Australis: Museum Victoria

The Australis retains a significant place in Australian immigration history as the last ship to carry government assisted immigrants to Australian shores in 1977. She had the largest passenger capacity of any post World War II immigrant ship to regularly visit Australia and many passengers fondly remember her grandeur and remnants of Art Deco style.

The Australis after arriving at Port Melbourne on Australia’s last assisted migrant voyage, December 1977.
Source: Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs.

Facts at a Glance

Dimensions: 723 x 93 ft (220.4 x 28.4 m)
Registered Tonnage: 34,449 tons gross
Service Speed: 22 knots
Propulsion: Reduction geared steam turbines / twin screws
Shipping Line: Chandris Line

History of the Ship

Originally named America, the immigrant ship Australis was designed by William Francis Gibbs and built for the North Atlantic trade – to travel between Europe and the United States. When launched on 31 August 1939 (by Mrs Eleanor Roosevelt), she was the largest passenger vessel to have ever been constructed in the United States and provided luxury accommodation for 1202 passengers in three classes.

In the midst of World War II, she was taken over by the US Navy and converted to an American troop ship capable of carrying 8175 soldiers. Realising the impact on public sentiment should America be sunk, the American government quickly renamed the ship the USS West Point. During the war, she visited ports in Europe, Africa and South America and was frequently attacked by Japanese forces.

After 12 years on the North Atlantic trade following the war, she was sold to the Chandris Line in 1965 and christened Australis, being converted to a fully air conditioned single class ship for the Australian migrant trade. A large portion of her original interior styling was maintained, and she remained adorned with many murals and Art Deco floor coverings during her immigration years.

Immigrant Ship to Australia

The Australis left Piraeus, Greece, for her first immigrant voyage to Australia on 21 August 1965, reaching Fremantle on 6 September and Melbourne on 13 September. She made a total of 62 voyages to Australia between 1965 and 1977, travelling regularly between Britain and Australia via the Suez Canal, stopping at ports such as Aden, Port Said and Colombo. In 1967, when the Suez was closed, she detoured around South Africa stopping at Cape Town and Durban. In 1970, while travelling between New Zealand and Suva, a fire broke out in the galley causing substantial damage, not only to the galley, but also to the ballroom and 40 cabins.

Passenger Experiences of the Journey

In the later years of the immigration boom, Australia saw many younger, single immigrants arriving with high expectations and a sense of adventure. At this time, the journey by ship was like a holiday for some passengers.

Gisela Pfab migrated from Germany in 1970:

'I was single and it turned out I had a lot of company on the boat. Soon we partied every night and didn't get to bed until in the early morning. As a result we missed our English classes most of the time.'

For others, the journey on the Australis was a pathway to freedom from political upheaval in their home country and the beginning of a new life.

Rosemarie Draper migrated from Britain in 1976, but is originally from Burma:

'Mum retained her dream to live in Australia and kept it alive for 12 years. In November 1976, we farewelled our family and friends and headed to Southampton to get aboard the Australis and begin the new phase of our lives.'

Her Final Voyage

After her final voyage to Australia on 18 November 1977, the Australis was sold to Venture Cruise Lines and again named America. After a number of unsuccessful cruises, she was sold back to the Chandris Line, with plans to cruise the Mediterranean. At this time she was christened Italis, but after only three voyages, she was laid up. After a long period of idleness, she was taken under Panamanian ownership and named Alferdoss, but in 1988 had to be run aground near Piraeus to stop her sinking.

The Australis at Station Pier, Port Melbourne.
Source: Public Records Office, Victoria.

I am from France. With a group of french,not really French at all in reality we boarded at Southampton.A young couple from around Paris,a single man from PARIS and the rest of us a dozen where from different part of the world.This voyage towards the faraway unknown would became the second immigration.I am from Italy and arrived in France when I was seven years old.For me going to Australia was grandiose,my best experience ever,a HUGE HOLIDAY among the anglosaxon way of life.I was 19 and in 32 days I knew all the hidden spots on the best ship of all seas.I was everywhere and even saved a life.Australis and the marvellous people around her;THANK YOU!

Sailed from Southampton to Sydney, on this glorious ship. Remember going through the Panama Canal and traversing the equator. What an experience. Have fond nostalgic memories from a 9 year old boy of a wonderful ship. What a sad end for the Australis, she deserved so much better.

