August Rietmann (1877-1951) of Lustdorf ,Switzerland, married Maria Frieda Oesschlager (2/21878- 22/7/1942) of Baden Baden, Germany on 6/8/1910 In August 8th 1915 August and his wife Frieda migrated to Melbourne, Victoria, Australia sailing on the Steam Ship ‘Osterley’ from Marseilles to Melbourne They leased Box Cottage, Ormond in 1917 and raised two children, Stefanie (1918 -2006) and William (1920- 1997). 1935 August purchased the property and the family used the Cottage during the day and slept in the Front House. August was a monumental mason, potter and sculptor, and was employed at Corbens Ltd Clifton Hill, to carve war memorials in Victoria post WW1 c 1915-1922. During the 1920's August set up his own business in pressed cement making pot plants, columns,paving slabs and lampstands. He continued to carve headstones and figures and took contract work for Artists eg Paul Mountford. He built a workshop in the Barn and used the Cottage for plaster moulding. His son William joined the business and and the family continued to use the site after August died in 1951. Rietmann Landscaping Ltd moved to Bay Road Highett in 1953 and later to Carrum. The land, containing the Box Cottage, was sold to Lewis Timber Pty Ltd in 1970 and Mr Lewis proposed that Moorabbin City Council should preserve the heritage Cottage. In 1984 the Cottage was dismantled and reconstructed in the adjacent Joyce Park. 'Osterley' SS of the Orient Line, 12,129 tons, was a Royal Mail Steam- Ship sailing to and from Australia c1915The Rietman family is an example of the diverse nationalities that lived and worked productively in Moorabbin Shire 1871–1933 , the City of Moorabbin 1934-1994 and continues today in the Cities of Glen Eira, Kingston, Bayside, and Monash. August, a sculptor and stone mason, was employed by Corben Pty Ltd Clifton Hill to carve WW1 Memorials before establishing his own successful masonry business in the Box Cottage during the latter 1920s. After becoming interested in pressed cement casting, he took on apprentices (1930s Depression) and among his products were garden furniture, pots and also street lamp standards, some of which were installed in St Kilda Road. After August’s death in 1951, his family continued the business ‘Rietman’s Landscaping Ltd.’, at Highett and Carrum.Printed Documents a) Mr A Rietmann Receipt from Immigration Department of New South Wales Australia; b) Original Ticket Orient Line Ship 'Osterley' Marseilles to Melbourne 1915 c) Photograph colour of 'Osterley' Steam Shipa) No. 4407 MELBOURNE PLACE, THE STRAND W.C. /London July 12 1915/ Received from Mr Rietmann Fourteen Pounds for passage Money to Melbourne b) ORIENT LINE/ ROYAL MAIL STEAM-SHIPS TO AUSTRALIA/ ............THIRD CLASS PASSENGER CONTRACT TICKET..............OSTERLEY ... to take in passengers of the Port of Marseilles for ..........MELBOURNE............on the Eighth day of August 1915 ..........Mr August Rietmann .......................£15:4 : - to be paid before embarkation c) Osterly Steam ship en route to Melbourneport of marseilles france, melbourne australia, orient steam ship line, osterley steam ship,rietmann august, rietman august, rietmann frieda, rietman frieda, stonnington city town hall, war memorials, world war 1 1914-1918, rietman stefanie, rennick stefanie, francis stefanie, rietman william, rietman ray, mountford paul, malvern city town hall,box cottage museum ormond, box william, box elizabeth, joyce park ormond, rietman's landscaping pty ltd, bay road highett, macrobertson pty ltd, coleraine soldier memorial 1921,

The Orient Steam Navigation Company Limited launched the Ocean Liner RMS Orion in 1934 and it remained in operation until 1963. The twin screw steamship was built to carry first class and tourist class passengers, over 1100 in all, plus almost 500 crew from Europe to Australia in comfort. The ship had a single funnel and a single mast. During WWII the vessel served as a troop carrier. The ventilation system noted on the plan, Punkah Louvre System, was designed for heating fresh air ventilation in buildings, ships and railroads. The system originated from Thermotank in Glasgow, Scotland. The ship plan for the RMS Orion is significant for its connection with the vessel. The ship was a leader, with several 'firsts'; the first Orient Line ship to be built with a single funnel since 1902, and the first to be painted in the Orient Line's livery, with a corn-coloured hull. It was the first liner to use chromium and bakelite materials for the surfaces throughout the ship, which provided greater resistance to the sea. It was also the first British ship to be fitted with air conditioning.Plan: printed provisional line drawing of the Orient line vessel "R.M.S. Orion". Inscriptions are printed on the plan. There are diagrams of six decks included in the plan. The ship is built for tourist "B" accommodation. The plan's Notices include details of the cabins including wardrobes, drawers, hinged seats, mattresses and bunk numbers. It also notes that there is a Punkah-Louvre System of Ventilation.Printed on the plan: "PROVISIONAL PLAN" "LOWER PROMENADE DECK" "UPPER CABIN DECK" "MAIN CABIN DECK" "LOWER CABIN DECK" "SUN DECK" "PROMENADE DECK" "ORIENT LINE / R.M.S. "ORION" / 24,000 TONS / TOURIST "B" CLASS ACCOMMODATION" "Owners: Orient Steam Navigation Company Limited"' "Managers : ANDERSON, GREEN & CO. LTD" "7 BISHOPS GATE, LONDON, E.C.2" "Chief Passenger Office : 14 Cockspur Street, London, S.W.1" "Branch Passenger Office : 1 Australia House, Strand, W.C.2" "notices"flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, rms orion, plan, ship plan, provisional plan, orient line, orient ship, vissel orion, class b passenger accommodation, punkah louvre system of ventilation, deck plan, ship ventilation, ship floor plan, orient steam navigation company limited, anderson green & co ltd, steamship, ocean liner, war ship, troop carrier

Photograph of 3 sqn RAAF personnel embarking for the Middle East. Signatures on accompanying document signed by Ken Williams, RW Sterrett, MR Campbell, J.H. Christie, JH McKinnon and F Finch. The personnel shown boarding are all in RAAF uniform. It was customary at the time to board units together, generally in the order of seniority, which was accepted as Navy first, Army second and RAAF third.Black and white photograph of troops boarding an Orient Line ship."3 sqdn embarking for ME." Written on top of photograph. "Army, Navy & RAAF leave for Middle East July 1940" written on rear of photograph. world war ii, second world war, orient line

