Image Not Available

Passenger liner AUSTRALIA loading baggage

Date1950s

Object number00028902

NamePainting

MediumWatercolour on paper

DimensionsSight: 220 x 223 mm
Mount: 485 x 445 mm
Overall: 510 x 475 x 15 mm, 1.75 kg
Display Dimensions: 510 x 475 x 15 mm

ClassificationsArt

Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection

Terms

DescriptionA watercolour by Percy Everett of the passenger liner MV AUSTRALIA at a wharf loading baggage. Shows the ship along side the wharf, with large cranes in the background, and cargo or stores being handled along side the ship. People on board are looking onto the wharf and steam suggests that the ship is preparing to go away to sea.HistoryThe AUSTRALIA was the first of a class of three ships built for Lloyd Triestino in Italy in 1950 - 1951 for the post-war migrant and passenger trade on the Australia service. It carried many thousands of migrants to Australia from Italy and countless Australians on working holidays on the north bound run, between 1951 and 1963. It was then sold to the Italia Line, renamed, and used on the Genoa-Chile service. The scene depicted in the sketch is quite a busy one, showing the working activity on the wharf as a large passenger ship looms above, getting ready to go away to sea. Passengers lean over railings watching the loading of cargo below. The painting's focus is on the wharf's activity, not the passenger's experience, which is a different perspective than is usually told of passenger liners.SignificanceThe passenger services were the foundation of Australia's post-war migration boom. Along with the liners were the stevedoring workers that tended to the ships arrivals and departures from ports across Australia. This painting by Everett recognises the often unnoticed industry that supported the passenger trade.