rms

Thanks Mr Hall for the date Saturday 13 February 1897. A bit of Troving reveals that Mr Samuel Hordern and family were on board and were given an enormous send-off, including special FAIRLIGHT and MANLY ferries (with the photographer on board?), the Parramatta steamer PHEASANT (seen alongside here?), the Enterprise Brass Band, etc etc. What fun! Full report in SMH 15/2/1897 p.4 Col.6 -"Farewell to Mr Samuel Hordern" - trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/14088801 Worth quoting -

" ... FAREWELL TO MR. SAMUEL HORDERN.—On Saturday afternoon a successful send-off was accorded to Mr. Samuel Hordern, who, with his family, left by the P. and O. mail steamship China on a trip to Europe which will probably extend over about seven months. Many of the employees of Mr. Hordern's extensive establish- ment went down to the wharf to await the de- parture of the boat, while others secured a posi- tion among the crowd on the adjacent point, while not a few took advantage of the special 4 o'clock trips of the Fairlight and Manly, to accompany the China as far as the Heads. The managers of the various departments of Mr. Hordern's em- porium chartered the Parramatta steamer Pheasant (Captain Mance) for the occasion, and a large company assembled on board before 2 p.m., including Messrs. J. Lumsden (principal manager), T. T. May (general business manager), H. J. Barlett, C. H. Catley, D. Curtin, and T. Caddy. Mr. H. T. Everett, as secretary to the demonstration, carried out the necessary arrange- ments satisfactorily, and ample refreshments were provided by Mr. T. W. Helmore, of the Masonic Hall. The Enterprise Brass Band, which had also been engaged, provided music during the afternoon. Leaving the Floating Jetty at 2 o'clock the Pheasant ran down as far as Watson's Bay, and thence back to Balmain, and steamed up to the China just as the anchor was being weighed and the Commodore was towing the liner into position for a start. As the floating village moved slowly ahead past Macquarie Point, the Pheasant's passengers gave three hearty cheers, the band playing " Say Au Revoir, but not Good- bye." Mr. Hordern waved his acknowledgments, and then the members of the band and the em- ployees on the Pheasant vied with each other in a vigorous rendering of " For He's a Jolly Good Fellow." Between Bradley's and Watson's Bay many yachts, centreboards, and other sailing craft were passed, and the China was soon between the Heads and gracefully bowing to the long swell of the ocean. The Pheasant, with a good press of steam, managed to keep well abreast of the vessel, and, possibly by way of encour- agement to the homeward-bound voyagers, " A Life on the Ocean Wave " was given. " Auld Lang Syne " was subsequently sung with hearty goodwill, and the China went full speed ahead on her course, speedily leaving her diminutive escort behind. ... "

And another quote from the same article -

"... DEPARTURE OF THE R.M.S. CHINA,—Saturday was a gala day at the Circular Quay. The afternoon was beautifully fine, and the novelty of seeing the magnificent passenger steamer China leave for the old country attracted a crowd that exceeded anything ever seen before on a mailboat sailing day. Not only was the eastern side of the quay a con- tinuous stream of traffic, but on Fort Macquarie Point there were scores of private carriages and buggies, each with from two to half a dozen occupants. Such a scene has rarely, if ever, been witnessed there, even in the old days when, to see a regatta, people would congregate in thousands. The pride of the P. and O. line looked exceedingly handsome. She is a stately ship, and well de- served all the expressions of admiration passed upon her. Leaving the quay she was drawing 24ft. forward and about a foot more aft, but even at that draught her appearance was light. She loads down close to 30ft. when at an extreme, so that it can easily be imagined how her gracefully modelled hull would lift itself above the water line, and in the trim she left she certainly presented a grand sight. It was just 4 o'clock when she got away, followed by several steamers crowded with friends of those on board, some of them giving a " cock-a-doodle " on the road down, bands playing, and every one of the escorting steamers a perfect blaze of handkerchief-waving. A prettier sight or more enthusiastic send-off was never accorded a liner. Yesterday a wire from Gabo gives her as passing at 7.30 a.m., a speed of nearly 17 knots. She is on her way to Hobart. ... "

adb.anu.edu.au/biography/hordern-samuel-3916

pellethepoet Thanks for the right Samuel Hordern - I had trouble finding his bio.

Full description of the CHINA's features - including mention of gun platforms and possible use as an armed cruiser - trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/9391608 .

This looks more like Wharf 7 in Wooloomooloo Bay, long one of Sydney's liner berths.

Is that a model ship or toy in the foreground?

Definitely Woolloomooloo finger wharf. [www.ebay.com.au/itm/RMS-AQUITANIA-CUNARD-SHIP-SYDNEY-1940...]

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