The S.S Alvina was a private luxury yacht. She was built and owned in England in 1887 of iron weighing 194 tons gross and was 134 ft. long. She sailed to Australia in 1903 and was purchased by Mr. A. K T. Sambell of Phillip Island and Westernport Shipping co. in 1923. She was one of the most graceful ships ever seen in Australian waters. She arrived and departed from Cowes daily and the shrill steam siren that was blown prior to her arrival and departure could be heard 5 miles away. Captain Jimmy Clarke took command with a local crew.       S.S Alvina was very popular with holiday makers, especially for her excursion runs to Seal Rocks. She has a cruising speed of 12 knots. A trip around Phillip Island took about 4 hours. For some years motor cars were transported from Stony Point to Cowes by the S.S. Alvina, by hoisting them aboard with her carho winches.       She was replaced in 1933 by the S.S. Killara, the first vehicular ferry to service Westernport Bay.