McIlwraith McEacharn Limited MV KANIMBLA community singing sheet
Maker
McIlwraith McEacharn Limited
(Australian, 1875 - 1964)
Date1950s
Object number00046902
NameSong book
MediumPaper
DimensionsOverall: 313 x 167 x 1 mm, 29.33 g
ClassificationsBooks and journals
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Bob Killingsworth
DescriptionThe McIlwraith McEacharn community singing sheet relates to a voyage on MV KANIMBLA, and contains words to 39 songs including crowd pleasers such as 'Waltzing Matilda', 'My Bonnie is Over the Ocean', 'Tipperary' and 'I Do Like to be Beside the Seaside'.HistoryBob Killingsworth migrated from the UK to Australia after World War I, sailing on the Orient liner OSTERLEY. As an adult he embarked on a 'boomerang' excursion, travelling to Britain on STRATHAIRD on 20 July 1960 and returning home to Sydney on the P&O liner CANBERRA on 29 December 1961.
Bob obtained the community singing sheet during an interstate voyage on MV KANIMBLA in the 1950s. KANIMBLA was built for McIlwraith McEacharn by Harland & Wolff, Belfast in 1936. With accommodation for 203 first and 198 second class passengers, it was the largest liner built for the Sydney-Fremantle trade. KANIMBLA was taken over by the Royal Australian Navy during World War II and was converted to an armed merchant cruiser. In 1946 it carried the first group of displaced persons from the Baltic States from Fremantle to Melbourne. KANIMBLA was refitted to accommodate 231 first and 125 second class passengers and resumed the coastal service between Sydney and Fremantle at the end of 1950. It was sold to Pacific Transport Co in January 1961 and renamed ORIENTAL QUEEN.SignificanceThe community singing sheet is a souvenir from Bob Killingsworth's voyage on KANIMBLA in the 1950s. It reflects the affection that many passengers have for the ships on which they travelled and provides an indication of entertainment activities on board.
