In 1871, Burns returned to North Queensland to establish a new trading company in Townsville. He later loaned Robert Philp enough money to become a partner in the enterprise. The company thrived through ownership of sail and steam powered trading ships, initially leased to ensure a steady supply of goods between Queensland and Sydney. This formed the basis of the Queensland Steam Shipping Company Limited, later amalgamated into Burns Philp and Company, which remains as a major trading company today. The shipping expanded into various ports in the East Indies and the Pacific Islands, and the company branched into various trading endeavours throughout the following decades.