farewell

These streamer shots are great. I was just looking at the streamer photo in the SJ Hood book today and it brought back memories of standing above the crowds holding the end of a streamer.

Mangrove Rat Agreed! It is the White Star Line / Dalgetty's Wharf at Millers Point looking south up Darling Harbour. Here is a photo from the reverse direction showing the building at left -

www.nla.gov.au/apps/cdview/?pi=nla.map-f115-sd&rgn&am... zoom in, then pan down to Dalgety and Co's wharf to the White Star Line. The map is highly addictive! Or maybe you already know that...

Mangrove Rat Yes, that map is great fun!

Mangrove Rat beachcomber australia Hi, thanks for the information and that wonderful map! What detail! So useful in terms of understanding the shipping industry in Sydney. Looks like you're right beachcomber and it makes sense seeing as that was where the White Star Line's wharf was. Judging by the fashion, it is likely that these images were taken in the 1920s. Stay tuned for more of these images. We think Sam Hood may have liked photographing the streamers...

I think you mean West, not East Circular Quay? :)

pellethepoet The image is flipped the wrong way, so when you flip it over you notice it is East Circular quay. But to be honest, the give away was the fact that the P&O wharf was where the Opera House now stands. Check out this map via National Library of Australia, isn't it pretty? :-)

Australian National Maritime Museum on The Commons Hmm ... are you sure? I think the presence of the P&O liner is a red herring! If you flip the image the text of the "Bank of New South Wales" sign becomes reversed. Note also the G.P.O. clock tower.


I'm convinced it is this wharf at West Circular Quay (which incidentally shows a P&O liner) -

I vote for Circular Quay West, like the 'Aurora' - Also betting on Friday 15/7/1932 for departure at 4pm from No.4 wharf (see long winter shadows and coats) - what does the GPO clock say? - trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/16898540

pellethepoet beachcomber australia Think you're both right! A convincing argument :) Plus the buildings look the same in that STRATHAIRD pic. Hood must have just written on the back of it so that's why it appears reversed. That date is consistent with the women's clothing, so it is possible that is the correct date. Although it could also be 17 June 1933 at 11:30 am. But do you think it is more likely to be the inaugural visit based on the level of celebrations going on in the pic?

From the appearance of the troops and uniforms, and the period of the ship, I would guess this is a deployment of Australian soldiers for the 2nd Boer War (1899–1902). The first Australian troops and their horses sailed in late 1899 and were involved in major action by January 1900. After Australian Federation in 1901, the new Commonwealth Government sent a further eight battalions. I think this is the ship HMAT A7 Medic. She was built in 1899 in Belfast, Ireland and was owned by the Oceanic Steam Navigation Company Ltd, Liverpool (the White Star Line, which operated the Titanic), and leased by the Commonwealth until 26 October 1917. The Medic had also been a key troopship for Australia during the second Boer War. It was eventually sunk by the German U-boat U-608 on 11 September 1942, during World War II. See this link for a small image of the Medic--scroll down: australis86.angelfire.com/war_records/index.html Also see this link for detailed info about troop deployments on the Medic--scroll down: flotilla-australia.com/hmat.htm

If it is the MEDIC, here's a May 1903 photo of the stern for comparison ...

Good shot...I have a couple of reasonable pics of the Medic, I will compare them

The Happy Rower beachcomber australia gorgs8 Thanks all! Our records have been updated. :)

The old medic looks good, do u have a broadside of her?