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Collection of 41 items belonging to Captain Robert McKilliam

Date1868-1908

Object numberANMS0223

NameArchive series

MediumPaper

ClassificationsEphemera

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Robert McKilliam and Jean Chambers

Terms

DescriptionThis collection of 41 items belonged to Captain Robert Basil Vincent McKilliam. The collection consists of one wooden chart box; three maps; 17 navigation charts; five hydrographic charts and 15 meteorological charts relating to the Indian Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, English Channel, Bass Strait and the east coast of Australia. The collection spans the period 1868 – 1908. HistoryScottish-born Captain Robert Basil Vincent McKilliam served in the Aberdeen White Star Line between 1876 and 1908. A native of Aberdeen, he was apprenticed at 14. He served under famous clipper captains like Robert Kemball and on famous clippers like THERMOPYLAE and SALAMIS, mostly in the Britain-to-Australia service. He also served in the modern steamers of the day. After 32 years he retired from the sea and soon after, in 1910, he married. In 1913 he brought his family to live in Sydney. Appointed Assistant Manager of Darling Island Wharf, he worked as a superintendent stevedore in Sydney from World War One up to the Great Depression. He died at his home in North Sydney in 1934.