The Esperance Chronicle reported on 13th January that the steamships ‘MacGregor’ of 255 tons and ‘Flinders’ were both aground at the town jetty (due to lack of depth).

Jetty extensions were still proceeding.

Commander J.W. Combe R.N carried out surveys of Esperance Bay in the former private yacht, now H.M. Surveying Ship ‘Waterwitch’ in February. On arrival on 7th February, the boat was met by the mayor, town clerk, and others.

Census - Esperance population 985 – 623 male, 362 female, 147 inhabited houses.

The jetty was extended to 2810 feet (857m), head 300 feet (91m), depth at head 18 feet (5.5m). The Goods and Bond Store was completed and handed to Customs on 22nd March.

The premier Sir John Forrest visited Esperance in May aboard the 2501 ton SS ‘Innamincka’, after visiting Albany.

The Adelaide Steamship Company’s SS ‘Franklin’ of 730 tons took over the mail run from the SS ‘Herbert’ of 302 tons.

With Western Australia joining the Commonwealth the Post and Telegraph services by the Federal Government.

A red ordinary lantern was fixed on a 15ft (4.6m) wooden platform on the Town Jetty.

The SS ’Franklin’ was wrecked near Point Malcolm on 18 April. Mr and Mrs A. Byrne, Mr and Mrs W. Baird and infant, Mrs Smith and Mrs Walkington disembarked at Esperance and by the time the ship called at Point Malcolm, the only two passengers on board were Smith and Hackett, telegraph operators on their way to Israelite Bay.

The South West Mail Service was continued by the 217 ton SS ‘Meeinderry’ until 1903 and by the 522 ton SS ‘Dawn’ subsequently.

[Government Gazette - No.8. PERTH FRIDAY, JANUARY 31. 1902]

ESPERANCE BAY JETTY.

LEASING FOR PERIOD OF 13 MONTHS, FROM 1ST DAY OF MARCH, 1902, TO 31st DAY OF MARCH, 1903. TENDERS will be received at this Office up to noon on Tuesday, 18th day of February, 1902, for the above Contract. They are to be addressed to the “Chief Harbour Master," and marked outside, "Tender for Leasing Jetty at Esperance Bay." Telegraphic tenders, similarly addressed and marked, will be received up to the same hour, provided that written tenders in due form have previously been lodged with the Resident Magistrate, Esperance.

Conditions of lease may be seen at this Office and at the Office of the Resident Magistrate, Esperance. The highest or any tender will not necessarily be accepted.

[A peppercorn lease was given to Adelaide Steamship Company. Wharfage Rates were increased, causing indignation from a Ratepayers Meeting on 20th May 1903]

By order of the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer, C.R. RUSSELL, Chief Harbour Master. Harbour Office, Fremantle, 30th December, 1901

The 1,479 gross tons, 245'2” (74.7m) long steamship ‘Croydon’ ran as a passenger ship on the Albany - Hopetoun - Esperance run on a government mail contract during 1904-5. Abandoned May 1905 to underwriters after sustaining structural strain brought on by bad weather when bound from Western Australia to Port Adelaide. 1913 refitted and re-registered to W R Cave & Co., Adelaide.