Sailors on board Spanish Navy training ship JUAN SEBASTIAN DE ELCANO

Photographer Samuel J Hood Studio (Australian, 1899 - 1953)

DateJanuary 1929

Object number00024934

NameGlass plate negative

MediumEmulsion on glass

ClassificationsPhotographs

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionTwo sailors of the Spanish naval training ship JUAN SEBASTIAN DE ELCANO.HistoryThe JUAN SEBASTIAN DE ELCANO is a four mast brig-schooner with crossed foresail and was built in Cádiz at the “Echevarrieta & Larrinaga” shipyards and is one of the largest tall ships still in operation. The ship was launched on 5 March 1927 and after some local training sails around Spain, left for a round-the-world tour on 1 May 1928. On 29 December 1928, the vessel arrived in Sydney and stayed for a period of eight days. The ship returned to Spain in mid May 1929. The crew consisted of 310 officers and sailors, accompanied by eighty naval cadets, all commanded by Captain Manuel de Mendivil. ‘The Sydney Morning Herald’ reported on the activities of the Spanish visitors. During the port visit, the vessel was open to the visiting public for special tours. On 8 January 1929, a concert was hosted on board where Australian opera singer, Alfred O’Shea performed alongside fellow Australian pianist and impresario, Daphne Deane, while the guests danced on deck. A civic reception was held at the Sydney Town Hall for the Spanish Consul-General and senior officers from the vessel, whilst cadets from the vessel paid a visit to HMAS AUSTRALIA. Known simply as ELCANO, the vessel has primarily been used as a training ship for midshipmen in the Royal Spanish Navy. In recent years, a six-month training cruise is organised every year usually sailing outside Spain. Most of the instruction takes place at sea where midshipmen attend classes and take part in all types of sailing manoeuvres.SignificanceThe Samuel J Hood photographic collection records an extensive range of maritime activity on Sydney Harbour, including sail and steam ships, crew portraits, crews at work, ship interiors, stevedores loading and unloading cargo, port scenes, pleasure boats and harbourside social activities from the 1890s through to the 1950s. They are also highly competent artistic studies and views - Hood was regarded as an important figure in early Australian photojournalism. Hood’s maritime photographs are one of the most significant collections of such work in Australia.