Several items were given by a seafarer, Mr Nicholas Garlick (1926-2009) into the care of Father Brady who retired from St Pauls Cathedral, Melbourne in 2018. Father Brady later donated the collection of objects, documents and an extensive collection of cruise ship menus (1937-end of 20thC) to the Mission via the intermediary William Hastie, volunteer at the Mission for Seafarers.One of the reasons the gift has been accepted is because there are a number of items that relate to images or records of visits in the collection. Crews of ships such as the Orontes and the Orsova were regular donors to the Mission in the 20th century. Launched in 1929, the Orient Line passenger ship SS Orontes was one of the longest serving on the England to Australia route, carrying tens of thousands of British and European migrants to new lives in Australia from 1948 to 1962 and Nicholas Garlick may have worked on the ship during that time. During World War II, Orontes became a troopship, serving that role from 1940 to 1947.Glass ashtray or trinket dish with black and white printed transfer image of the RMS Orontes at sea.S.S.ORONTESss orontes, nicholas garlick (1926-2009), father brady, william hastie, nick garlick, ship engineer, passager ship, ship liner, orient line, migrant ship, troopship, ww2, smoking

British painter Howard Jarvis was best known for his maritime landscape paintings. An early member of the Society of Marine Artists (UK), formed in 1939, he went to sea on merchant ships and served in the Royal Navy during World War II. His works were influenced by marine artist Kenneth Shoesmith. Jarvis was commissioned by the Cunard-White Star Cruises to create a stone litho poster, which was quite well known, giving passengers a birds-eye view of a cruise ship.SS Orsova, built in 1954, was a British ocean liner for the Orient Steam Navigation Company until 1960, then P&O Orient Lines between 1960-1966, although the Orient ships retained their corn-coloured hulls and sailed under their own house flag. The colour of the hull on the print indicates it was made between 1954 and 1966. On 24 May 1956, Orsova ran aground off Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne, for twelve hours. In 1966 P&O acquired the balance of the Orient Line shares and all their ships were painted white. In the 1960s, Orsova carried many thousands of emigrants from Greece and Italy to Australia. It was staffed by approximately 600 crew and carried over a 1000 passengers. Maritime Art, Marine artColour printed reproduction of a painting or lithograph print featuring 20th C passenger liner, hull and superstructure primarily painted pale yellow, under steam at sea. Print is mounted glazed with thin gilded and moulded frame.Printed inscription on border of print at lower centre edge: "Orient Line S.S. Orsova / Off San Francisco"s.s. orsova, passengers ships, steamship, emigration, greece, italy, australia, passenger liner, melbourne, port phillip bay, artwork-paintings, w. howard jarvis, orient line, p and o, peninsular and oriental steam navigation company, ocean liner, passengers liners, passenger ships

The original ship was built in Glasgow in 1899 by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Co for the Orient Line. It was the largest Orient Line passenger ship completed in the nineteenth century and was the third vessel of the Line to bear the famous “O” prefix, which was traditional through to the last ship, the mighty 'Oriana'. Her dimensions were 8,130 gross tons, length 490.6ft x beam 56.6ft (149.50 x 17.22m). She had one funnel, two masts, twin screw and a speed of 18½ knots. Her maiden voyage from London, via Suez, to Melbourne and Sydney commenced on 3rd February 1899. She was the largest British flag ship sailing to Australia at the time and continued to regularly sail between London, Melbourne and Sydney throughout her life. She last sailed as a passenger ship between Melbourne and Sydney on the 3rd November 1916. During World War I, she was converted to a troopship and was used to transport soldiers and assist with military operations. She was torpedoed and sunk by German submarine UB-52, 40 nautical miles (74km) off the coast of Sardinia in the 12 May 1918. She was on her return journey from Alexandria to Marseilles with six other transports, carrying troops of the 52nd and 74th divisions when she was lost, resulting in one casualty. Her maiden voyage brought her to Melbourne in 1899. The ship carried the first Australian troops from Brisbane to WWI in September 1914.A large ship builder's model of the 'SS Omrah' an Orient Line one funnel passenger steamer of 1899. The model is displayed in a large glass and polished timber case on legs.2 Plaques at foot of model: "MODEL/ OF TWIN SCREW STEAMER/ "OMRAH"/ BUILT FOR/ ORIENT STEAM NAVIGATION CO LTD/ BY/ THE FAIRFIELD SHIPBUILDING & engineering CO LTD/ DIMENSIONS/ 507-0X56-9X37-6MLD/ GROSS TONNAGE 8291 TONS SPEED 18 1/2 KNOTS on boat: "OMRAH"

Green coloured hardbound Book / gold lettering -Orient Guide /-front and back inside covers show - Orient line of Royal Mail Steamships Henry Jones & co Agents for Orient Line , View Point , Sandhurst , Orient Line of Royal Mail Steamships' / Title page shows 'Orient Line Guide -Chapters for Travellers by sea and land , Illustrated . The third Edition, Re- written, with maps and plans. Edited for the Managers of the Line by W.J.Loftie, B.A., F.S.A., Author of 'A History of London ‘, 'Windsor ' 'Authorised guide to the Tower 'Etc. Etc. . . . Price 2/6 London : Sampson Low , Marston , Searle , & Rivington , Limited , St. Dunstan's House , Fetter lane , Edward Stanford , 26 , & 27 Cockspur St . S.W. 1888 Entered at Stationers Hall / this page also has a rubber stamp ' Eaglehawk Public Library / first page of chapter 1 shows 'With compliments of Henry Jones & Co , View point Sandhurst / contents include a list of Orient Line Steam ships , illustrations and ships 'plans ,maps , advertsorganization, business, -orient guide / orient line of royal mail steamships henry jones & co agents for orient line , view point , sandhurst , orient line of royal mail steamships' / w.j.loftie , b.a., f.s.a. , author of 'a history of london ' / sampson low , marston , searle , & rivington , limited , st. dunstan's house , fetter lane , edward stanford , 26 , & 27 cockspur st . s.w. 1888 entered at stationers hall /henry jones & co , view point sandhurst

RMS ORSOVA (1909-1936) R.M.S.ORSOVA made the first of what would be seventy voyages to Australia in 1909. During the First World War she was used as a troopship, carrying Australian soldiers to various theatres of war. She survived being torpedoed in the English Channel in 1917, and resumed commercial service to Australia for the Orient Line in 1919. In 1933, ORSOVA was converted to a tourist class ship and finally served briefly as a cruise ship before being scrapped in 1936. (Photo c.1909)RMS ORSOVA (1909-1936) The liner RMS ORSOVA, built for the Orient Steam Navigation Co at John Brown & Co's Clydebank Shipyard,had accommodation for 1076 passengers, the 12,000-ton liner had 100,000 cubic feet of refrigerated cargo space. Sepia Photograph showing R.M.S. ORSOVA. Rectangular in shape.R.M.S. ORSOVA Orient Line 12.036 Tons-14.000 Horse Powermigrant ships,troop carring ships,lara r.s.l.

