Historical information

This ship model is a representation of the wooden barque Hygeia, which is also the name of the Greek goddess of health, cleanliness and hygiene. The model flies the Italian flag, which was adopted in 1946 but originated in 1797. The colours stand for freedom, solidarity and equality.

The three-masted, wooden barque Hygeia was built in 1863 in the UK by J.M. Reed to carry cargo. It was first registered on July 30th, 1863, at Sunderland, UK, by owners Matthew Cay Jr. & Joseph Crisp. In August 1877, the ship was dispatched from Alexandria, Egypt, destined for Fairmouth with a cargo of beans, but mysteriously went missing.

Significance

The ship diorama exemplifies the popular, centuries-old hobby of ship model making, with the setting of sea and sky giving it depth and context. The model also shows the configuration of a three-masted, fully rigged sailing ship, of the type that carried immigrants to Australia.

Physical description

Ship model; diorama with a model of the sailing ship HYGEIA at sea in full sail, in a setting of sky and sea. It displays a tricolour flag with three vertical stripes of equal width, which from the hoist side are coloured green, white and red. An inscription has the ship's name, Hygeia.

Inscriptions & markings

"HYGEIA"