On 29 August 1908 Melbourne gaped in wonder as 16 white-hulled battleships of the United States Atlantic Fleet, carrying 14,000 naval personnel, steamed into Port Phillip Bay. The ‘Great White Fleet’ was circumnavigating the globe on a tour launched by President Theodore Roosevelt. The cruise was a display of naval power and practical exercise, testing the battle-readiness of the US Navy and demonstrating its ability to patrol and protect the west coast and American interests in the Pacific including Australia.An original unframed photograph of the United States Altantic Fleet entering Port Phillip Bay in 1908 and a copy framed and mounted under glass.Port Phillip Bay 1908; United States Atlantic Fleetthe great white fleet, us atlantic fleet, 1908, port phillip bay

History of the post World War II Migrant Ship Fairsea. The Fairsea made several journeys to Australia under the International Refugee Organisation (IRO) from 1949 to 1951, carrying displaced persons affected by World War II. She was later chartered by the Australian Government to transport assisted immigrants from Britain and also New Zealand between 1949 and 1969.MRs B SmythA framed oil painting of the migrant ship MV FairseaFairseamv fairsea, migrant ships

A painting of a passenger ship operating in Australia in the 1950s and 60s.Mrs B SmythA framed oil painting of the passenger shhip MV TasmaniaTasmaniamigrant ships, passenger ships

The Oceania along with sister ships Australia and Neptunia, where built by Lloyd Triestino for use as migrant ships in the 1950s and 60s.Mrs B SmythA framed oil painting of the migrant shhip MV ObeaniaOceaniamigration, passenger ships, migrant ships

MS Achille Lauro was a cruise ship based in Naples, Italy. Built between 1939 and 1947 as MS Willem Ruys, a passenger liner for the Rotterdamsche Lloyd, it was hijacked by members of the Palestine Liberation Front in 1985.Mrs B SmythA framed oil painting of the passenger ship Achille LauroAchille Lauropassenger ship, achille lauro, oil painting, dacre smyth

For over 10 Years the Ellinis made regular voyages to Australia, inbound via Suez and outbound via Panama. Ellinis was placed on cruising duties out of Sydney as well as the occasional around-the-world trip in 1972.Mrs B SmythA framed oil painting of the migrant ship EllinisEllinisellinis, passenger ships, migrant ships

After World War II Lloyd Triestino re-established its Australian service with existing ships and began a rebuilding programme ordering seven new liners. Of these new liners three were for the Australian service, launched in 1950 these three ships became known as the Triestino Trio. The first to be built was the Australia launched on 21 May 1950, departing Trieste on 19 April 1951 and arriving in Melbourne on 17 May. The second ship Oceania launched on 30 July 1950, departed Genoa for its maiden voyage on 18 August 1951.The third, Neptunia, launched on 1 October 1950, departing on its maiden voyage on 14 September 1951 and arriving in Brisbane on 18 October.A framed oil painting of the migrant ship 'MV Australia'Australiamv australia, migrant ships

Owned by the Sitmar Line, the 'Castel Felice' operated on the Australia migrgant route from the 60s to the 70s prioir to air travel in the mid 70s. Mrs B SmythA framed oil painting of the migrant ship 'MV Castel Felice'Castel Felicemv castel felice, migrant ships

SS Roma was laid down in 1942 at the Seattle-Tacoma SB Corporation plant and was launched as “Glacier” on September 7, 1942. Like quite a few ships, it was during her building as a C3 cargo ships that she was transferred under the “Lend Lease Agreement” to the Royal Navy and redesigned and built as the escort aircraft carrier HMS Atheling. After the war she was purchased by the Lauro Lines and rebuilt as the modern passenger liner Roma. She departed on her maiden voyage from Genoa bound for Australia in August 1951 arriving in Fremantle on October 1, continuing to Melbourne and arriving in Sydney on the 17th. She then went north to Brisbane before returning home. Mrs B SmythA framed oil painting of the migrant ship SS Roma.Romass roma, migrant ships

