As built, the ship was long (between perpendiculars) and abeam, a mean draft of . "Waratah" was assessed at and and had deadweight of approximately 10,000. The vessel had a steel hull, and two sets of quadruple-expansion steam engines, with cylinders of , , and diameter with a stroke, that provided a combined 1,003 nhp and drove two screw propellers, and moved the ship at up to . "Waratah" had a cellular double bottom built along her entire length, and the hull was divided into eight watertight compartments, which it was claimed rendered her "practically immune from any danger of sinking."