Item MM 110508 Digital Photograph - Crowds Farewelling 'Orontes' with Streamers, Station Pier, Port Melbourne, 1952

Description of Content

View from pier of masses of streamers breaking and trailing from a departing ship. This photograph shows the departure of the 'MV Orontes' from Station Pier, 1952. This vertical view complements image MM110508. When the 'Orontes' departed, the photographer's family farewelled their friend Mr Harry McCrea with streamers from Station Pier. Traditionally, the person on board the ship would throw a roll of streamers overboard to the people below. As the ship moved away from the pier, both sides would hold on to the streamers for as long as they could until they broke.