The Australis retains a significant place in Australian immigration history as the last ship to carry government assisted immigrants to Australian shores in 1977. She had the largest passenger capacity of any post World War II immigrant ship to regularly visit Australia and many passengers fondly remember her grandeur and remnants of Art Deco style.Mrs B SmythA framed oil painting of the migrant ship SS AustralisAustralisss australis, migrant ships

In 1883 The Orient Steam Navigation Co. Ltd., of London signed a contract with the Government of New South Wales, Australia to carry emigrants from the United Kingdom. The Company would be paid £15 per head for up to four hundred persons and £14 and 10 Shillings for numbers between four and six hundred persons per voyage.A reproduction print of a painting by AV Gregory of the vessel Ormus, 1887. The print is mounted under glass and framed in a dark brown timber frame.rms ormuz, reproduction print

The ship was built in 1953 by Ferguson Shipbuilders of Port Glasgow, Scotland for the Port Phillip Sea Pilots organisation as a pilot cutter. Her role as a pilot cutter was to sail with pilots on board to meet ships entering Port Phillip Bay. Pilots would be transferred by the Wyuna's workboat to the vessel requiring pilotage while it was stopped dead in the water, with shelter provided by the vessel itself. In the early 1970s the pilot service started using fast launches to allow pilots to board while ships were still underway, and in 1979 the Wyuna was sold to the Australian Maritime College in Launceston, Tasmania as a training vessel. She continued in that role until 2004 when sold to Mineralogy Pty Ltd as an accommodation vessel. In September 2013 she was donated to the Western Port Oberon Association for the Victorian Maritime Centre currently at Crib Point. For a time she was docked at Beauty Point, Tasmania, and after being refurbished for 18 months she was to be moved to Docklands in Melbourne, Victoria. After this berth became unavailable the vessel was docked at Inspection Head Wharf in Beauty Point. After a period there it was towed into Bell Bay where she lays at anchor as of January 2016. When funding becomes available the Western Port Oberon Association has plans to display the vessel in a wet berth alongside the former Royal Australian Navy Oberon-class submarine HMAS Otama.Mr Henry HudsonBlack and white photograph of the Pilot Tender MV Wyuna partially obscured by a large wave at the rip, entrance to Port Phillip Bay.mv wyuna, port phillip pilot service, the rip, the heads, queenscliff, point lonsdale

Built in 1874 in Sunderland England she was employed carrying cargo around the world and rounded Cape Horn 23 times in 26 years. In 1900 she was acquired by Mr J J Craig, renamed James Craig in 1905 and began to operate between New Zealand and Australia until 1911. Unable to compete with freight cargo, in later years James Craig was used as a collier and later laid up, then used as a hulk, until eventually being abandoned at Recherche Bay in Tasmania. In 1932 she was sunk by fishermen who blasted a 3-metre hole in her stern. Restoration of James Craig began in 1972, when volunteers (now the Sydney Heritage Fleet) refloated her and towed her to Hobart for initial repairs. Brought back to Sydney under tow in 1981, her hull was placed on a submersible pontoon to allow work on the hull restoration to proceed. Over twenty-five years, the vessel was restored and relaunched in 1997. In 2001 restoration work was completed and she continues to go to sea.Mr Robeert Greenway A framed reproduction of a painting by Oswald L Brett on canvas paper of the Barque James Craig 1874 Barque James Craig 1874. Images of two flags; a red ensign and a ships flag 'Craig'; Oswald L Brett N.Y. 1978 james craig, windjammers, barque

Demonstrating cutting edge maritime military technology, the Cerberus patrolled the waters in and around Melbourne, protecting it and its rich gold resources from attack. The Victorian gold rush coincided with growing instability in Europe. Britain and Russia prepared to face each other in battle as the threat of a second Crimean War grew.The HMVS Cerberus was one of only three vessels of its exact type ever built, and is the only surviving example of this type of vessel in the world. It is also the only substantially intact warship of Australia’s pre-Federation colonial navies. This shipwreck rests in shallow waters at Black Rock, Melbourne.HAnd built timber model of the HMVS CerberusCerberushmvs cerberus, model making

