State Library of South Australia

The 'Sobraon' moored at Gravesend, U.K. [PRG 1373/1/49] • Photograph

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Summary

The composite ship 'Sobraon', 2131 tons, moored at Gravesend, U.K. This is the largest composite ship built. It has iron frames and lower masts. The lower yards of made of steel [composite ship, 2131 tons, ON54680. 272.0 x 40.0 x 27.0. Built 1866 (4) Hall, Russell and Co., Aberdeen [per Ron Parsons, however a researcher advises that it was built by the neighbouring yard of Alexander Hall & Co., Aberdeen]. Owners: Lowther, Maxton and Co., registered London. c.1870 Devitt and Moore: 1892 NSW Government; 1911 Federal Government for Naval Training ship and renamed 'HMAS Tingira'. Sold out of the service in 1928, it was reported she was to be broken up, but in 1934 she was reported to be in use as a 'rest home for out of work boys'. In 1937 sold for conversion to a museum but the buyer went bankrupt and the vessel passed to Mr. W Ford, Berry's Bay, North Sydney and was finally demolished in WW2. There seems to be no foundation for the story that the vessel was laid down as a auxiliary steamer for the Black Ball Line. Even before she was purchased by Devitt and Moore whenever she loaded on the Australian berth she was under charter to that firm. Her first owners were in the China tea trade. claimed to have been the largest composite ship built. The ship was named after a decisive battle in the Sutlij war of 1846. Accommodation was for 90 first and 40 second class passengers. Her first trip to Australia was in 1866 when she made the trip to Sydney in 75 days. For a description of a passage made in 1882 see SB Vol. XVII (New Series) Jan. 1954 page 4 et seq.] [Tingira = native term for The Open Sea. While under this name was employed as a training ship for boy entries to RAN and was moored usually in Rose Bay, Sydney. 1914-1928].

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Physical description

Photograph; 16.1 cm x 21.6 cm

Dates / Publication details

Approximately 1880

Collection

Part of A.D. Edwardes Collection

Subject

Sobraon (Ship)
Tingira (Ship)
Sailing ships

Catalogue record

Return to catalogue

General notes

From the section 'Composite-built vessels. In the late 1860s and early 1870s many composite vessels were launched. With wooden planks on iron frames these vessels were expected to combine the virtues of both iron and wood. Many composite vessels were employed in the China tea trade and several such ships were engaged in the Australian passenger service.

This image is from the A.D. Edwardes Collection of about 8,000 photographs, mostly of sailing ships from around the world, taken between about 1865 and 1920. Mounted in 91 albums, the photographs are arranged by country of ownership, with some special volumes such as 'Shipping at Port Adelaide' and 'South Australian outports'. Additional information, giving the history of the ships where known, has been provided by maritime historian, Ron Parsons.

Digitisation information

Date

11/07/2007

Format

image/tiff

Resolution

3,617 x 2,712 pixels (9.8 MP)

Size

29.45 MB

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