Skip to main content
Advanced Search
Image Not Available for Travel A-O Line by British Steamers SS CHANGTE SS TAIPING
Travel A-O Line by British Steamers SS CHANGTE SS TAIPING
Image Not Available for Travel A-O Line by British Steamers SS CHANGTE SS TAIPING

Travel A-O Line by British Steamers SS CHANGTE SS TAIPING

Artist (1898 - 1988)
Maker (1912 - 1961)
Date1926 - 1939
Object number00005955
NamePoster
MediumInk on paper, frame
DimensionsSheet: 905 x 635 mm
Sight: 905 x 635 mm
Overall: 1276 x 926 x 45 mm, 9 kg
Display Dimensions: 988 x 677 mm
ClassificationsPosters and postcards
Credit LineANMM Collection
Terms
    DescriptionPoster ' Travel AO Line, Thursday Isand - Manila - Hong Kong- Japan', by British Steamers SS CHANGTE, SS TAIPING.HistoryCHANGTE and its sister ship TAIPING were built to replace TAIYUAN and CHANGSA, clipper bowed vessels built in 1886 for the China Navigation Company and bought by Australian-Oriental Line in 1912, when the company was formed to take over the services of China Navigation Company in Australia. The SS CHANGTE was built in 1925 and its trading route included Manila, Zamboanga, Thursday Island, Cairns, Townsville, Sydney and Melbourne. In 1939 it was requisitioned by the Royal Navy and used as a Naval Stores boat during World War II. The CHANGTE was returned to its owners in 1946 and in 1948 resumed merchant service with provision for 91 passengers in First Class and 100 passengers in Third Class. Passengers mainly comprised Chinese students and White Russian migrants travelling to Australia. CHANGTE was broken-up in 1961. SS TAIPING was launched in 1926. After Japan entered WWII, TAIPING left Hong Kong in December 1941 and voyaged to Manila where it picked up women and children for evacuation. It was one of the last vessels to leave the Philippine capital before the Japanese invasions. Surviving air raids TAIPING reached Australia where, like CHANGTE, it was requisitioned by Royal Navy and converted to Naval Stores Issuing Ship. The ship was returned to its owners in 1947 and in 1949 resumed its merchant service. TAIPING was broken up in 1961. In 1961 the Australian-Oriental Line ceased to exist, its passenger and cargo service taken over by ships of the China Navigation Company.