Unknown use but presumed to be an early Australian made marine personal safety light.Assumed to be an early marine personal safety light manufactured in Australia. Unable to find reference to confirm usage.a black metal floatation canister with lightBGE Life-Light Pat No. 116271, made in Australia, Cat No L606marine rescue, safety light

Three Victory Class ships, S.S. Cranston Victory, S.S. Costa Rica Victory and the S.S. La Grande Victory, were built for the “United War Shipping Administration” as troop and cargo ships. Their war time duties were short lived as they were soon sold to the Dutch Government for the use as troop transport ships and Migrant ship to the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. These three ships were built toward the end of World War II, and were part of the new larger improved version of the famed “Liberty” ships. Each ship had strengthened hulls for them to go into the war zone, but by the time they were completed the war was coming to an end. There were ninety seven Victory troop transport ships built, each able to transport up to 1600 troops. Unlike the Liberty ships, all accommodation was fully ventilated and heated. There was the usual meagre style troop bunks, a hospital, galleys, washrooms and even a several public rooms. The first of the trio, S.S. Cranston Victory (Zuiderkruis) was built by the Oregon Shipbuilding Yard in Portland; Oregon was launched on May 5, 1944. The second of the series, S.S. Costa Rica Victory (Groote Beer) was built by Permanente Metals Co, Richmond California and launched on June 17, 1944. The last of the three was the S.S. La Grande Victory (Waterman), which like her sister S.S. Cranston Victory, was built by the Oregon Shipbuilding Yard in Portland, Oregon and launched on January 16, 1945.In November 1951, the third of the trio, La Grande Victory, renamed Waterman, was completed and at 9,176-tons, commenced her first voyage to Australia.A framed oil painting of the migrant ship MV WatermanWatermanmv waterman, liberty ships, migrant ships

In February 1951, the Oranje made her first around the world cruise: from Amsterdam via the Panama Canal to Australia and New Zealand and back via Singapore and the Suez Canal to Amsterdam. Between 8 and 18 June 1951, she voyaged to Lisbon and Madeira with 650 passengers. On 4 September 1964, both she and the MS Willem Ruys were sold to an Italian company, Flotta Lauro Lines. Oranje was then sent to Genoa for an extensive refit at the Cantieri Navali del Tirreno shipyards. On 6 March 1966 the Angelina Lauro departed on her maiden voyage from Bremerhaven to Fremantle, Melbourne and Sydney. In 1941 the Netherlands Government offered to the Governments of Australia and New Zealand the MV Oranje, a ship of 22,000 tons, for use as a hospital ship to convey Australian and New Zealand sick and wounded from the Middle East. This offer was gladly accepted by the two governments.A framed oil painting of the migrant ship 'Oranje'Oranjemv oranje, mv angelina lauro, migrant ships

SS New Australia was a UK-built turbo-electric passenger steamship that had a varied career from 1931 to 1966. She was built as the ocean liner Monarch of Bermuda, was a troop ship in the Second World War and was damaged by fire in 1947. She was then refitted to carry emigrants to Australia and renamed New Australia. In 1958 she was refitted again, renamed Arkadia and served as both a transatlantic liner and a cruise ship.The ship originally had three funnels. Thornycroft rebuilt her with a single funnel, plus an unusual bipod structure aft of her bridge that served as both a funnel and a mainmast. The MoT renamed her New Australia, contracted Shaw, Savill & Albion Line to manage her and put her into service carrying UK emigrants to Australia. She plied this trade from 1950 until 1957. In September 1958 New Australia was serving as a troop ship again when she suffered slight damage in a collision with a tanker in the Torres Strait.a framed oil painting of the migrant ship MV New AustraliaNew Australiamv new australia, migrant ships

