Howard Smith Company Limited cup

Maker Howard Smith Limited (1914 - 2001)

Manufacturer Dunn, Bennett & Co Ltd

Date1971-1982

Object number00007188

NameCoffee cup

MediumCeramic

DimensionsOverall: 55 x 105 x 80 mm, 0.2 kg

ClassificationsTools and equipment

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

Burslem

DescriptionThis white coffee cup was produced for the MV NANCY HEATH, a passenger ship operated by Howard Smith Pty Limited. Howard Smith Limited was involved in the transportation of passengers and cargo to the Australian goldfields.HistoryMV NANCY HEATH was an oil tanker built in 1960 for W H Muller & Co, Rotterdam. Originally named FOREST TOWN, the tanker was renamed NANCY HEATH, following its purchase by Howard Smith Industries Pty Ltd in 1971. In 1982 NANCY HEATH was sold and renamed GOLDEN HEATH. The GOLDEN HEATH is still in service. Howard Smith Limited, Melbourne, was a company that was created in 1854 by Captain William Howard Smith. Captain William Howard Smith sailed into Melbourne from Hull in 1854 on the SS EXPRESS and commenced regular voyages between Melbourne and Geelong, but returned to England in 1861. He returned to Launceston in 1864 with his family and then operated a regular intercolonial passenger and cargo service between Melbourne and Sydney. By 1883 the company owned sixteen steamships and one sailing ship. By 1868 services were extended to Newcastle and in 1880 regular services operated to Maryborough, Adelaide, Brisbane and Rockhampton. Coastal routes rapidly expanded until 1947 when the company's involvement in the intercolonial passenger trade ceased. In 1901 it became Howard Smith Company Ltd and in 1914 changed to Howard Smith Limited. By 1914 the fleet had grown to thirty seven ships, and a large majority of these served in World War I. In 1961 the Melbourne Steamship Co. was taken over by Howard Smith. The company was also heavily involved in the towage, salvage and stevedoring industries. Howard Smith withdrew from the traditonal shipping business in 1996 and from the towage industry in 2001 and the company was taken over by Wesfarmers Ltd., Perth. Howard Smith Limited still continues to operate on the Australian stock exchange. SignificanceThis souvenir coffee cup highlights the history of Howard Smith Limited as an Australian passenger and cargo company.