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Bow view of Anniversary Regatta flagship HMAS CANBERRA
Bow view of Anniversary Regatta flagship HMAS CANBERRA

Bow view of Anniversary Regatta flagship HMAS CANBERRA

Photographer (Australian, 1899 - 1953)
Datec 1938
Object number00022371
NameNitrate negative
MediumCellulose (nitrate or acetate) negative, black and white
ClassificationsPhotographs
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionImage of HMAS CANBERRA on Sydney Harbour dressed as the flagship for the Anniversary Regatta.HistoryThe Anniversary Regatta was first held in 1837 after a group of citizens from Sydney decided to celebrate the landing of the First Fleet on 26 January 1788. The regatta consisted of rowing and sailing races and always had a flagship, usually a merchant ship or passenger liner - in this case, HMAS CANBERRA. This social and sporting event was very popular with the public who took picnic refreshments to the foreshore and attended balls and recitals in the evening. SignificanceThe Samuel J Hood photographic collection records an extensive range of maritime activity on Sydney Harbour, including sail and steam ships, warships, 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.