After World War II Lloyd Triestino re-established its Australian service with existing ships and began a rebuilding programme ordering seven new liners. Of these new liners three were for the Australian service, launched in 1950 these three ships became known as the Treistino Trio. The first to be built was the Australia launched on 21 May 1950, departing Trieste on 19 April 1951 and arriving in Melbourne on 17 May. The second ship Oceania launched on 30 July 1950, departed Genoa for its maiden voyage on 18 August 1951.The third, Neptunia, launched on 1 October 1950, departing on its maiden voyage on 14 September 1951 and arriving in Brisbane on 18 October. In 1963, Australia, Oceania and Neptunia were withdrawn from the Australian trade and transferred to the Italia line. The Australia was renamed the Donizetti, Oceania renamed Rossini and Neptunia renamed Verdi.Mrs B SmythA framed oil painting of the migrant ship MV NeptuniaNeptuniamv neptunia, migrant ships

MS Nelly was a humble but reliable immigrant liner operating between Europe and Australia in the 1940s and 1950s. She was eventually renamed ‘Seven Seas’ and would go on to have an impressive career sailing across the globe from Canada to New Zealand.Mrs B SmythA framed oil painting of the migrant ship MS NellyNellyms nelly, migrant ships, german migrants, post war migration

Beltana was launched in 1921 at a cost of £179,000. She was a passenger liner built specifically for the UK-Australia emigrant service via the Cape of Good Hope. In October 1917, she was requisitioned for Transatlantic service where she carried munitions and supplies, returning to emigrant service in 1919. On 31 March 1930 she was sold for £27,000 to Toyo Hogei Kabushiki Kaisha, Japan for conversion for the whaling trade. She was not renamed, being laid up in Japan. She never traded under the Japanese flag. In 1933 she was sold to Gentaro Kasegawa, Kobe for demolition. Mrs B SmythFramed oil painting of the ship BeltanaBeltanass beltana, transatlantic supply transport, wwi, migrant ship

SS Mariposa was a luxury ocean liner launched in 1931, one of four ships in the Matson Lines "White Fleet", which included SS Monterey, SS Malolo, and SS Lurline. She was later renamed SS Homeric. Mariposa was designed for service in the Pacific Ocean, including regular stops in ports along the West Coast of the United States, Hawaii, Samoa, Fiji, New Zealand, and Australia. On the 12th January 1942 the Mariposa left San Francisco in the "Australian — Suva" convoy escorted by two destroyers and the light cruiser and with two other troopships (destined for Suva). This was the first large convoy to Australia after Pearl Harbor with Mariposa transporting Army personnel, ammunition and fifty P-40 fighters intended for the Philippines and Java.Mrs B SmythAn oil painting of the SS Mariposa in an ornate gold frame. Mariposamigrant ships, ss mariposa, wwii

Completed in December 1910 as a steam passenger ship she was requisitioned as a troop transport for the Australian Expeditionary Force (AEF) in 1914. She was returned to the owner in 1920 only to be requisitioned again in 1940 by the Admiralty for use as a troopship. After the war, the Ascanius brought Jewish emigrants from Marseilles to Haifa and was sold to Italy and renamed San Giovannino for Cia de Nav. Florencia (A. Motosi), Genoa in 1949. B Smythe An oil painting of the SS AscaniusAscaniusss ascanius, troop transport, aef, wwi, wwii, migrant ship

The Romolo was built by Lloyd Triestino Soc.Anon.di Nav., reg. Genoa and on 15 June 1940 she was sunk by H.M.A.S. MANOORA near Cape York peninsular after the crew set fire & abandoned the ship.An oil painting of the SS Romolo in a timber frame.Romoloss romolo, hmas manoora, wwii

