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Mrs Cherry's illustrated travels on the SS ORONSAY
Mrs Cherry's illustrated travels on the SS ORONSAY

Mrs Cherry's illustrated travels on the SS ORONSAY

Artist (1887 - 1972)
Date1932 - 1939
Object number00029326
NamePainting album
MediumWatercolour on paper, ink, board, leather
DimensionsOverall: 255 x 212 x 26 mm, 0.9 kg
Display Dimensions: 255 x 212 mm
Copyright© Mabel Edith Cherry
ClassificationsArt
Credit LineANMM Collection
Collections
DescriptionThis pictorial album is a humorous account of amateur cartoonist Mrs M E Cherry’s journey onboard SS ORONSAY from Australia to London, England and subsequent voyages from 1932-1939. Each watercolour captures her travel experiences and shipboard life during the voyages. The book includes representations of Mrs Cherry and her nephew while they travelled to Adelaide, and subsequent trips taken by Mrs Cherry around the South Pacific and the south of France. This album of watercolours served as a souvenir and keepsake, a permanent reminder of Mrs Cherry's travel experience, including her trip to Australia.HistoryEach watercolour from this album vibrantly and vividly depicts typical and often humorous events experienced by travellers onboard passenger voyages during the 1930s. The individual paintings capture Mrs Cherry while dining with the captain, attending fancy dress events and experiencing bouts of seasickness. Few details are known about the identity of the work's creator, Mrs M E Cherry. A newspaper clipping found inside the album, published in the Social News of an unidentified Adelaide newspaper, mentions Mrs Cherry had been visiting with her sister 'Missus Lungley' in Adelaide, and was scheduled to leave Australia for England with her children onboard SS ORMONDE. SS ORMONDE launched in 1917, was built at Clydebank, Scotland by John Brown and Co and embarked on its maiden voyage from London to Australia in 1919. In 1933 it was converted to a tourist class only ship and in 1947 commenced service from London to Australia as a one class emigrant ship. In 1939 ORMONDE was requisitioned as a troopship and took part in troop evacuations from Norway and France. ORMONDE returned to commercial service in 1947 and was broken up in Dalmuir, Scotland in 1952.SignificanceMrs Mabel E Cherry travelled onboard SS ORMONDE to visit family in Adelaide, South Australia in 1931. and travelled between London and Australia several times before World War II. This album provides a humorous insight into the life and experiences of Mrs Cherry during her voyages and travels. The paintings offer a unique look at the lives of leisured travellers onboard ships between England and Australia at that time.