undertook a positioning voyage to Australia to replace a disabled ship and completed the non-stop voyage via the Cape in 32 days at an average speed of 14 knots. She was broken up at Genoa in 1903.