Found by the donor in 2017 in a thrift or Opportunity shop in Richmond, North Yorkshire, England. The names of the ships featured recalled some of the names and their crews known to have visited Melbourne and recorded in various records associated with the MTSV.Page from a children's book featuring full colour hand drawn illustrations of five ocean going ships.Ships names featured: MV Carnarvon Castle 20,000 tons Union Castle Line; S.S. Majestic, White Star Line 56,000 tons; M.V Chibu Maru, 16,500 tons, N.Y.K Line; S.S. Orontes, Orient Line 20,000 tons, S.S. Empress of Britain, 42,000 tons C.P.R. Line. Printed page of text on reverse starts mid sentence: "...going to Bombay, and then right away for Australia, this time next month she will be on the other side of the world. ..."children's book, ships, illustration, steamships, orontes, empress of britain, chichibu maru, majestic, carnarvon castle

RMS Queen Elizabeth that sailed primarily on the North Atlantic Ocean from 1939 to 1968 for the Cunard Line , later owned by the Queen Corpration and then the Seawise University. Queen Elizabeth was a slightly larger ship (than the Queen Mary) , the largest passenger liner ever built at that time and for 56 years thereafter. She also has the distinction of being the largest-ever riveted ship by gross tonnage. She first entered service in February 1940 as a troopship in World War II, and it was not until October 1946 that she served in her intended role as an ocean liner. With the decline in popularity of the transatlantic route, both ships were replaced by the smaller. Queen Elizabeth was sold to a succession of buyers, and finally was sold to Hong Kong businessman of the Orient Overseas line in 1970. In 1972, whilst she was undergoing refurbishment in Hong Kong harbour, fire broke out aboard under unexplained circumstances, and the ship was capsized by the water used to fight the fire.Marine artLong framed unglazed landscape format painting predominantly depicting in foreground an ocean liner painted black hull and white superstructure with two funnel stacks painted red with black trim, under full sail against a blue sky. The back of the painting is covered with brown paper in places damaged. Hanging cord missing . Remnant Brown paper backing.at lower right corner single uc word in white paint : "CV WRIGHT (artist symbol of crossed anchors) / 3 ? '71"marine painting, ocean liners, rms queen mary, royal mail ships, p & o steamships, ww2, artwork-paintings, hobbies, bosun, c.v.wright

Several items were given by a seafarer, Mr Nicholas Garlick (1926-2009) into the care of Father Brady who retired from St Pauls Cathedral, Melbourne in 2018. Father Brady later donated the collection of; objects, documents and an extensive collection of cruise ship menus (1937-end of 20thC) to the Mission via the intermediary William Hastie, volunteer at the Mission for Seafarers.There are several references in the Mission records to both this ship and an earlier vessel with the same name.Glass ashtray or trinket dish with black and white printed transfer image of the S.S. Orsova at sea.S.S. "Orsova"nicolas garlick (1926-2006), sailors, seafarers, ss orsova, ship, nick garlick, ship engineer, seamen, orient steam navigation company

A similar photograph from the Herald dating from the 22 August 1930 indices it was taken on board the Blue Funnel liner Nestor at Victoria Docks.Representational photograph portraying a typical ship visit by MTSV clergyman. Large rectangular (landscape oriented) black and white photograph of 3 ship's officers casually standing on deck with Father Frank Oliverfrank oliver, padre frank leslie oliver, officers, ship visit, ships, blue funnel, nestor

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 souvenir paper carry bag from the SS Himalaya, was obtained by Mr Bates on his voyage from the UK to Australia in 1971. One side has a copy of a coloured drawing of the SS Himalaya and on the reverse the SS Iberia. Both ships belonged to the P & O (Pacific & Orient) shipping companytransport - shipping, mr bates, ss iberia, ss himalaya

A box containing menus. (1) Shipping and railway menus and passenger lists 1913 - 1955. (11) Breakfast menu Bendigonia Motel. (111) Shamrock Hotel Centenary dinner menu 11th April 1956. (1V) Moomba Festival program March 1955. ( 1V) An Orient Line letter card addressed to Mrs. G.A. Pethard.photos of RMS Orford (V) Bendigo 'Advertiser' article dated 9/5/1964 and titled, three pages for Women' and 'Womens World' conducted by 'Toora.' It describes a Mayoral Ball of 1910 ('a flashback!) and also included are some photos of local Bendigo women. Dated 1910 - 1964. // White Star line Passenger information booklet-painting of RMS Ceramic 18,494 Tons on the back page .The booklet relates to the Steamer Suevic 12,686 tons sailing from Liverpool 27.9.1924 /// Passenger list for Canadian Pacific Railways Company Royal mail Steamship Empress of Ireland -Second cabin Passenger List sailing from Liverpool to Quebec 5.9.1913// SS Suevic plan of passenger Accommodation.The Advertiser, Bendigonia Hotel, The Shamrock Hotel, Womens World.person, individual, lydia chancellor, lydia chancellor, collection, menus, food, shipping, ships, travel, tourism, shipping lines, passenger lists, 'toora, ' the 'bendigo advertiser, ' correspondence, orient line r.m.s.''orford, '' bendigo mayoral ball 1910, mrs. hedley jones, mrs. j. lang, mrs. f. harris, mrs. a.s. craig, mrs. g.r. short