My family and I were one of the fortunate families to board the Australis in 1969. I was a child of 2 and the stories I heard from my parents was that I immediately fell in love with the captain and would run away to him at ever chance I had. I was saddened to here after previous searches regarding this amazing ship that my beloved captain had passed away. I had bought books about this ship and will pass them on to my children as a reminder of where we came - Greece.

Travelled o/ b this ship from Bremerhaven, Germany to Melbourne in November 1969. Took about four weeks to get there. Visited the museum in Melbourne five years ago. The pictures shown remind me of my arrival in Australia

Dear friends at the Immigration Museum, I wonder if you have photographic records of immigrats who came here aboard Ausralis on its maiden voyage when it docked at Station pier on 13 September 1965. I am just trying to track down a piece of my history. By the way, Australis on that jorney was not air conditioned as you say. But I had a pleasant journey on it.

Hi Harry, Picture Australia is a great place to look for images, you can search many of Australia's largest institutions in one place here http://www.pictureaustralia.org/

Hello, I travelled from melbourne to miami on the australis leaving around october 1967.We stopped at NZ, Fiji, Acapulco, Balboa. Wonderful time that I wish I could have all over again

Hi, I recently submitted a comment that I would like to add to. I left melbourne on friday 13th october (I believe the date to be) on Australis. I was bound for Miami Florida. The trip was fantastic and stopped at NZ, Fiji, Acapulco, Balboa, etc. We went through the panama canal which was a wonderful experience. The trip, ship and other passengers were all fantastic. The food was marvellous and I emerged from the trip close to a dress size bigger. I still have a phot taken on board the ship with the logo of the ship on the photo. The trip was a most amazing experience and one I count myself very lucky to have had.

WE traveled form England to Sydney 1968. I was five years old and can still remember the trip, proberly due to the fact that dad filmed the whole trip on 8mm, all the ports and onboard activities.These are great memories, I would love to share with others.find me on facebook.

I also arrived in Australia in 1969 via the Australis. I came from Germany, leaving Bremerhaven on November 22nd 1969. I would love to know the exact route the ship took to get to Australia. I remember the Canary Islands and Cape Town. I remember the yellow lines painted on the footpaths so that black people could walk on one side and white on the other. The ship had a children's centre that I attended, I was 6 years old. They had a fire drill and I was the last child to be collected by my parents.

Hi Christine, thank you for sharing your memories of the Australis and your trip to Australia. From the research we have done here, the number of ports visited on each voyage of the Australis was subject to change, although the vessel usually went from Southampton to Bremerhaven and Rotterdam, then Naples and Piraeus, Port Said, Aden and Colombo then stopping at Fremantle, Melbourne, and onto Sydney in about 28 days. From Sydney it would then return to Britain. With the closure of the Suez Canal in 1967 until 1975, the route was diverted around South Africa, with calls perhaps at Gibraltar or Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, then Cape Town and Durban, across to Fremantle and then onto Melbourne and Sydney.

I am one of the "10-pound Poms" who sailed from Southampton aboard the "Australis" on 5th April 1967 via Piraeus,Port Said, Aden and Colombo then via Freemantle and onto Melbourne, arriving on 30th April, 1967. I believe this may have been the last migrant ships, or one of the last passenger liners to pass through the Suez Canal. One could see troop movements along the canal at that time. However, upon arriving and looking around Freemantle, I did think I had gone back in time. I still think it was the best 10-pound I ever spent for the "cruise" and the experience. Where could I find a passenger list for that trip, showing my name?

Hi Stephen, all immigration records are held by the National Archives of Australia. For information on how to access passenger & migration records, please visit our infosheet on Researching your family history, under the section on the NAA, towards the bottom of the page.

Mick, Des, Duncan, Lee -- we all sailed from Oz to England on the Australis in March 1971. Met up with cricketers Kerry O'Keefe and Bruce Francis. Drank a heap of beer. Kissed plenty of girls. Chased by the master of arms. But, heck, we were just kids. What a voyage. We might have outdone Black Beard! -- Mike Brudenell (Detroit).

Dear Sir/madam. I sailed on the SS Australis Voyage 51 North from Port Melbourne on the 15th Oct.1975.I would like to know exactly what date that ship docked in Rotterdam in November. Thank You. G.R.Filcock.

