Asturias: London, England, 24 Jan 1908 to Pinkenba, Queensland, 13 Mar 1908

Date: 24 Jan 1908 to 13 Mar 1908
Location: London, England to Pinkenba, Queensland
Surname/tag: Maiden Voyage

Asturias: Built 1908 in Ireland ^[1]

Maiden voyage from London, England to Australian ports

Left London: 24 January 1908

Arrived: Australian Ports

Fremantle, Western Australia, 27 February^[2]

Adelaide, South Australia, 2 March^[3]

Melbourne, (Hobson's Bay) Victoria 4 March^[4]

Sydney, (Circular Quay) New South Wales 7 March^[5]

Pinkenba, Queensland, 13 March^[6][7]

ORIENT-ROYAL MAIL LINE^[8]

The R.M.S. Asturias, of the Orient-Royal mail line, represents the latest type of marine architecture, embodying as she does everything that modern ingenuity can supply. Propelled by twin screws, she can hold her own in the matter of speed with most ocean linens coming here. She is one of the largest, if not the largest, boats which have entered the Thames, her gross tonnage being 12,200, length 535ft., beam 62 1/4ft., and depth 36ft. In design, the Asturias is graceful, but nothing has been sacrificed to architectural beauty in the endeavor of the owners and the builders to meet the requirements and to secure the safety of her passengers. Access is to be had to all her seven decks, and it is possible to got to any part without going outside by means of the staircases and an electric lift which runs from the main deck to the promenade deck, and which has landings on the intermediate, decks. Accommodation has be provided for over 300 first-class. 84 second-class; and 1200 third-class passengers.

On the main. deck, is the first-class dining saloon, a luxurious apartment decorated in the Renaissance style, with light carved oak, white and gold panelled walls, relieved by centres of light blue and celling, and furnished with small tables. The dome of the saloon is modelled after that of the Genoese palace. A children's saloon or nursery adjoins the dining saloon, and is suitably furnished and decorated.

A significant fact is the part played by electricity in ministering to the comfort of the passengers. In the kitchens everything that can be done by electricity is done thereby, from the peeling of potatoes to the washing of dishes. The electric laundry is one of the shows which have attracted much attention from visitors to the ship. Electric fans are in every cabin, electric cigar lighters and curling tongs are scattered profusely over the vessel, and the hairdressing saloon is supplied with all the electric appliances there are to be found in the most up-to-date shore establishments.

The Social-hall forms an admirable lounge and place of reunion, whilst the broad decks afford a magnificent ballroom, on which the devotees of Terpsichore can take full advantage of the ship's string band. In fitting out the ship, all tastes have been consulted. The athlete will find a gymnasium, the photographer a darkroom, the musician a "Broadwood grand." Single berth staterooms abound, and the arrangements and fitments of all the sleeping accommodation are exceptionally good. There are suites de luxe, each consisting of bedroom and sittingroom, furnished and decorated in princely style, with bathroom and lavatory. Good taste is displayed in the decoration. of the staterooms, the white and gold walls being relieved by brown-tinted pictures. The second-class passengers are provided with equally comfortable sleeping accommodation on the some deck, which also contains the third-class saloon. Every provision has been made for the safe navigation of the steamer, and by the adoption of Messrs. Harland and Wolff's latest balanced quadruple type of engines, vibration is avoided. The double set of engines for the twin screws constitutes, of course, an additional element of safety. The Asturias is due at Sydney to-day.

Sources

Passenger list for Melbourne and Sydney Public Records Office Victoria. Unassisted passenger lists (1852-1923) Record Series Number (VPRS): 947. https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/42CBFDFA-F96C-11E9-AE98-1D48EE62377A?image=213

1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMHS_Asturias
2. ↑ NEW ORIENT STEAMER. (1908, February 28). Kalgoorlie Miner (WA : 1895 - 1954), p. 8. Retrieved May 1, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article90370910
3. ↑ ARRIVAL OF THE ASTURIAS. (1908, March 2). Evening Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1869 - 1912), p. 1. Retrieved May 1, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article208623734
4. ↑ SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. HOBSON'S BAY. (1908, March 5). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 4. Retrieved May 1, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10669968
5. ↑ R.M.S. ASTURIAS AT SYDNEY. (1908, March 7). Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931), p. 2. Retrieved May 1, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article114097546
6. ↑ R.M.S. Asturias. (1908, March 13). The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), p. 7 (SECOND EDITION). Retrieved May 1, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article175142831
7. ↑ IMMIGRANTS FOR QUEENSLAND. (1908, March 13). The Bundaberg Mail and Burnett Advertiser (Qld. : 1892 - 1917), p. 3. Retrieved May 1, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article215748892
8. ↑ ORIENT-ROYAL MAIL LINE. (1908, March 7). The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 - 1930), p. 9. Retrieved May 1, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article238105725