This sturdy, deep hat box has been carefully constructed to give the contents utmost protection in the roughest of travel conditions. At the same time, attention to detail and quality of materials makes the box an attractive, desirable and useful piece of luggage. The supports inside the hat box show that the hat’s brim dipped at the front and back in the popular 1920s Homburg or Derby style. The hat box was likely to have been purchased, complete with its fashionable hat and personalised with the initials ‘G.M.’. The five shipping labels on the hat box tell that the owner traveller overseas with it on more than one occasion. The owner had first travelled with the shipping line Peninsular & Orient Steam Navigation Company, and may have been one the first Australian passengers in 1932, as the remnant of label on the base reads Sydney. The owner later voyaged under the company’s new name of P & O. and travelled from at least one of the voyages from Melbourne to London The square label, with “P & O” and red printed “M” in centre of circle, refers to alphabetical organisation of baggage by surname, connecting the owner ‘G.M.’ to the owner’s voyage with P & O. The P & O shipping line’s early beginnings started with the partnership of London ship broker Brodie McGhie Willcox and Scottish sailor Arthur Anderson in 1822. The partnership was joined by Irish shipowner Captain Richard Bourne in 1835 and they began operation as the Peninsular & Orient Steam Navigation Company with a service between London- Spain - Portugal. In 1932 the company expanded to include Australia with its passenger services departing from Sydney; in 1840 the company was incorporated. After various take-overs of other shipping lines and businesses, it operated under the name P & O. JOHN BRUSH The hat box was made by Australian saddle designer and maker, John Brush, Sons & Co. Brush began his saddlery trade in Roma, Queensland, His designing process included consulting with the men who rode and worked the horses. He was described in the Sydney Morning Herald of December 15, 1897, as a leading Sydney saddler, well known and reliable, with every kind of English and Australian saddle on view. John Brush established his business in 1840, operating from 371 George Street Sydney. A catalogue from that era jointly advertises John Brush (371 George Sty Sydney) and Butlers & Brush (432-4 Queen Street Sydney), both under the name of Edward Butler & Co. Pty. Ltd. The catalogue included saddlery, harness equipment, riding wear and travel goods, and strongly promoted the Wienkek made saddles, which he distributed Australia wide. John Brush, So & co. advertised its ‘new’ address in 1887, as 403 George Street Sydney. In 1898 Brush made a side-saddle for a customer, a design popular with gentlewomen of the era. The business was still operating over 100 years later, producing a catalogue in the 1950s.This early 20th century hat box is significant for being one of a kind in our Collection. Its fitted design shows the shape of the hat, dating it from the 1920s men’s fashions. The hat box is significant for being a high quality hat box made in Sydney, Australia by prominent and successful early colonial saddler and leather goods business, John Brush, Son & Co. The labels on the outside of the hat box are also significant, representing the prosperous lifestyle of an Australian traveller who purchased quality goods and cared for them. The traveller was able to depart from firstly the Port of Sydney and later the Port of Melbourne. Hatbox, oval shape, brown leather, strong, sturdy construction, six pieces, and metal lock on base. Wide lid, then tapers to a narrower base that has a red leather trim. Brown velvet fabric lining inside and covers some accessories. Other internal accessories are trimmed with plain red paper and blue and white striped paper. The lid has two attached leather tabs and a leather handle and underneath it has a drawstring liner and oval, gold-lettered maker’s label. The internal oval box has a leather retention strap and brim support. Separate moulded brim support is included. A detached leather strap with catch is inside the base. Inscriptions are stamped on the lid, printed on the maker’s label, attached as printed paper labels to the lid, sides, and under the base. Maker is John Brush, Son & Co. of Sydney. The owner’s initials “G.M” are embossed on the lid.Stamped on lid “G. M.” Label, oval, inside lid “JOHN BRUSH, SON & CO. / MANUFACTURERS & IMPORTERS / of / SADDLERY AND HARNESS / 403, GEORGE ST. / SYDNEY” Label, paper: “BAGGAGE, MELBOURNE TO LONDON’, part of word ‘CABIN’ and “P & O” Label, square, white background, black print, circular emblem: ‘PE - - - - - & ORIEN-’, ‘STEAM NAVIATION COMPY.’ BAGGAGE’ and a red printed “M” in centre of circle. Label, rectangular, white background, black print; narrow line border, text in rows and an ‘X’ overprinted, from corner to corner of the border: “BAGGAGE / P. & O. S. N. Co. / MELBOURNE / To / LONDON” Label, paper, rectangular, white background, black print, an “X” across the label: “CABIN / P & O / “ Label, paper, on base, “– aid” [Paid], “SYDNEY” flagstaff hil, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, hat box, leather hat box, vintage hat box, top hat, homburg hat, derby hat, travel ware, luggage, leather goods, travel goods, clothing accessory, men’s clothing, john brush, son & co, saddler, sydney firm, peninsular & orient steam navigation company, p & o, g.m., melbourne to london, sydney port, melbourne port, hat case

The postcards and photograph in this Ships Collection were found by the donor. Two of the cards are addressed to a local person "Master Jack de Little, Caramut House, Caramut, Victoria, Australia". Another has a message written in a different language. The remainder have no personal messages on them. The details of the postcards are- Published by Stephen Cribb, Southsea: 6967.1 Striking scene at Spithead; Aircraft over the fleet, including airships 6967.2 The King’s Ships; Fleet of ships. Aircraft overhead. 6967.3 HMS HIBERNIA; King Edward Class ship 6967.4 For Docking; Super Dreadnaughts, largest floating dock in the world, in Portsmouth Harbour 6967.5 HMS COLLINGWOOD; Dreadnaught, on which His Majesty’s son is serving. 6967.6 HMS BRITANNICA; Pre-Dreadnaught, 16,350 tons. Inscription “b1” or “61” written on the sea on the front of the postcard. 6967.7 HMS IRON DUKE; Fleet Flagship 6967.8 HMS Submarine D8. Ship numbered “78” 6967.9 HMS IRON DUKE, Fleet Flagship 6967.10 HMS SOUTHAMPTON 6967.11 SHAMROCK IV (Ketch rigged), leaving for America July 18, 14 (1914’) to fetch home the American to Gosport 6967.12 HMS CONQUEROR, June 1913 6967.13 Portsmouth Harbour, The Entrance (from Gosport Hard) 6967.14 Seaplane rising; 20th Century Marvel. Naval air defence. Types of airships, Seaplanes, Monoplanes in The Solent review 6967.15 HMS AUDACIOUS 6967.16 HMS DREADNAUGHT, pioneer of the all-big-gun warship ”Marcus Ward Series, McCaw Stevenson & Oms Ltd” 6967.17 HMS TERRIBLE, textured paper on front with aqua lower border, remnants of blue paper on the back. Published by Stephen Cribb, Southsea 6967.18 “In time of peace, prepare for war” Hoisting guns and torpedo heads on board a warship 6967.19 HMS LORD NELSON 6967.20 HMS HINDUSTAN 6967.21 Spitbank Fort, Spithead, on Solvent Sea 6967.22 HMS GARLAND of Netley Photographer Edgar Ward. “A halfpenny stamp for inland, one penny for foreign” 6967.23 Entrance to the Cambor, from Portsmouth Harbour. “312, copyright Edgar Ward” 6967.24 Royal yacht alongside Portsmouth Dockyard, “305” J. Welch & Sons, English Photography 6967.25 The Royal Yacht, Victoria & Albert “50” 6967.26 The VICTORY, firing a Royal Salute “21” Published by E.A. Schwerdtfeger & Co. London E.C. Printed at their works in Berline. Trade Mark E.A.S. 6967.27 The Hard and Viaduct, Portsea, Portsmouth 6967.28 SS MACEDONIA, P&O, 15212 tons, 1500 h.p., Coloured drawing. On reverse “Master Jack de Little, Caramut House, Caramut, Victoria, Australia” Published by Union Postale Universelle, Gibralta. 6967.29 HMS KING EDWARD VII leaving Dock N.3 GIBRALTAR – 11/3/05 (1905). Printer V.B. Cumbo, Gibraltar. Drawing. Handwritten “Oroton 28/5/06”. “Master Jack De Little Caramut, Victoria, Australia” 6967.30 7274 BARBARA, Hamburg. Imprinted “ ---O WEDDE ----- VORSETZEN 35/37” inscription, six lines of handwritten text in another language on the back. Published by the Valentine & Sons Co. Publishing Ltd., Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Branches Sydney. London, Dundee, Cape Town, Montreal, Toronto. 6967.31 SS MOLDAVIA, the first dining saloon, Valentine Series M.4059. Valentines Real Photo Series Postcard. Postcard made in U.S.A. Agfa ANSCO 6967.32 Port McNicoll, Ont. DSR.. 6967.33 Orient Line SS ORONSAY, 20,000 tons. On board the Orient Line. Tuck’s Post Card, Carte Postale. ‘Our Navy’ Series II, Raphael Tuck & Sons. “Photogravure” Postcard Nu. 4305. Art publishers to their Majesties the King and Queen. 6967.34 HMS QUEEN MARY, HMS Queen Mary, Battle Cruiser, launched 1912, completed 1913, 27,000 tons, 75,000 S.H.P., 28 knots per hour, 8 13.5-inch guns, 16 4-inch guns, 2 torpedoes. Commissioned September 1913. Printed in England. 6967.35 HMS SUPERB 6967.36 HMS TEMERAIRE 6967.37 HMS MONARCH Small photograph, not a postcard, H 6 x W 9 cm 6967.38 PHOTOGRAPH NESTOR? Small sepia photograph, ship at dock. Stamped “Kodak print” “549”. Handwritten on back is “NESTOR?“ The Ships Collection of postcards and a small photograph depict maritime vessels connected to our Australian alliance with Britain, particularly during World War I. Two of the postcards are specifically addressed to a ‘Master Jack de Little’ at Caramut House, in the local township of Caramut which was a Pioneer Settlement and a Soldier Settlement area after World War I. Collection of thirty-eight postcards from various photographers. They depict shipping, harbours and naval vessels from the Great War to the Second War War. Most of the cards have a title, generally handwritten, on the front of the postcard. A few of the postcards have inscriptions.6967.6 Handwritten on the sea in the photograph “b1” or “61” 6967.28 Handwritten on reverse “Master Jack de Little, Caramut House, Caramut, Victoria, Australia” 6967.29 Handwritten “Oroton 28/5/06”. “Master Jack De Little Caramut, Victoria, Australia” 6967.30 Imprinted Stamp “ ---O WEDDE ----- VORSETZEN 35/37” (a location in Germany). Handwritten, six lines of text in another language, possibly German. 6967.38 Handwritten on the back is “NESTOR?“flagstaff hill, maritime village, maritime museum, postcard, world war ii, ww2, royal navy, british merchant navy, portsmouth, the great war, ship, world war i, wwi, british, 1914-1918, jack de little, caramut, caramut house, vorsetzen, spithead, sea fort, fort, spithead fort, aircraft, fleet, airship, the king’s ships, hms hibernia, king edward class ship, super dreadnaught, floating dock, portsmouth harbour, hms collingwood, dreadnaught, hms britannica, hms iron duke, fleet flagship, hms submarine d8, hms southampton, shamrock iv, hms conqueror, the entrance, gosport head, seaplane, naval air defence, monoplane, the solvent, hms audacious, hms dreadnaught, warship, marcus ward series, mccaw stevenson & oms ltd, s cribb, southsea, hms terrible, hms hindustan, hms garland, edgar ward, cambor, portsmouth dockyard, j. welch & sons, the royal yacht, victoria & albert “50”, victory, royal salute “21”, e.a. schwerdtfeger & co, e.a.s., the hard and viaduct, ss macedonia, p&o, master jack de little, hms king edward vii, dock n.3 gibraltar, v.b. cumbo, gibraltar, union postale universelle, 7274 barbara, ss moldavia, valentine series, valentine & sons co, port mcnicoll, agfa ansco, ss oronsay, orient line, raphael tuck & sons, hms queen mary, hms superb, hms temeraire, hms monarch, nestor, stephen cribb, stephen cribb photography, hms lord nelson