Was on the Australis from Sydney 14th oct.1977 to Southampton and then from there to Port Siad in Egypt. Aprox 6 weeks. What a life! All that for only $700AUS! I was the only one to leave the ship At Port Siad. Talk about CULTURE SHOCK. Being taken care of by "a bunch of Arabs" Sorry, that's was my 24yr old brain was thinking then. Once in Cairo and staying a the Youth Hostel there it was ok but sharing a taxi from Port Said with about 5 / 6 other perfect strangers, non westerners as well, was a terrifying experience for one who'd been living a cruse ship life for 6 weeks. Leaving the ship via a little door in the side and being manhandled into a small boat in order to get ashore was sort of like leaving the womb I suppose. Frightening painfull. Jonathan

Hi. Our family travelled from Rotterdam to Fremantle in 1973 on the Australis. Although I was only 8 years old I do have fond memories of the trip. Would love to be able to relive the trip. Stopping of at such places as Capetown,Las Palmas and the canary Islands. I think there were more stops but cant remember excactly. Would love to get hold of a photograph of the Australis. Great memories thats for sure

My husband and I and two daughters sailed on the Ship Australis from South Hampton in the UK in mid Oct 1972. We arrived in Fremantle 24th November 1972. We stopped off at Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, then Cape Town and Durban, then onto Fremantle Western Australia. It was a scorching hot day 40c one of many. What a life changing experience. I was 22yrs my husband 26yrs our daughters were 4yrs and 6yrs. We then had another daughter born in March 1980. Our own "Little Aussie". Sadly my husband passed away in Feb of 1988. Eventhough I have travelled abroad since. Yet still I have never regretted coming to this wonderful place I call home. Thankyou Australia.

Hi I worked on the Australis on 3 round the world voyages in 1970. I was a Cashier and also a Children's Hostess. The captain was Captain Ikiades. It was a wonderful time in my life and wish I could do it all again. I have been travelling ever since!! Would love to hear from any ex employees!!

I travelled on the Australis in Jan 1977. It cost me $700 for a 5 week voyage. I had a room on the sun deck, just below the ball room. We left from Syndey, went to Auckland,Tahiti, through Panama, Cuaco, San Juan Porto Rico, Vigo Spain, and on to Southhampton. I was 21. I met so many good friends (Margy, Debbie, Lynn, Elli, Pete Young, Jim Pesinis, Fud, Tuck and Broads, many I still see. There were 1800 people on the ship. Most amazing time. The Master of Arms' name was Dimitri, the majority of the crew were Greek. We'd stay up all night partying, sneak down to the bakery at 4 am, get some hot bread rolls, watch the sunrise and then go to bed. I only ever made breakfast once... that was the first day. Going thru Panama Canal was amazing. The food was great, the social life was great, and I saw much of the world. I learnt to speak Greek and learned Greek dancing. Such an awesome experience and many great memories.

I boarded the Australis in Las Palmas as I had to miss the sailing from Southampton due to a course I was on. I remember the Greek crew and very nice captain. The ship was very large with an enormous amount of people on board, many emigrating to Australia, but some on holiday or returning to Oz. I was going out to the British Solomon Islands Protectorate to work as Secretary to the Deputy Governor. It was the last year that the Foreign Office allowed staff to travel to Post by sea and I just made it. The Australis was the only ship going anywhere in that region at the time I had to travel. When I disembarked in Sydney, I had to wait a few days in order to catch a twice-weekly flight to Fiji. There I had to remain until there was a flight to the Gilbert and Ellis Islands. From there another wait until I could board a flight to Honiara in the Solomon Islands. I was 21 years old - it was a terrific adventure. I had no phone and no means of communication with my family in England. They didn't even have a phone. The year was 1974.

I was on the ship Australis in 1969 (was 6 years of age), we boarded in Pireaus (Greece), it would be interesting to know how many trips were made in 1969 (to Australia). Reading peoples comments on about possibly being on the same ship at the same time is amazing. Mum and dad are very vague about the trip so this has filled a gap for me. I shall keep reading. Thank you.

Hi Cohn, The National Archives of Australia has 3 trips listed for the Australis in 1969, March, July and December. There was also an arrival in late 1968, and another in early 1970.

I migrated to Australis on board Australis, Southbound Trip 27 leaving Southampton early Feb, travalling via Cape town 1971 and arriving in Melbourne early March 1971. It was a great experience.

