Item 02: The PS Kembla, [ca. 1880 / drawing attributed to William Forster]

V/322

item

[ca. 1880]

Graphic Materials, Drawings

9608807

1 drawing - watercolour and gouache on wove paper - 32.5 x 50.5 cm

The Kembla, an iron paddle steamer, was built in Glasgow for the Illawarra
Steam Navigation Co. Following her arrival in Sydney in 1861 she operated as a
passenger vessel on the Merimbula trade. She was laid up for a number of years
until 1872 when she began servicing Sydney and Melbourne via Wollongong,
Shoalhaven and Eden. In 1873 she changed to the Brisbane - Maryborough –
Mackay run, later adding Sydney to her itinerary. In 1874 she was placed on the
Newcastle run. She was sold in 1890 and hulked in 1917.

Reference:
Library correspondence file.

This watercolour shows the paddle steamer 'Kembla' steaming along the coast.The artist has included members of the crew working the vessel and passengers standing on the deck. The 'PS Kembla' was drawn as part of a pair with 'The PS Collaroy'.

Out of copyright: Creator died before 1955
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Titled on lower mount on piece of paper "The PS Kembla".

Attributed to William Forster. Born in England in 1840, Forster was a prominent marine artist who visited Australia in the late nineteenth century and worked in Sydney and Newcastle. He died in 1891.

Attribution made by Day Fine Art, 21 July 2017.

Reference:
Library correspondence file.

Date based on the event in 1881 when the Collaroy ran ashore at Narrabeen during a dense fog. She was sold at auction and refloated three years later. This watercolour of the Kembla was drawn as a pair, therefore the same circa date of 1880 has been assigned.