Summary

Black and white image of tourists on the pier at Sorrento about to board the paddle steamer Hygeia to travel across Port Phillip in Victoria, photographed A.J. Campbell.

In the late 1800s early 1900s paddle steamers were a luxury form of transport on Port Phillip mainly for tourists travelling between Melbourne, Mornington, Dromana, Sorrento and Queenscliff. The Hygeia built in Glasgow, Scotland in 1890, was considered to be the most luxuriously appointed paddle steamer ever built for Australia. After 40 years service on the bay carrying up to1600 passengers at a time, the Hygeia was taken out of service in 1930 to be stripped of all her fittings before being laid to rest in the waters off Barwon Heads, Victoria in 1932.

This glass lantern slide is one of many forming the A.J. Campbell Collection held by Museum Victoria.

Description of Content

The 'Hygea' at berth

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