Australian Steamships Proprietary Limited bowl.
Manufacturer
Dunn, Bennett & Co Ltd
Datebefore 1974
Object number00007211
NameSoup bowl
MediumCeramic
DimensionsOverall: 35 x 245 x 245 mm
ClassificationsTools and equipment
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionThis china soup bowl was produced for the Australian Steamships Ltd. Australian Steamships Ltd was Howard Smith's business name from 1854 to 1948. Passenger travel and the coal trade were staples for the company which is still in operation.HistoryHoward Smith Limited, Melbourne, was a company that was created in 1854 by Captain William Howard Smith. Captain William Howard Smith sailed into Melbourne from Hull in 1854 on the SS EXPRESS and commenced regular voyages between Melbourne and Geelong, but returned to England in 1861. He returned to Launceston in 1864 with his family and then operated a regular intercolonial passenger and cargo service between Melbourne and Sydney. By 1883 the company owned sixteen steamships and one sailing ship.
By 1868 services were extended to Newcastle and in 1880 regular services operated to Maryborough, Adelaide, Brisbane and Rockhampton. Coastal routes rapidly expanded until 1947 when the company's involvement in the intercolonial passenger trade ceased.
In 1901 it became Howard Smith Company Ltd and in 1914 changed to Howard Smith Limited. By 1914 the fleet had grown to thirty seven ships, and a large majority of these served in World War I. In 1961 the Melbourne Steamship Co. was taken over by Howard Smith. The company was also heavily involved in the towage, salvage and stevedoring industries. Howard Smith withdrew from the traditonal shipping business in 1996 and from the towage industry in 2001 and the company was taken over by Wesfarmers Ltd., Perth. Howard Smith Limited still continues to operate on the Australian stock exchange.SignificanceThis soup bowl highlights the history of Australian Steamships Ltd as an Australian passenger and cargo company.
