Shell Oil storage tanks. Gore Bay, Sydney, July 1936. Shell tanker SS SCALARIA
Artist
Frank Norton
(1916-1983)
Date1936
Object number00033510
NameDrawing
MediumPencil on paper
DimensionsOverall: 223 x 305 mm
Copyright© Lynne Norton
ClassificationsArt
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionMaritime artist Frank Norton has depicted round oil storage tanks and the tanker SS SCALARIA at the Shell Oil Clyde refinery at Gore Bay, Sydney. This facility relied on vessels for coastal oil transportation in the early 20th century before the introduction of road tankers.HistoryThe refinery at Gore Bay, Sydney was established in the 1920s and taken over by Shell Oil in 1928. Shell continues to operate the facility in 2010.
SS SCALARIA was built in 1922 for the Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Company at Swan Hunters, Newcastle, UK. The steam tanker was 5683 ton and 411ft long and was capable of travelling 10 knots. She fitted with triple expansion engines built by the Wallsend Slipway Engineering Company. During the Second World War, SCALARIA was requisitioned by the Royal Navy and armed. She had a crew of 52 including 4 navy gunners.
On 19th October 1942, SCALARIA was anchored at Ras Gharib, Egypt, and taking on a load of 7,000 tons of crude oil when she was attacked and sunk in an air raid.SignificanceFrank Norton has captured a moment of shipping in the port of Sydney before the gradual decline of the coastal trade, and during a period which was probably the peak reached by commercial shipping in Australia.