RMS Mauretania was launched on 28 July 1938 at the Cammell Laird yard in Birkenhead, England and was completed in May 1939. The second Mauretania was the first ship built for the newly formed Cunard White Star company following the merger in April 1934 of the Cunard and White Star lines. A booklet illustrating the history of construction through to the launch of the passenger liner Mauretania in 1938rms mauretania, troop transport, passenger liner, cunard, white star

Schomberg was a large clipper ship built for James Baines' famous Black Ball Line. Schomberg has historical significance as one of the luxurious ships built to bring emigrants to Australia, cashing in on the gold rush era. The clipper is one of only three clipper wrecks in Victorian waters that operated the England to Australia run. While the other two, Empress of the Sea and Lightening, were built by the famous American shipbuilder, Donald MacKay, Schomberg was built in Aberdeen. The Schomberg story was almost the nineteenth century's Titanic; built at great expense, labelled the most perfect clipper ship ever built and designed to be the most comfortable vessel to sail to Melbourne?and sinking on its maiden voyage in 1855.10 horse harness buckles in various condition and completeness. Some encrusted and corroded.cargo, salvage, ship wrecks, shomberg

The SS Schomberg was a clipper built in Aberdeen by Alexander Hall & Co. for "the Black Ball line" which was a subsidiary of James Baines & Co., for carrying large cargoes and steerage passengers. When built, she was regarded as the most luxurious and well-built clipper of the period. She was sunk on her maiden voyage in 1855 on the Shipwreck Coast of Victoria, Australia.Baines & Co were the owners of the SS Great Britain, and Alexander Hall & Co. was the leading clipper shipbuilder in Britain. She was named after Captain Charles Frederick Schomberg R N., the Emigration Commissioner for Liverpool, an influential man when it came to securing government contracts for the carriage of emigrants. The Black Ball Line’s owners clearly sought his favour. She was launched in Aberdeen, Scotland, on 7 April 1855 and sank on her maiden voyage in 1855 on the Shipwreck Coast of Victoria, Australia.A cast brass boot spurschomberg, salvage, diving, shipwreck coast

At the outbreak of World War II, the RAN Reserve Forces comprised: RANR (S), 86 officers; RANR, 222 officers, 3869 ratings; RANVR, 223 officers. In order to balance the numbers in the permanent service at post-war complements, Reserve training was suspended during the War; all new entry personnel were entered through the RANR and they signed an agreement for the duration of hostilities instead of the customary 12 years engagement. Officers and potential officers, meanwhile, were entered as members of the RANR (S) or the RANVR.The Royal Australian Naval Reserves (RANR) can trace its origins back to at least 1863 and the formation of the New South Wales Naval Brigade.Booklet detailing a brief history and operation of the RAN Reserve.Royal Australian Naval Reserve; Non Sibi Set Patriaeroyal australian naval reserve, ran reserve, information booklet

A hard bound book 'The Royal Navy Officer's Pocket-Book 1944' The Royal Navy Officer's Pocket-Book 1944, London. A crest showing the crown with anchor underneeth and surrounded by a fleuron glyph is in the centre.ran, ranr, royal australian naval reserve, pocket book

The TSMV Manunda was requisitioned in September 1939 and she was converted into a fulltime hospital ship. HMAS Manunda was officially commissioned on May 25 1940 after which she operated four voyages to the Middle East to bring back wounded troops to Australia. On February 19, 1942 during a Japanese bombing raid whilst the ship was at anchor in Darwin harbour, a bomb hit right through the music room skylight, which exploded down on C deck tragically killing 12 and injuring 157 others. The next day she sailed for Fremantle with 266 patients. Whilst in Fremantle she was repaired and made ready for her next chapter in the war effort.This sea bag belonged to an unknown sailor who served on the hospital ship HMAS Manunda during WWIIA sailor's canvas sea or kit bag used on the TSMN Manunda in WWIIManundatsmv manunda, hmas manunda, hospital ship, wwii, kit bag, sea bag