John Burke came to Australia from Ireland in 1861 as a 19-year-old seaman, then served on the Queensland coast and in due course qualified for his Master's Certificate. Over time he bought out the maritime interests of others and, despite the challenges posed by larger competitors, started his Company in 1888. While only few records exist to show the tenacious development of the enterprise, across its one hundred and two years of life it ran or operated over forty ships. Its "home grounds" were from Brisbane to the Gulf of Carpentaria and its maritime vicissitudes were many, even if not untypical.

At the start of the Second World War, the following six ships were in the fleet:-

Whilst the government shipping management of most Australian vessels became effective July 1941, this did not include John Burke's. Theirs remained under their own management, as agents however for the Shipping Control Board. For greater efficiency, close liaison regarding services was maintained with other companies whose smaller vessels had been left in the same category, however all were gathered in by Government in the October.

Wandana was formally requisitioned by the Australian Government in 1941 for service to the Thursday Island (now military) area, and Canonbar went under the command of the United States Army Small Ships service from 1943 to 1945.

Again, war records for the Company are few, but while no ships were lost, they steadfastly maintained vital coastal services in all the conditions of weather and war. They sustained such civilian communities as were allowed to remain in Australia's north over the perilous 1941-1945 years, they helped ensure re-supply to dispersed Defence Force elements and in particular they proved invaluable to the Air Force's outlying air reporting and defence islands installations.