I sailed from Southampton to Auckland on Australis late in 1972. The old gal had a rough trip across the Indian Ocean and we headed into arctic conditions. Made some good friends on board and enjoyed the historic presence the ship exuded. Played the villain in the Sinon McPhee melodrama.

I recall going onboard AUSTRALIS in Balboa, Panama. We were travelling Southampton - Auckland 1967 on the immigrant liner FLAVIA. A great and memorable adventure for a 13 year old. I recall coming off AUSTRALIS with sooty trousers. She certainly belched a great deal of smoke from those twin funnels.http://www.seapixonline.com/nsphoto.php?pid=1309&hit=2&back=nsthumbs&rback=temp/nsnamesan&rhit=190&mid=0&tot=2&typ=name&wds=Australis&catn=&cat=118

I travelled from Southampton March 1966 and landed in Perth W.A. I came with my family and had the most amazing time on the ship. My love of cruising was born. I still live in Perth and raised 4 children. I remember a Greek boy named George who got off in Melbourne

I travelled on Australis in 1970 aged 21 from Melbourne to Southampton. I was aboard the the ship when it caught fire between NZ and Fiji. Although it was a bit scary, I still have good memories of those days when hundreds of young Aussies travelled together across the sea to seek adventures.I have not been to sea since but am going on a cruise in Dec to New Zealand.

Great trip on the SS Australis in March 1976,sailed onto NZ so only stopped in Melbourne for the day,but did eventuraly stayed 6 months later and stayed on a temperoary visa.Did rturn in 1978-79 Back to the UK in 1980,enjoyed every moment that I was bumming around Australia.Many thanks for the expearance. Yours Jarvis Browning,(farrier blacksmith)

I worked on the Australis as the gym instructor in 1972 and completed an additional 5 roundtrips from Southampton to Sydney. Chief Purser was Nicolopoulos. Great memories of King Neptune ceremonies, stowaway stories, burials at sea and too many others to mention. My friends who worked for Alders International and Steiner. Those were the days!

@ Hillary , omg I was on that trip , I turned 4 on the boat , the Greek crew gave me a powdery ice-cream birthday cake , it was so awful my parents through it out the port hole , I don't remember much , feeling sea sick , a kids play area with some kind of sit on ride out side and a dining or large room with a stage , I think lol. Wow can't believe I found this !!

Just found your site. Amazing!! It was January 26th 1967 when I left Southampton UK on the S.S. Australis with my wife and four children and sailed to Auckland NZ, we arrived there on 6th May 1967. Have great memories and and some old movies of our time on board ship.One memory stands out was the ceremony the crew put on for the passengers when we crossed the equator.

Hi, great site :) I sailed on the Australis in 1970. I have a Facebook group called "SS Australis Photos n Stories" dropin for some memories. Cheers from Wolfram

Hi all, interesting to read all the nice comments about this ship, which doesn't have too many good memories for me and my than fiancee when we migrated to Australia on the Australis in 1973. The ship took in water on the way and when we arrived in Melbourne it had to be pumped out first before it was unloaded. The little possessions we had brought with us ended up destroyed and it wasn't a great start to a new life. To make things worse - the insurance refused to pay out anything. We watched total households of families just being loaded onto trucks and taken to the dump without the grates even being opened up, with water just pouring out of them. I could go on as the four weeks on this ship weren't exactly enjoyable in many ways. Anyway, I don't want to bore you all with my sad story, just wanted to let you know that some of us didn't have such a great journey on the Australis. I would love to hear from some other people that took this with us in 1973. Mind you: We love Australia and have never had any regrets, if anything the trip with all its up and downs was character building and made us stronger. Friederike Kalup,geb.Simon

For years I thought I must have dreamt the fire aboard the Australis, between NZ and Suva, and now I read of someone else who shared the experience. My memory of that awful night into day was, waking to the sound of ..silence, The ships engines had stopped. We were ushered on deck in our night clothes before dawn. I shall always remember the sillouette of a crewman hacking at the upper deck trying to allow the flames to up rather than down into the ship and exploding. We stayed on deck for the rest of the day, trying to sheild ourselves from the fierce sun. At one point the lifeboats were lowered and I remember a fear of sharks. We limped into Suva where we were billetted on the beach in a motel. We went out with crew members dancing in nightclubs in town, having a wonderful time. I fell in love with a crewman had the best time ever, romantic and a big adventure. I had to force myself to send a telegram to my father in the UK to say I was ok, I was having so much fun. Why is there so little mention on this so far on the site? It was a big deal at the time, making headline news apparently in UK. I had always understood that the ship was withdrawn from service when she arrived in her home port. After three weeks we sailed on, with a reduced passenger list and not much food as the kitchens, where the fire had started, had apparently been partly destroyed. All seems like a dream!