Soft covered 195-page book with sketches, photographs and charts.Foreword extract: "In 1848 the vital beam of the nobly proportioned Cape Otway lighthouse first shone out over the perilous, previously unlit, waters of Bass Strait. It has now maintained that watch over its narrow western entrance, the aptly named 'Eye of the Needle', for over a century and a half. During that time ships of all shapes and sizes passed below Cape Otway's high cliffs - clipper ships with a hectare of canvas aloft, their masters determined to achieve the fastest passage out to the goldfields, four-masted grain ships and, by the turn of the century, the punctual, comfortable, Orient liners. They were followed by the battleships of the American White fleet in 1908 and, from time to time, cruiser squadrons of the Royal Navy, showing the flag at the furthest corner of the Empire. The lighthouse and its associated signal station made no distinction between merchant vessel and warship. In this book Ian McKellar examines a little known aspect of the history of Cape Otway - its role in war, more particularly the Second World War between 1939 and 1945. It takes the reader back to a time when Australia was ill-prepared for another war so soon after the conclusion of the Great War."

John Herron immigrated to Australia aboard the Royal Mail Ship Orvieto leaving the Port of London on 6 May 1926 and arriving in Melbourne on 1 June 1926. The ORVIETO was built by Workman Clark at Belfast in 1909. It was chartered by the Orient Steam Navigation Co until 1919 when it was taken over by the P&O Line. The passenger ship of 12,133 tons could accommodate 1117 people. Its maiden voyage in 1909 was from London to Sydney and Melbourne via the Suez Canal. During World War I the ship was used a minelayer and converted into an armed Merchant cruiser. In 1919 under the P&O line the ORVIETO resumed the passenger run between England and Australia, operating until 1930 when it was scrapped.John Herron was the husband of Isa May (nee Kennedy). Isa was the granddaughter of one of the oldest residents born in Bentleigh in 1857, James Jones.Third Class Passengers Contract Ticket for John Herron aboard the Royal Mail Steamship ORVIETO to Australia departed London 1 May 1926 two sided First day of May 1926 - John Herron, aged 17. - Melbourne - This ticket is available at the Company's option for a berth in a six, eight or ten berth cabinjohn herron, immigration, rms orvieto, ship, travel, moorabbin, bentleigh, london, steerage ticket, orient line, mail

