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SS ORIENT: Music Room: Saloon
SS ORIENT: Music Room: Saloon

SS ORIENT: Music Room: Saloon

Lithographer (1840 - 1992)
Maker (1878 - 1966)
Datec 1886
Object number00006982
NameLithograph
MediumPaper
DimensionsOverall: 362 x 275 mm
ClassificationsEphemera
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionThe SS ORIENT's Music room and Saloon are depicted on these two lithographs. For passengers travelling on board long sea journeys these rooms provided a place to assemble and be entertained. Music was integral to peoples' social life at the home and public events such as balls, recitals, concerts and theatres.HistoryTo emigrate or remain at home was a major decision faced by many families in the 19th century. In the United Kingdom and Ireland alone, these reasons included land clearance (Scotland and Ireland), famine (Ireland), unemployment (England), the desire to get rich or the quest for political or religious freedom (Cornwall, the Midlands, Scotland and Ireland). The SS ORIENT was built in 1879 by John Elder & Co at Glasgow for the Orient Steam Navigation Company, specifically for the Australian trade route and the transportation of mail. The iron ship had a capacity of 5386 tons and was the largest ship on the Australian run at the time. In 1898 it was refitted at Wallsend, England and just a year later was being used as a troopship during the Boer War. It then returned to transporting commercial cargo to Australia in 1903. Soon after it was sold to Italian interests in 1910 the vessel was scrapped. SignificanceThese lithographs provide a visual record of the interior of SS ORIENT and passenger ship accomodation during the 1870s. It indicactes how passengers travelled and the recreational activities available on board ships, such as music recitals.