Image Not Available

Tug CHAMPION and a sailing ship

Artist Terence John Andrew Callen (Australian, 1912 - 2000)

DateBefore 1989

Object number00007869

NamePainting

MediumOil on masonite

Dimensions405 x 305 mm

ClassificationsArt

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionOil painting by Terry Callen, undated, of the steam tug CHAMPION with a sailing ship in rough seas. The CHAMPION was built for J & A Brown of Newcastle, New South Wales in 1895 and has been described as Australia's foremost tug of its time. It was used for difficult and deep sea towing and salvage jobs, represented by the rough conditions in this painting. It went as far afield as New Zealand, Fiji, and New Caledonia in its career from 1895 to 1954. Terry Callen had a particular interest in the CHAMPION and made several models and paintings of it.HistoryThe steel steam tug CHAMPION, 306 gross tons, 135 feet (41 metres) long, was built at South Shields, England in 1895 for J & A Brown of Newcastle, New South Wales. It had a three cylinder compound engine developing 13.75 knots. It was known as 'John Brown's Yacht', and was lavishly fitted out with a built-in piano in the saloon for Brown's guests on deep sea fishing excursions. The CHAMPION was famous throughout its working life for salvage feats and for difficult jobs. It was bought by Waratah Tug and Salvage Company in January 1953, but sank at its berth in Newcastle in February 1954.SignificanceThe painting records a significant tug in Australian towage and salvage history, with particular relevance to Sydney and Newcastle. It also represents the paintings and sketches of Terry Callen in recording the maritime history of Newcastle.