SS Iberia (1873-1903) was built by John Elder & Co. (Govan yard no.162 Glasgow) and launched 6 December 1873 at a cost £151,600. However, due to strike delays, her maiden voyage was not until 21 October 1874. The Iberia was one of the last of the barque-rigged, clipper-bow type of steamer built for the Pacific Steam Navigation Company. At the time, she was also the second largest ship in world, after the Great Eastern. In 1877, a joint Orient Line and Pacific Steam Navigation Co. venture began a fortnightly mail service, first sailing between England and Australia on 12 May 1880, via Gibraltar, Naples, Port Said, Ismalia, Suez, Colombo, Albany, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney. Details: - Tonnage: 4,671 g, 2,982 n. - Dimensions: 433ft 6in (132.13m) x 45ft (13.72m) x 35ft 1in (10.69m). - Powered by a single screw, compound inverted 2 cylinder; 750 NHP; 4,000 IHP engine with steam pressure of 70 lbs, 4 cylindrical boilers, 2 to each funnel. - Speed 14 knots - 1873 Passengers: 100 1st, 150 2nd, 340 3rd Class. - 1893 Passengers: 140 first, 50 second, 800 third Some significant dates in her history include: - 1881: Replaced "Aconcagua" as standby vessel on the London - Suez- Melbourne - Sydney route - 1882: Government transport during the Egyptian Arabi Pasha Campaigns - 1883 Jan 25: Placed on regular service to Australia - 1890 Jun 11: Reverted to the Liverpool - Valparaiso route - 1893: Iberia sailed to Australia to replace a disabled ship. The journey via the Cape was non-stop at 14 knots in 32 days - 1893- Fitted with triple expansion engine; 3 cylinders, 600 NHP; 4 cylindrical boilers; 13 knots; fitted by J.Rollo & Sons, Liverpool - 1903: Broken up at Genoa. 1873 single screw, compound inverted, 2 cylinder; 750 NHP, 4000 IHP, Steam pressure 70 lbs, 4 cylindrical boilers, 2 to each funnel, 14 knots. Second largest ship in the world in 1874 (after the Great Eastern). Cost 151, 600 pounds. 1893 Triple expansion engine fitted. 3 cylinders 600 NHP, 4 cylindrical boilers, 15 knots, fitted by D Rollo and Sons, LiverpoolThe body of the model is carved and molded wood painted in black and white, the planked deck with detailed fittings and rigging, raised on a wooden base with simulated waves. At this time yards removed. "Iberia"

Ticket for orient-line steamship "Potosi" from Gravesend, London to Adelaide 1881, issued on the 18th of March to Richard Turner. Ship sailed on the 24th of March.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, ticket, orient-line, orient-line steamship, potosi, london to adelaide, richard turner.

This is a ship model of the SS Orotava, a British Screw Steamship built at Barrow-in-Furness, county of Lancashire, by the Naval Construction and Armaments Company (NC & A Co.) in 1889. The gross tonnage was 5552.10 tons, length 430 feet, breadth 49.3 feet and depth 34.2 feet. It was built for the Pacific Steam Navigation Company (of 31, James Street, Liverpool) and used as a passenger liner. The vessel was launched in 1889 and made two voyages for the Pacific Steam Navigation Company during 1889. Then, under the new management of the Orient Line, its first sailing was 6th June 1890 from Liverpool to Australia via Suez. During the Boer War (1889 – 1903), Orotava served as a troop ship, but apart from this, it remained in the Orient Line’s Australia service until 1906. On 14th December 1896, the Orotava sank at Tilbury Docks after being serviced on her return from Australia, becoming unstable and taking in water. Five men lost their lives. The ship was then raised to dry dock and repaired for service again, and an investigation was launched into the cause of the sinking. Between 1901 – 1906, the name Orient-Pacific Steam Line was used due to the close ties between the Pacific and the Orient lines. In 1906, the Pacific Steam Line Australian service was taken over by the Royal Mail Steam Packet Co., and the alliance between them and the Orient Line was dissolved in 1909. Orotava then served the West Indies service of the Royal Mail Line. In World War 1 (Dec 1914 – June 1916), the vessel served as HMS OROTAVA, an armed merchant cruiser. It was broken up in 1919.The model shows a visual description of the SS Orotava, which was used for commercial and government purposes from 1889 to 1919. The model is also an example of ship model-making, a skilled craft enjoyed for hundreds of years, demonstrating the evolution of ocean vessels. Ship model: SS Orotava. The model, without a case, has four masts and two funnels, and is mounted on a small timber base. The SS Orotave was a British passenger liner, launched in 1889. Inscriptions are painted on the hull. "OROTAVA" painted in white on each side of the bow. 'OROTAVA / LONDON" painted in white on the stern.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, ship model, ss orotava, naval construction and armaments co., n c & a co., pacific steam navigaiton company, passenger liner, orient line, orient-pacific steam line, royal mail line, hms orotava

