Following delivery, "Waratah" left London for her maiden voyage on 5 November 1908 with 689 third-class and 67 first-class passengers. She was under the command of Captain Joshua Edward Ilbery, a veteran of the Blue Anchor Line with 30 years of nautical experience, and a previous master of , and had a crew of 154. She touched off at Cape Town on 27 November and arrived at Adelaide on 15 December 1908. Among her passengers were Hamilton Wickes, a newly appointed British Trade Commissioner for the Commonwealth, Dr. Anderson, Bishop of Riverina and Octavius Beale, president of the Federal Council of Chambers of Manufactures.