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Howard Smith Industries collection

Date1951 - 1991

Object numberANMS1036

NameArchive series

ClassificationsPhotographs

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Howard Smith Industries Pty Limited

Terms

DescriptionA collection of photograph albums and other documents relating to Howard Smith Industries and shipping. This includes photo albums and a folder, loose documents found within the albums, and a photograph, all dating from 1951 - 1991. Many of the photos were taken at Carrington Slipways, and are progressive photos of the construction and overhauling of vessels, including MV QUILOA, CYCLE, MASTHEAD, HARMAN, THORNTHWAITE, EASTERN ENTERPRISE, PIRATE, BANDIT, AUTOFREIGHTER, HOWARD SMITH and EXPRESS.HistoryCaptain William Howard Smith sailed into Melbourne from Hull in 1854 on the SS EXPRESS and commenced regular voyages between Melbourne and Geelong, but returned to England in 1861. He returned to Launceston in 1864 with his family and then operated a regular intercolonial passenger and cargo service between Melbourne and Sydney. By 1868 services were extended to Newcastle and in 1880 regular services operated to Maryborough, Adelaide, Brisbane and Rockhampton. Coastal routes rapidly expanded until 1947 when the company's involvement in the intercolonial passenger trade ceased. In 1961 the Melbourne Steamship Co. was taken over by Howard Smith. The company was also heavily involved in the towage, salvage and stevedoring industries. Howard Smith withdrew from the traditonal shipping business in 1996 and from the towage industry in 2001 and the company was taken over by Wesfarmers Ltd., Perth.