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SS KITANO MARU at the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge
SS KITANO MARU at the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge

SS KITANO MARU at the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge

Date1932
Object number00017495
NameGlass plate negative
MediumQuarter glass plate negative
DimensionsOverall: 100 x 126 mm, 0.04 kg
ClassificationsPhotographs
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from the Estate of Peter Britz
DescriptionThis image depicts the Japanese passenger liner SS KITANO MARU in Sydney Cove at the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge on 19 March 1932. Three rowing sculls are seen racing by and spectators crowd the foreshore. Orient Line vessel SS ORFORD is moored in East Circular Quay.HistoryNippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) Lines was formed in 1885 and operated services between Japan, Britain, South America, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and North America. Much of the NYK fleet was destroyed or confiscated during World War II. The company is one of the largest shipping lines in the world and operates both passenger and container ships. This photograph depicts the line's KITANO MARU, which was built in 1909 and was mined and sunk during World War II in 1942. On 19 March 1932, the vessel participated in the ship's procession at the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The various passenger liners were adorned with flags and ribbons as they moved through the harbour lead by P&O Line's RMS MALOJA. There were vessels from different countries, including the Dutch liner NIEUW ZEELAND and the Italian VIMINALE. KITANO MARU followed the Italian cargo ship in the procession and 'The Sydney Morning Herald' noted the extraordinary achievement of the skippers, navigating their way through the harbour avoiding collision. As the report mentioned, 'All nationalities combined to do homage to Australia's feat of engineering' as they sounded their horns at the same time. The commander of KITANO MARU 'made the sacred tree of Japan, the flowering cherry, prominent on the green covering of one of the hatchways of the vessel' as a compliment to New South Wales and the bridge celebrations.SignificanceThis photograph depicts a crucial event in Sydney's history - the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.