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This aint the "Brisbane Floods 1893" !! Not 100% sure yet, but I think it may be the SS 'Austral' (Orient Line) which sank in Neutral Bay whilst being loaded with coal.

Yes! The original photo was by John Paine in 1882
"Sinking of the S.S. Austral, Neutral Bay, New South Wales, 1882" (NLA nla.pic-vn4851231)

Read all about it - SMH 13/11/1882 p.7 - trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/13523253 .

The full story - www.nicholaseggleston.com/familyhistory/eggleston/Passeng... The salvage / re-floating operation was remarkable for any time, let alone 1882/3.

More about the photographer P.C. Poulsen (1857-1925). He moved from Sydney to Brisbane in 1882 - www.photo-web.com.au/poulsen/default.htm . I wonder why he made the film copy?

Did this have a sister ship called the Oriana? seem to remember the Oriana coming into Station pier many years ago.

Woolloomooloo wharf (at left) ?

54 Ford Customline There was an Orient Line vessel called SS ORIANA, however it was not the sister vessel of SS ORAMA, it was SS ORONSAY. If you're interested we have various items in the collection related to SS ORIANA that have been published on eMuseum.

beachcomber australia You may be right beachcomber because it definitely isn't Circular Quay. Plus a quick search in Trove suggests that it was berthed at either wharf 7 or 8 when it came to Sydney.

If it was the first visit as is likely, then she departed at noon on Saturday 10 January 1925, according to this - trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/16184088 . More details of the ship and sinking in 1940 -

" ORAMA; Owned by the Orient Steam Navigation Co. and built in 1924 by Vickers; 19,840 tons; 632x75.2x32.9 ft.; 3,900 n.h.p.; 18 knots; turbine engines. The ocean liner Orama (Capt. F. G. Sherburne), was requisitioned as an auxiliary troop transport for the British Expeditionary Force to Norway in the spring of 1940. On 8th June 1940, aircraft carrier HMS Glorious, destroyers HMS Acasta and HMS Ardent, the tanker Oil Pioneer and the Orama were some 300 miles West of Narvik, just as the German battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau and the heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper, escorted by lighter craft, were sweeping this area and completely overwhelmed the British, sinking all five ships. The Orama was sunk by gunfire from the Admiral Hipper and was also torpedoed. Nineteen men were killed and 280, including Capt. Sherburne, became prisoners. The Orama was not carrying troops at the time. "

From - www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?114925

Brilliant photo of the ORIENT. So often she is in the background, not featured. This is the ship which got me sucked into these old photos, due to a famous painting by Charles Conder The Departure of the Orient - Circular Quay (1888) (AGNSW), now available in the amazing GoogleArtProject - www.googleartproject.com/collection/art-gallery-of-new-so... - press the little man for 'Museum View' to visit the painting at the AGNSW.

I think the ORIENT was the flagship for the Anniversary Day Regatta in 1884. Was this the big occasion? "To-day the R.M.S. Orient is to be moved from the Circular Quay to Farm Cove, where she will be the flagship at the Anniversary Regatta. She will be moored to the Nelson's buoy. " SMH 24/1/1884 - trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/13558302

Particularly as the next photo shows Admiralty House before the additional floor was added in 1885.

beachcomber australia Amazing! Have been playing around with GoogleArt, how clever! 1884 seems logical re the dates of the other images in the album & the smaller craft & spectators would certainly indicate a big regatta...

Description of the 1884 Anniversary Regatta in the SMH 28/1/1884 p.8, including this -

" ... In this instance, the flagship was the Orient, one of the largest and best finished steamers afloat. She was surrounded by craft of all kinds and dimensions, and so numerous that but for the skilful manner in which they were directed they must, as they flitted or darted to and fro, have met with accidents. They gave the harbour in the vicinity of Farm Cove an appearance the animation of which was heightened by the crowds of persons who congregated at Fort Macquarie and Mrs. Macquarie's Chair, and by the fluttering flags of the vessels at Circular Quay, amongst which was the gay tri-colours hoisted as a compliment to the colony by a Messageries Maritimes steamers. The decks of the Orient made most agreeable promenades, and were occupied by several hundreds of persons, including a very large proportion of ladies, who in the natural pride of their sex displayed the magnificent costumes of the present period. On one deck was stationed the band of the Naval Volunteers and on another that of the Vernon, so that visitors had a plentitude of music in addition to their other enjoyments, some of which appeared to closely partake of the character of flirtation. ..."

trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/13550521