This framed lithograph print in watercolour and gouache was produced on November 19th, 1924, by 20th-century marine artist, Mr R.N. Duffield. It depicts the event of a sea rescue that took place two years earlier. The framer was A.L. Frith of Footscray, Melbourne, who actively advertised from 1933 to 1935. The now disbanded Shiplovers' Society of Victoria (1930-2018) donated the print, and it seems likely that this print was framed for that organisation. This graphic image shows the conditions in which the rescue from the wrecked Helen B. Sterling happened. Captain George Harris was master of the American-owned, four-masted windjammer. His wife Edith and their ten-year-old son Leslie were on board, along with a crew of fifteen seamen. The ship set off from Newcastle, NSW, on January 5th, 1922, loaded with a cargo of coal to deliver to the Society Islands and on to San Francisco. Young Leslie later wrote a lively school composition for his teacher about his experiences on board the Helen B Sterling. He tells of a fire that broke out the day after they departed and burned a hole in a beam. Then another troublesome time on the 9th, when a strong gale blew a sail off the ship. Finally, he tells of the highlight of his voyage when, on the 18th January, the ship was right in the path of a strong cyclone, which broke the mainmast. Huge waves crashed over both sides of the deck, meeting in the middle, and the ship began to sink. The rescue from the wreck was an exciting time for the young boy, and even more so when one of his cats survived after being carefully wrapped in a pillowcase and thrown down from the ship for the boy. Reporters later wrote about Leslie’s comments, “... what had grieved him most was the thought that he might never see his two little sisters again”. Captain Harris said in a published statement, “… the gale was the worst he had met in his 12 years’ experience at sea. All went well for the first week. We then encountered a strong blow from the south-east. We tried the gasoline pump, but the engine broke down, and we had to do the pumping by hand. We at once shortened sail, but the sea increased in fury to such an extent that men were washed from the pumps. I was below at 5:30 on Sunday morning [January 22nd, 1922] when the main mast went over the side, … I at once sent out SOS signals, and got word that HMAS Melbourne was coming to our assistance. I had made a mistake with regard to our position, but did not know it until 11:30 o’clock, when I sent out the correct location. This was picked up by the Melbourne and I received the following reply: “We will reach you about 2 am. Keep a good heart. The Melbourne will do all she can.” Our ship was practically awash when we were taken off.” (Ref: the ‘Helen B. Sterling Disaster’, Maitland Weekly Mercury, NSW, 4-2-1922.) Officers from the Royal Australian Navy, Captain Henry J Feakes (later Rear-Admiral) and Commander Wilfrid Ward Hunt, were on board the light cruiser, HMAS Melbourne (1913-1928), when it left Sydney for New Zealand. After the SOS was received, the ship sped at full steam towards the sinking Helen B. Sterling. They found the vessel at about midnight and shone bright search lights on the distressed ship to illuminate the desperate scene. The Melbourne was unable to move close to the schooner, so sixteen seamen, including Commander Hunt, volunteered to man the Melbourne’s lifesaving 12-oared cutter. They rowed the sea boat with great urgency towards the victims of the sinking ship, keen to save lives no matter what the conditions. When the cutter was close to the Sterling, a line was secured between the Sterling and the cutter. The weary, waterlogged and anxious men on board could be rescued, one at a time, in the breeches buoy equipment, which looked like canvas shorts with a lifesaving ring in the waistband. The victims were hauled along the line and pulled aboard by many willing hands. All eighteen crew and passengers were saved, including Captain Harris and his family. The seamen of the Melbourne received a heroes’ welcome when they arrived in New Zealand. The grateful survivors were taken to Auckland, where they received the care and comfort they needed. Melbourne’s Lord Mayor, Cr. Swanston, on behalf of the citizens of Melbourne, formally recognised the heroic rescue efforts of the seamen of the HMAS Melbourne on March 2nd, 1922, at a special presentation. Two large flags, a White Ensign and an Australian “Jack" Flag, were presented to the Captain of HMAS Melbourne, and souvenirs were awarded to the sea boat’s crew and its Commander, Wilfred Ward Hunt. Commander Hunt was also presented with an original watercolour depicting the heroic rescue from the wreck of the Helen B. Sterling, painted just after the event by renowned marine artist Arthur V Gregory (1867-1957), and he received a silver cigarette case bearing the City’s coat of arms and the inscription, "To Commander Ward Hunt from the Citizens of Melbourne as a memento of the rescue of the crew of Helen B. Stirling by H.M.A.S. Melbourne, on 23.1.22". Both the painting and the cigarette case are now treasured items inherited by his grandson; a reminder of “… a very fine naval gentleman who believed in leading by example." R.N. DUFFIELD: - The Lithograph print in our collection by 20th-century English artist R.N. Duffield is dated Nov. 19, 1924. It is very similar to, and possibly created from, the original A V Gregory watercolour presented to Commander Hunt and dated 1922. Mr R.N. Duffield has art works in the Yarmouth Museums, Norfolk Museums Collection; “Orient Liner Otranto …,” and "Convoy of six ships at sea", both painted in watercolour and gouache during the 1940s. Some of his other works, also painted in watercolour and gouache, have been advertised for sale on Internet sites. Some details differ between the original A.V. Gregory and this Lithograph Print: - -the words on the bow on the original watercolour are “Helen B. Sterling, Blain”, which is in Washington, USA, where the Sterling Shipping Company was registered from around 1919; the words on the print are “Helen B. Sterling, Halifax, N S”, for Nova Scotia, Canada, which is the hometown of Sterling Shipping Company founder’s wife, Helen B Sterling. -The watercolour is coloured and has fine details; the print is monochrome - The A V Gregory signed the watercolour in 1922, on the lower left; the print is signed with the Lithographer’s name on the lower right; “R N Duffield, Nov. 19. 1924” ARTHUR VICTOR GREGORY (1867-1957): - A.V. Gregory is a renowned marine artist who worked in watercolour and gouache. He painted actively between 1899 and 1932, creating over 3o0 works. South Melbourne, Victoria, was where he lived and worked. This Lithograph print is significant in that it depicts the rescuing of the passengers and crew of the schooner “Helen B Stirling”. At the time this was a significant event that made most Australian and New Zealand papers because of the involvement of the Australian cruiser “Melbourne”. The image demonstrates the perilous conditions experienced by seafarers. It includes an example of the line and breeches buoy method used to save lives at sea from the 1860s and into the 20th century. It reflects a time in our history when sail and steam ships cruised the world’s seas together, the former trading with a cargo of coal from Newcastle, the latter defending our country in World War I. The print is part of Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum’s Collection of maritime artworks that depict famous events, vessels and locations, showing the evolution of sea craft, and aiding the interpretation of our maritime history. The Lithograph print is behind glass in a black painted timber frame and mounted under a cream matte. The vivid image depicts a sea rescue in progress. The night scene is illuminated by a light beaming from a steamship, the Cruiser HMAS Melbourne. It reveals figures on the deck of a sinking sailing ship, the schooner Helen B. Sterling, as foaming waves roll across it. The stricken ship has a broken main mast, and a sail has been detached. A small figure is floating in the choppy sea, secured in a breeches buoy that is attached to a rescue line between a lifesaving cutter and the sailing ship. The crewmen in the cutter are ready to haul the shipwrecked victim aboard, while the figures on the foundering ‘Sterling’ watch them. The print’s paper-covered wooden backboard is attached to the frame with small tacks. A metal hanging wire is secured to two dissimilar eyelet screws. Inscriptions include text on the bow of the sinking vessel, a handwritten title below the picture, and a handwritten name in the print’s lower right corner. On the reverse are two oval, black ink stamps and a round cream label with printed text. The hand-painted print was reproduced from a lithograph, signed in the lower right, by R.N. Duffield of England, on November 19th, 1924. A Frith of Footscray, Melbourne framed it. Painted on the ship’s bow: “HELEN B. STERLING / HALIFAX N S” [Nova Scotia, Canada] Handwritten below the print: “AUSTRALIAN CRUISER “MEMBOURNE” (Tons 5600) rescuing crew of sinking four-masted schooner “HELEN B. STERLING” of Halifax NS Canada, Tons 1343 in a gale in the Pacific Ocean.” Handwritten on lower right: “R.N. DUFFIELD / Nov. 19. 1924” (underlined) On paper label: “Phone: / Footscray 398 [some of the text has torn off] / “A. FRITH / PICTURE FRAMER / Manufacturer / 17 Paisley Street / Footscray.“ On both oval stamps: “SHIPLOVERS SOCIETY OF VICTORIA / LIBRARY” flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, lithograph, lithograph print, reproduction print, helen b. sterling, the sterling, american owned schooner, halifax, halifax n s, halifax nova scotia, nova scotia, halifax n s canada, schooner, windjammer, sailing ship, four-masted ship, captain george harris, george harris, edith harris, leslie harris, sterling shipping line, hmas melbourne, hmas melbourne (1), cruiser hmas melbourne, the melbourne, australian cruiser, captain henry j feakes, commander wilfred ward hunt, sinking ship, shipwreck, sea rescue, gale, cyclone, 1922 rescue, shipwreck rescue, breeches buoy, line rescue, rescue line, lifesaving, cutter, cutter melbourne, sea boat, lifesaving crew, 12-oar cutter, shipwreck victim, r.n. duffield, marine artist, nov. 19. 1924, 20th century artist, a frith, footscray picture framer, shiplovers’ society of victoria, shiplovers’ society library, watercolour, a v gregory, arthur victor gregory, melbourne artist, newcastle coal, newcastle nsw, society islands, san fracisco, aukland new zealand, school composition, ship’s cat, sos signal, lord mayor cr. swanston, heroes, cigarette case

Book, titled “Orient Line Guide, Charters for Travellers by Sea and by Land”. Illustrated Guide of the Orient Line of Steamers between England and Australia. Issued on behalf of the Orient Steam Navigation Company Limited and the Pacific Steam Navigation Company, by the managers of the line, F. Green & Co. – Anderson, Anderson & Co. London, Contract with the Government of New South Wales. Brown leather and cloth cover with gold lettering and fine gold floral decoration. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, charters for travellers orient line guide, book, steam ship travel, passage from england to australia, orient steam navigation company limited, pacific steam navigation company, f. green & co. – anderson, anderson & co, e.c. maclure m macdonald

