Farewell to veteran liner: crowd sings as ORSOVA leaves
Maker
The Argus
Date1936
Object number00051997
NameNewspaper clipping
MediumInk on paper
DimensionsOverall: 133 x 135 mm
ClassificationsEphemera
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Peter Trebilco
DescriptionThis 1936 Argus newspaper clipping relates to the final voyage of the Orient liner ORSOVA from Australia to Britain in August 1936. The Argus quotes ORSOVA’s commander Captain R L Hubbard, who said, “On behalf of the ship I would like to say farewell to the thousands of passengers who have travelled in the ORSOVA, to the Australian soldiers who knew her as a transport, to the many who came out in her as emigrants, and who are now Australians, and to all who worked in her” (Argus, 19 August 1936, p10).HistoryORSOVA was built for the Orient Line by John Brown in 1909 and accommodated passengers in three classes. It departed on its maiden voyage from Tilbury to Australia on 25 June 1909. ORSOVA was requisitioned as a troopship during World War I and was returned to the Orient Line in 1919. In 1933 it was refitted to carry 660 passengers in tourist class only. ORSOVA departed London on its 70th and final voyage to Australia on 30 June 1936. It was broken up in Bo’ness, Scotland, in 1936.SignificanceThe newspaper clipping documents a significant event in the Orient Line passenger trade before World War II. ORSOVA operated as a mail liner, troop transport and emigrant ship in the Australian trade over 27 years.
