Melbourne Steamship Company advertising board

Maker Melbourne Steamship Company Limited (1884 - 1961)

Date1900-1960

Object number00007942

NameSign

MediumLinoleum, wood

ClassificationsVisual communication

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionA decorative board covered in marbled linoleum featuring the house flag of the Melbourne Steamship Company Limited (M S Co.).HistoryThe Melbourne Steamship Company was formed in 1884 out of an amalgamation of three smaller shipping companies. Originally known as the Melbourne Coal, Shipping and Engineering Company, the company changed its name in 1895 to the Melbourne Steamship Company. The company became known for its passenger services to Fremantle and in 1904 the Sydney Morning Herald promoted the business: Sydney Morning Herald Tuesday 27 December 1904, page 6 THE MELBOURNE STEAMSHIP COMPANY. An interesting souvenir has just been published by the Melbourne Steamship Company Limited. The pamphlet which is well printed and profusely illustrated, contains a good dial of information relative to the principal ports of Australia. Concerning the history of the Melbourne S S Company we learn that it was founded as a private firm as far back as July 1861 by the present chairman of directors, Mr Hugh R. Reid J.P. It was greatly strengthened a few years later, when Captains James Deane and James M'Intyre, men of ripe nautical experience, whose connection with Victoria dates back to 1852-3, joined the business which was eventually formed into a public company. The whole of its extensive operations for many years past have been under the control of the general manager Mr D.Y. Syme, who has the entire confidence of the mercantile community. The chairman, Mr Hugh R Reid, has occupied many public positions in the city, including the important position of president of the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce. Captain Deane made his mark before entering into business as one of the senior pilots of Port Phillip, and after a lengthy and most useful career in Melbourne and Williamstown, died in February 1900. It is about 50 years since Captain M'Intyre achieved distinction as one of a boats crew who during a severe gale, went out at great personal risk saving the lives of every passenger on board the immigrant ship SACRAMENTO, which became a total wreck on Point Lonsdale Reef, near the Heads. It is pleasant to chronicle that after rescuing every soul on board the doomed ship the boat made a second trip to her, and secured 12 boxes of sovereigns to the value of £60000. The Supreme Court awarded the salvors £14,500 for the services they had gallantly rendered. The company began operations in the sixties with a fleet of sailing vessels. Later on, the advantages of steam became apparent, and the directors made their first venture in this direction by the purchase of the steamer BRISBANE, 1500 tons the results were so satisfactory that shortly afterwards the steamer MELBOURNE, 2500 tons, was specially built to meet the steadily increasing requirements of the interstate coasting trade. In the early nineties the cold rush in Western Australia broke out, and with characteristic enterprise the company inaugurated a regular service between the eastern and western states with the passenger and cargo steamer PERTH, 2700 tons, which has had a uniformly successful career since her arrival from the builders' yards. The PERTH was followed in 1902 by the fast and magnificent steamer SYDNEY, 3000 tons, equipped in luxurious fashion for the accommodation of about 160 passengers, and with the most improved appliances for the rapid handling of cargo. The latest addition to the fleet is the splendid steamship HOBART, 4000 tons, which commenced her career in the South African trade, but is now keeping up in conjunction with the steamer SYDNEY and steamer PERTH regular trade between Newcastle and Western Australia, via ports. Last year the company commenced to trade between North-west Coast, Tasmania, and Sydney, and passengers from Western Australia for Sydney have the option of travelling via these Tasmanian ports These steamers' popularity amongst passengers has lately necessitated the company considerably increasing their accommodation. The BRISBANE is at present engaged carrying cargo between Melbourne, Newcastle, and New Zealand ports. " The company sold its last ship the TSMV DUNTROON in 1960.SignificanceThe Melbourne Steamship Company was an early and significant player in Australia's coastal passenger and cargo trade. Its long history follows the development of the industry, its fluxes and wanes and its ultimate demise in the 1950's.