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Around the world with Janet Stevenson
Around the world with Janet Stevenson

Around the world with Janet Stevenson

Compiled by
Date1957-1960
Object number00051776
NameScrapbook
Mediumpaper
DimensionsOverall: 450 x 370 x 150 mm
ClassificationsEphemera
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Gordon Robinson
DescriptionThis large scrapbook documents Janet Stevenson's voyage around the world on SS STRATHNAVER (P&O), SS RYNDHAM (Holland America Line) and SS IBERIA (P&O) from 1957-1960.HistoryJanet Stevenson was 25 years old when she embarked on her voyage around the world in 1957. She had worked as a shorthand typist for the sales manager at Angus & Robertson in Sydney for six years, putting away five pounds per week to save for her trip. Janet planned to travel for 18 months but ended up staying in Europe and North America for three years. Janet departed Sydney on the P&O liner SS STRATHNAVER in May 1957. STRATHNAVER was built for P&O by Vickers-Armstrong and departed on its maiden voyage from Tilbury to Australia in 1931. It was requisitioned as a troopship during World War II and returned to passenger service in 1950. STRATHNAVER was refitted to carry 1,252 passengers in tourist class. It was broken up in Hong Kong in 1962. Janet embarked from Australia on her own but made friends on STRATHNAVER, with whom she travelled around Britain and Europe. She collected a range of souvenirs, including postcards, photographs, theatre tickets and transport tickets, during her visits to Oxford, Canterbury, Wales, Chester, Brighton, Sussex, Stonehenge, Newcastle, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, Paris, Monaco, Italy, Yugoslavia, Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein and Spain. In 1960 Janet sailed from Britain to Montreal, Canada, on the Holland America liner SS RYNDAM. RYNDAM was built in 1951 and had accommodation for 39 first and 836 tourist class passengers. It operated from Rotterdam to Southampton and New York until 1959, when the destination was changed to Montreal. From Montreal Janet travelled around Canada and the United States, visiting Quebec, Ottawa, Niagara Falls, New York, Chicago, Detroit, Denver, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico and San Francisco. In October 1960 Janet headed home, embarking from San Francisco on the P&O liner SS IBERIA. IBERIA made stops in Los Angeles, Honolulu, Japan and Hong Kong en route to Sydney. IBERIA was built in 1954 by Harland & Wolff, the last ship in the P&O post-war passenger liner rebuilding program. It had accommodation for 673 first and 733 tourist class passengers. In 1959 IBERIA made its first round the world voyage from Tilbury, passing through the Panama Canal to Sydney and returning to Britain through the Suez Canal. IBERIA was scrapped in 1972. Janet enjoyed the companionship of travelling by ship. She says her voyage around the world made her more thoughtful of other people and other cultures, but also made her appreciate Australia more.SignificanceThe scrapbook provides a delightful record of Janet Stevenson's voyage around the world from 1957-1960. It contains a range of highly evocative souvenirs, including ship menus, port information booklets, postcards, photographs and advertising leaflets, which provide an insight into the activities and entertainments onboard passenger vessels during the 20th century. The scrapbook is historically and socially significant, with great research, interpretive and display potential.