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Travel diary of George Garrard on SS VILLE DE METZ from Sydney to Marseille

Author George Frederick Garrard (Australian, 1870 - 1949)

Date1924-1925

Object number00039052

NameDiary

MediumBlack canvas covered boards, paper, black ink.

DimensionsOverall: 180 x 120 x 30 mm

ClassificationsBooks and journals

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Paula Stafford

DescriptionDiary written by George Garrard of his voyage on the steamer VILLE DE METZ. Garrard records his arrival in Sydney from Melbourne on the 16th November 1924 and his embarkation on VILLE DE METZ for a five week voyage to Europe. It contains his observations of shipboard life, other vessels, ports, the weather, the tedium of long distance sea travel, he only arrived in Marseille, via the Suez Canal, on 1 January 1925.

HistoryGeorge Frederick Garrard (1870-1949) was a prominent yachtsman from Carlton, Melbourne. He was the owner of SAYONARA in when he joined the Brighton Yacht Club and was also the owner of the yacht, AWANUI. He was an active member of the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria.

His diary entries of his stay in the French Riviera are filled with observations on the yachts he saw down at the docks.

SignificanceThis diary records yachtsman George Garrard's voyage from Australia to Europe by steamer in the 1920s and his observations of recreational boats and regattas while holidaying on the French Riviera. Garrard spared no expense to build the William Fife designed yacht SAYONARA in 1895 which was considered the finest yacht in Australian waters at that time. The yacht made such an impact with its sailing performance that the Sayonara Cup was named after it.