Just turned 20 when I did the Melbourne to Southampton five week voyage with two mates in April '77. This 2000 passenger liner had a casino, I remember, and cheap alcohol once outside Australian waters. It had a 20 metre seawater pool upper deck aft. One swim in that turned your eyes red for four hours. My six berth cabin was midship in the bowels of the ship. No porthole or anything like that. The engine vibration was just bearable. I remember we shared with three pommy fellas who were trying to transfuse their blood with cheap spirits. Hi Don! The ablutions were shared with other cabins, and I don't remember using them a lot. Cabin staff quickly showed us how things rolled in the cheaper cabins. Anything above a minimal service demand was ignored. They knew us being in the cheap seats meant little chance of a decent tip for them. They concentrated on the more expensive paying passengers. Once you got topside you could appreciate being on the voyage. We were second sitting at meals in the big dining room. Round tables that held six or eight people. We were the young'uns at our table. I don't think we had too many meals where we weren't a bit drunk, or hungover from the night before. This limited the attraction for our table mates to converse with us. I don't blame them. They must've have dreaded meal times. I seem to remember our sittings being changed later in the voyage, probably requested by the other diners. Our table steward was the beturbined Hari Singh. He sussed us out very early on, serving us with a minimum of fuss, and a minimum of service. Once you'd ordered from the menu Hari would disappear for quite a while. Early on I think we got our request for a second serve of desert, but never again. Hari would only return to the table to clear it, giving some great excuses why we couldn't have more. We tried to joke with him, lighten things up. "Is that all?" was his usual response, then he'd go and have a chat with more civilised diners. Wearing our Miller western shirts with mother of pearl inlay snap buttons, and denim button-fly jeans we were the rednecks Mr & Mrs Joe Average and kids liked to avoid. Not that we were rude, just a bit lacking. I remember the open to all ages table tennis tournament was a big thing. My mate Jeffo got to the quarter final I think. There wasn't a lot for young men to do at sea during daylight hours. Australis wasn't a cruise ship. Deck quoits, go red-eye in the pool, jog the upper deck loop, sunbathe, try and ogle a handful of girls our age without upsetting their parents. Read a book. Night time things livened up. The bars and casino opened. Every five nights was a theme night. I remember embarrassing myself on Vice Verca night. Men dressed as women, and vice verca. There was a parade competition to choose the best crossdresser. The MC interviewed each entrant. I put on a voice like Henny Penny for some reason. The MC took a dislike to me, but the audience laughed. I looked great in my wig and makeup. Australis stopped for a day at Wellington, Tahiti, through the Panama Canal to Curacao, Puerto Rico, Vigo in Spain, then docked at Southampton. Greeks and Italians made up the executive officers on board. Indians were in the kitchen and did stewarding. Chinese did cleaning and the laundry. I think Philipinos were the seaman & worked in the enginerooms. Non-officer staff were strictly prohibited from mixing with passengers socially. It was an interesting voyage. I enjoyed being waited upon. Loved the sea. I met a lovely Irish colleen. I was happy to step ashore at Southampton after five weeks though.

Came to Australia Nov 1971 on SS Australis my father had a job to come to in Melbourne at the Yarra Falls Textile Mill. I remember going to school on the ship and i also remember winning a knitting Nancy sewing set for a picture i did the Captain presented the prizes. I also remember the crossing the equator ceremony my parents have loads of 8mm film of the whole trip. Great Memories!!!

I came to Australia on the SS Australis in March 1970. I was pleased to find this site as I do my best to keep the memories of that great ship alive as well. I have a facebook group called "SS Australis Photos n Stories" we have loads of photos n stories. I have my own web-site as well at, http://aussipix.com I have enjoyed reading the stories on your site, well done. Cheers from Wolfram

Hi Darren,

You could try searching the National Library of Australia’s online resources; Trove (newspapers, etc) or Picture Australia (images). You may also wish to contact The Age directly.

Post World War II Migrant Ships: Australis

Facts at a Glance

History of the Ship

Immigrant Ship to Australia

Passenger Experiences of the Journey

Her Final Voyage

Further Reading

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