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S.S. New Australia

This picture given by John Fisher who has a deep interest in ships of yesterday.

Australia - Golden Land

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I do not remember a great deal about this trip out as I was 8, nearly nine at the time, but I do vaguely remember good times including coming through the Suez Canal and visiting Ceylon as it was then known. I remember special occasions such as a fancy dress ball on board ship and I remember thinking that this was indeed a luxury liner and how lucky we were to be travelling on it. I remember we shared our cabin with the female members of a Scottish family. Unfortunately I cannot remember their name or many details about the group. Whilst it was not always pleasant being an English migrant child in Australia and we certainly got our share of teasing and tormenting , still I remember with pleasure, the heat and Freedom. And the Space!!
I have found during researching the information for my webpage that the "S.S. New Australia" was previously known as "The Monarch of Bermuda" and that she was one of a proud fleet of ships engaged in the tourist trade. She was built in 1931.

Monarch & Queen

This is an old postcard of the Monarch of Bermuda and her sister ship the Queen of Bermuda taken at Hamilton docks.

S.S. New Australia in dock in Sydney in 1950

Sailing Information

This and other documentation was sent to me by another child immigrant to Australia. I give special thanks to Robert Nash for all the help he has given me. Time passes but Memories remain.

"MONARCH OF BERMUDA"

Bult by Vickers-Armstrong Shipbuilders Ltd, Walker-on-Tyne
(ship order #1)
- engines by Fraser & Chalmers, Erich (turbines),
and by General Electric Co Ltd, Birmingham (motors),
for Furness, Withy & Co's New York-Bermuda service,
and launched on 17 March 1931.
- 22,424 gross tons; 579 x 76 feet (length x breadth),
- 3 funnels, 2 masts, cruiser stern;
- steam turboelectric engines, quadruple screw, service speed 19 knots;
- acccommodation for 799 passengers in 1st class, 31 in 2nd class; crew of 456.

1931-1939, New York-Bermuda. November 1939-1946, troopship.
24 May 1947, burned out at Hebburn-on-Tyne while being reconditioned for return to passenger service. Although declared a total loss, the wreck was reappraised and then purchased by the Ministry of Transport, who had her rebuilt by Thornycroft in Southampton as an emigrant ship; 20,256 tons; 553.2 x 76.7 feet; 1 funnel; 1600 passengers in one class.
1949, renamed "NEW AUSTRALIA".
15 August 1950, first voyage, Southampton-Sydney, managed by the Shaw Savill Line.
January 1958, sold to the Greek Line, and renamed ARKADIA (registered in the name of the Arcadia Steamship Co); rebuilt and modernized by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg; 20,259 tons; forpeak extended to provide a curved stem, length 590 feet; foremast replaced by two king-posts; 150 passengers in 1st class, 1150 in tourist class.
22 May 1968, first voyage, Bremerhaven-Cherbourg-Liverpool-Greenock- Quebec-Montreal.
17 June 1958, first voyage, Bremerhaven-Southampton- Cherbourg-Cobh-Quebec-Montreal.
1961, further refitting by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg; 20,648 tons; 50 passengers in 1st class, 1337 in tourist class.
16 August 1966, last voyage, Bremerhaven-Amsterdam-London-Havre-Cobh-Quebec-Montreal (departed 26 August).
November 1966, laid up in River Fal.
8 December 1966, arrived at Valencia, Spain, for scrapping. [Noel Reginald Pixell Bonsor, North Atlantic Seaway; An Illustrated History of the Passenger Services Linking the Old World with the New (2nd ed.; Jersey, Channel Islands: Brookside Publications), vol. 4 (1979), pp. 1652-1653 and 1657 (photograph as ARKADIA); Arnold Kludas, Die grossen Passagierschiffe der Welt; Eine Dokumentation, Bd. 3: 1924-1935 (Oldenburg/Hamburg: Gerhard Stalling, c1973),. pp. 180 - 181(photographs)].

This information was given by Robin Nash and again my sincere thanks to him.

To Websites of others who came to Australia as

Children of Immigrants

To Gino's Webpage: Click here!

To David's Webpage : Click here!

To Robert's Webpage : Click here!

Background to Australian Immigration Policy in the 1950's

My understanding is that during the fifties, immigration into Australia, was governed by what is called 'The White Australian Policy'. This policy promoted the immigration of white, Anglo Saxon and European immigrants. Although 'sponsorship' of immigrants was an intergral part of the policy, this did not always mean that Australia was developing a skill base to meet her growing needs. Rather it encouraged the continuation of the prevailing culture, mores and beliefs. We as an English family, were able to immigrate, sponsored by a relative already living in Australia, for the princely sum of ten pounds. However, immigrants were expected to live independently after their arrival as there was virtually no other means of financial support. Dependence upon the State for income support was not an option, nor was unemployment benefits or any family payments apart from Family Allowance - then not immediately available to immigrants. Many immigrants lived in transition camps until they were self supporting. Most immigrants arrived by boat and the trip generally took 4 - 6 weeks. There were restrictions on luggage and often this move was taken with severe reservations as it was a total separation from known life-styles and environments. For example as a child, I viewed snakes as being as large as telephone poles because they were deadly, and the 'bush' as rather an extensive shrub into which people walked and became lost and died. I had read 'Bush Christmas. While these Immigration Policies are now severely critised and constantly viewed as Racial, they were in the context of the times, consistent with both prevailing political and social attitudes. The option offered individuals and families a chance to re-establish themselves under a 'new order.' with increased opportunities for change.

Postscript to "S.S.New Australia"
Unfortunately since writing the original page I have been told by others who immigrated to Australia on this once fine vessel, that by 1957 she had been allowed to fall into a bad state of maintenance. Lack of attention to both general maintenance on the boat and care in choosing the crew who sailed her made her final voyages to Australia nowhere near as pleasant as the time she sailed proudly through the Suez Canal. I felt very sad to hear this.

judyb@southcom.com.au Tasmania, 7307 Australia, The World

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