Australia to England by Orient Line Tourist Steamers
Artist
Walter Jardine
(Australian, 1884 - 1970)
Maker
Orient Line
(1878 - 1966)
Printer
Offsett Press
(Australian)
Date1933-1936
Object number00005956
NamePoster
MediumColour lithograph on paper
DimensionsOverall: 1038 x 754 mm, 0.2 kg
Sheet: 1038 x 754 mm
Image: 994 x 733 mm
Sheet: 1038 x 754 mm
Image: 994 x 733 mm
ClassificationsPosters and postcards
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionThis travel poster employs the bold block colours and simple sleek designs that characterised Orient Line advertising material during the early 1930s. Promoting the Tourist Class steamers ORMONDE and ORSOVA, and their Australia to England route, the posters track the emergence of affordable oceanic travel.
Developing tastes meant that ship passengers who could not afford the first class fare were no longer satisfied with the stark conditions of third class. The Orient Line duly reduced the third class capacity on their 20,000 tonners and renamed them 'tourist class'. Both the ORMONDE and ORSOVA were converted to one class only tourist steamers in 1933.HistoryORMONDE (1917-1952) was built at Clydebank by John Brown and Co. Launched in 1917, it embarked on its maiden voyage from London to Australia in 1919. In 1933 it was converted to a tourist class only ship and in 1947 commenced service from London to Australia as a one class emigrant ship. ORSOVA (1909-1937) was also built at Clydebank by John Brown and Co, and embarked on its maiden voyage from London to Australia in 1909. The ship was chartered as a troop carrier during World War I and converted to tourist class only in 1933.SignificanceThe poster is a rare example of a design produced by leading Australian poster artist Walter Jardine. The image is representative of a new focus on the abstract presentation of the company name and use of block colour, rather than information about the facilities offered to ticket classes.
