RMS ORTONA
Artist
Frederick Elliott
(Australian, 1864 - 1949)
Date1906-1909
Object number00001285
NamePainting
MediumWatercolour on paper
DimensionsOverall: 30 x 43 x 10 mm
ClassificationsArt
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionRMS ORTONA painted by Frederick Elliott. RMS ORTONA was used extensively on the United Kingdom to Australia route, its last voyage to Australia was in 1909.HistorySS ORTONA was built by Vickers, Sons and Maxim Limited in 1899 for the Pacific Steam Navigation Company specifically for the United Kingdom to Australia route. In 1906 it was sold to Royal Mail Steam Packet Company who retained in on the Australia service until 1909, the buff coloured funnels are their livery. In 1910 it was converted into a cruise ship and renamed ARCADIAN.
In 1915, during WWI, the ARCADIAN was requisitioned as a troop transport ship by the British Admirality. It was briefly used as the headquarters of the Gallipoli campaign, thereafter it acted as a troopship in the Mediterranean, until sunk by a German submarine in 1917.SignificanceRMS ORTONA was built for the passenger trade between the United Kingdom and Australia.
