Royal Australian Navy warships

Photographer Samuel J Hood Studio (Australian, 1899 - 1953)

Datec 1919

Object number00020565

NameNitrate negative

MediumCellulose nitrate negative, black & white

ClassificationsPhotographs

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionThis image depicts various Royal Australian Navy vessels. HMAS WARREGO I, a river class torpedo boat destroyer with the number 70 visible, is in front of what may be the three-funnelled cruiser, HMAS ENCOUNTER. The vessel moored near it appears to be subamarine depot ship, HMAS PLATYPUS.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.