Luncheon menu from SS ORARA

Date1931

Object number00038519

NameMenu

MediumInk on paper

DimensionsOverall: 205 x 131 mm, 0.01 kg

ClassificationsEphemera

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Frank Barnsley

Terms

Australia

DescriptionThis luncheon menu appeared on North Coast Steam Navigation Company’s SS ORARA on 8 March 1931. It features a list of mains, cold meats, salads and beverages.HistorySS ORARA was built in 1907 by J Key and Son, Kinghorn for the North Coast Steam Navigation Company. It was the largest vessel owned by North Coast Navigation and was intended to service the passenger trade between Byron Bay and Coffs Harbour, in New South Wales. It carried out this service until it was requisition by the Australian Navy to aid the war effort in October 1939. The vessel was converted into a minesweeper and operated across the east coast of Australia. In 1945, ORARA was returned to her owners, but the decision was made to have the vessel laid up in Sydney. In June 1946, ORARA was sold to Shanghai shipowners Fu Shan.SignificanceShipboard menus were the most common type of souvenir collected by passengers and crew. This particular menu was collected by a passenger on board SS ORARA. This menu illustrates the type of cuisines on offer for passengers sailing on SS ORARA along Australia’s east coast. Although the menu does not reveal much about the vessel, it contains various markings, which were made by the passenger indicating which meals were consumed on the 1931 voyage.