Should anyone on a Zeus server have the same problem, here is the answer.
After being told originally that this could not be bone through the .htaccess file, guess what?
The very same support staffer came up with the following, which works.
He has only wasted 5 days out of my schedule not to mention the time that you guy have put into helping me. Thanks again.
The following is the contents of the .htaccess file : -
redirect /index.php
http://mynewsite.com.au/catalog/index.html