Published: 21 March 1934 The Age p11 Published title: CROWDED TOURIST SHIP WILL CARRY TEST AND DAVIS CUP TEAMS. Published caption: Carrying an exceptionally large number of tourists, business men and prominent sporting personalities, R.M.S. Orford sailed for London yesterday. Over two hundred passengers embarked at Melbourne, and on leaving the Australian coast there will be two thousand persons on board. The Australian Test team will join the vessel at Fremantle and the remaining two Davis Cup representatives will embark at Adelaide. A picture of the Orford taken just as she moved out from Station Pier, Port Melbourne, under her own steam. Trove article identifier: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203826897 Description: Passenger ship about to depart Station Pier, Port Melbourne. Research by project volunteer, Fiona Collyer: The RMS Orford was built by Vickers-Armstrong Shipyard Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England and launched in 1927 by Lady Ryrie, the wife of Sir Granville Ryrie, the Australian Ambassador to the UK. The Orford was owned by the Orient Steam Navigation Ltd and was designed for the mail and passenger service between England and Australia. She was 20,000 tons, 658 ft long, 75 ft across and 80 ft high from water-line to deck. She had eight decks, a swimming pool and cost more than £1,000,000. She could travel at 20 knots – 480 miles a day, a 5 week voyage between Australia and England. There were enough lifeboats to accommodate every person on board. Promoted as a ship of comfort, luxury, speed and grace with spacious, beautifully decorated lounges, smoking-rooms and writing rooms, the SMH 23/11/1928 review said “sitting-rooms where the furniture recreates the air of quiet, exquisite, safe luxury; suites where you may retire from other people, and on a sea voyage other people, even the most charming other people, often begin to resemble one’s worst enemies towards the end of several weeks sea voyaging together”. “Travel like a human being. This is what the great liners give you today. The Orford dining room is enormous (it seated 350 people) the walls sweep up to a white, cool roof supported on decorative pillars. Panels of grey scagliola and carved designs remove the bleak, comfortless air which used to cling to dining-rooms of ships. Everything about them was so wretchedly temporary that you could not enter them without wishing that you stayed at home. They gave you the creeps and indigestion. This room is gay, bright, sunlit, like a luxurious café overlooking the sea.” “You really feel in here that you are a human being and not a piece of cargo endowed with sensation.” The Orford had the punkah louvre system of ventilation which forced draughts through every part of the ship, ensuring “No Ship Smells!!” and avoiding - “… a mayonnaise of all the unpleasant odours generated under heaven. From the hot oil of the engines, from those overheated, bottomless pits below the water-line, from new paint and food, from people perspiring at work, from rope and tar and grease and fruit and wet clothes and tobacco, rises a deplorable incense that lingers unsettlingly in the nostril long after one has left the ship. Those dreadful odours will never rise to torture the senses of passengers who feel that all is over with them.” The modern electric kitchen had a roll making machine capable of producing 2000 rolls for the table an hour and a bread and butter machine which cut the bread into slices and spread the butter in one operation. (The Week – Brisbane 30/11/1928) On 13/10/1928, the Orford made its first voyage to Australia with 520 first class and 1100 3rd class passengers. The name of the passengers embarking and disembarking and their reason for visiting were published in newspapers and the number of migrants for the New Settlers Scheme and the Dreadnought Boys Co program to promote and assist the migration of British youths willing to become farm workers in Australia 1911-1939 were noted too. On the 19th March 1932, RMS Orford featured in the “Parade of Ships” celebrating the official opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Only country people were allowed to book a ticket as a guest on board. The Post Office issued commemorative postage stamps showing the Orford sailing under the bridge. In March 1934, the Orford sailed from Australia to London, via Colombo, Aden, Port Said, Naples, Villefranche, Toulon, Parma, Gibraltar and Channel Port. Amongst the 2000 passengers on board was the Davis Cup Tennis team, tennis champions Joan Hartigan and Nell Hopman, the Australian Test cricket team and British champion swimmer Joyce Cooper. Every day tennis player Harry Hopman and an Australian Press Association reporter radioed through reports on their activities, which included – - Test cricket batsman Len Darling having spend 4 days in his cabin after straining his groin when he slipped over while playing ball tennis in his slippers. - Batsman Bill Brown dancing the fox-trot, displaying footwork similar to the grace he showed at the wicket. - Alluding to the seasickness of Don Bradman and Stan McCabe and how they were making up for meals lost on the Great (very choppy) Australian Bight. - Miss Joan Hartigan discarding her bright blue shorts for brighter blue bathers and being first into the pool. - Bowler Bill O’Reilly being tripped by a passenger on the deck and spending the voyage with bandaged wrists with daily updates of his progress in the press. - Wicketkeeper Ben Barnett’s conjuring tricks and constant whirring movie camera. - Results of the quoits, ball tennis and bridge tournaments. A fancy dress ball was held one night and the cricketers dressed as sheiks and sang “The Riff Song” from the pre-code 1929 operetta film “The Desert Song” starring John Bates as the Red Shadow and Myrna Lay as a native dancing girl. Alan Kippax’s beard blew overboard! Joan Hartigan dressed as Burlington Bertie from the music hall song and Nell Hopman a doll in a box wearing a crinkled paper dress. On arrival at Southampton, while they waited for the gangway to be lowered, Bradman entertained the team at the piano playing popular tunes while the cricketers sang. . In 1935, RMS Orford’s third class accommodation was converted to tourist class. Her passenger capacity was now 468 First Class, 515 tourist class and 440 crew. First saloon from Sydney fares cost for single £76, £82, £88 and Third Class fares were £21, £23, £25. Less than a penny a mile. . In 1936, the Orford embarked the exiled Emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie at Gibraltar on his way to the UK. In 1939, she was requisitioned for Australian government service and on 7/1/1940 she conveyed the first Australian troops to Egypt and was then used to carry French troops from Tamatave, Madagascar to Marseilles. On 1/6/1940 RMS Orford was bombed and set on fire at Marseilles by German aircraft. 14 crew were killed, 25 wounded. In 1947, the wreck was re-floated and broken up at Savona. . . References: R.M.S. ORFORD. (1928, November 23). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 14. Retrieved September 15, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16511535 ARRIVAL OF THE ORFORD (1928, November 30). The Week (Brisbane, Qld. : 1876 - 1934), p. 21. Retrieved September 15, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article181126802 CROWDED TOURIST SHIP WILL CARRY TEST AND DAVIS CUP TEAMS. (1934, March 21). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 11. Retrieved October 5, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203826897 Photographer notations on slide: "B19".tennis, ships

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