Item #4001581 'The Orient Liner "Austral" sunk in Sydney Harbour' [pencil title to verso]. SS AUSTRAL, John PAINE, attributed.
'The Orient Liner "Austral" sunk in Sydney Harbour' [pencil title to verso].

'The Orient Liner "Austral" sunk in Sydney Harbour'.
'The Orient Liner "Austral" sunk in Sydney Harbour' [pencil title to verso].

Sydney: 1882.

Albumen silver print, 150 x 200mm, pencil description to reverse of the image.

Shipping catastrophe in Sydney harbour

Remarkable photo showing the S.S. Austral after it foundered in Sydney Harbour while coaling off Kirribilli in November 1882. The striking scene shows the vessel sunk past the gunwales and listing heavily to starboard, the masts and funnels depicted starkly against the fog and calm sea. Around the wreck various smaller boats are in attendance; the perspective of the image looks south-east past Fort Denison towards Clark Island and Double Bay.

Remarkable photo showing the S.S. Austral after it foundered in Sydney Harbour while coaling off Kirribilli in November 1882. The striking scene shows the vessel sunk past the gunwales and listing heavily to starboard, the masts and funnels depicted starkly against the fog and calm sea. Around the wreck various smaller boats are in attendance; the perspective of the image looks south-east past Fort Denison towards Clark Island and Double Bay.

The wreck provoked astonishment and curiosity among Sydney-siders, becoming a popular tourist attraction for the ferries of the harbour for some three months. A piece in the Sydney Morning Herald pondered the strangeness of a ship wrecking in such sheltered conditions, commenting that the 'Austral has not even the excuse of the sudden gust, she sank as by some evil influence, how far assisted by man's neglect remains to be shown.'

The Austral was ultimately refloated, returned to Scotland for refitting, made two transatlantic journeys (Liverpool to New York) and resumed service on the Orient Line Australia route in 1884.

Although the present image appears to be unrecorded, it is similar to a photograph held by the National Library taken by Sydney photographer John Paine. Kent-born Paine, who won awards at the Sydney and Calcutta International Exhibitions, was a well established commercial and private photographer at the time working out of a studio in Waterloo.

Condition Report: A minor tear to lower margin, but very good.

Price (AUD): $650.00

US$423.52   Other currencies

Ref: #4001581

Condition Report