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Booking hall in the Orient Line building in Sydney
Booking hall in the Orient Line building in Sydney

Booking hall in the Orient Line building in Sydney

Photographer (Australian, 1899 - 1953)
DateFebruary 1940
Object number00021251
NameNegative
MediumEmulsion on acetate film
ClassificationsPhotographs
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionBlack and white image by Samuel Hood interior of the Orient Line Office in Sydney. Praised at the time as the ultimate expression of European elegance and modern simplicity, the Orient Line building opened in February 1940. This image depicts the booking hall with the enquiries desk, booking counter for first class and tourist passengers and client area. Above the enquiries counter is a mural designed by Lynton Lamb of London. Behind the enquiries counter is a decorative curtain in fawn, blue and coral, designed by Marion Dorn of London.HistoryThe Orient Line building, office of the Orient Steam Navigation Company, was situated in Spring St Sydney and was designed in 1938 by Fowell, McConnel & Mansfield in association with Mr Brian O'Rorke of London. It opened in February 1940 and was described by 'Art in Australia' as a 'valuable contribution to the architecture of the city' (23 May 1940, p. 75). The publication went on to describe it: 'Simple, almost to the point of severity, it possesses those all too elusive qualities of satisfying proportion...It is a modern building, the design of which has almost religiously followed its function, but its architects have captured the spirit of classic elegance....' (Art in Australia, 23 May 1940, p. 75). 'The Sydney Morning Herald' also noted the 'clean lines of contemporary European architecture' and described the exterior of the lower levels as 'faced with antique Italian travertine filled and honed'. The facade was also made of 'white Hawkesbury sandstone' and the fifth floor comprised the staff luncheon room which was equipped with a kitchenette and sun deck with a range of games including deck tennis made available. The design of the building and the media attention it attracted drew artists and photographers to it. Among them was Samuel Hood. Hood created a series of photographs of the interior and exterior of the building. The building is still in existence today, however, it underwent considerable change to its original interior during the 1980s. The facade was also shifted and made part of the building now at 1 O'Connell Street. SignificanceThe Samuel J Hood photographic collection records an extensive range of maritime activity on Sydney Harbour, including sail and steam ships, crew portraits, crews at work, ship interiors, stevedores loading and unloading cargo, port scenes, pleasure boats and harbourside social activities from the 1890s through to the 1950s. They are also highly competent artistic studies and views - Hood was regarded as an important figure in early Australian photojournalism. Hood’s maritime photographs are one of the most significant collections of such work in Australia.