Photograph depicting the sinking liner RMS TAHITI
Image by Australian National Maritime Museum on The Commons
The well known and popular steamer RMS TAHITI sank in August 1930 400 nautical miles west of Raratonga. Disaster struck the liner during a voyage from Sydney to San Francisco, however the SS VENTURA and SS PENYBRYN were on hand to assist with a mid-ocean rescue. Returning to Australia and New Zealand, some of the survivors and rescuers found a ready market for their images of the incident amongst New Zealand and Australian newspapers and movie houses. Read >>>our blog<<< on the sinking.
Prior to the sinking, in November 1927, TAHITI had been involved in a tragic collision with the Sydney Ferry GREYCLIFFE. The collision occurred off Bradley’s Head and resulted in the ferry sinking immediately with the loss of 37 lives, many of them school children. Head to the >>>blog<<< to read more about this incident.
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Object number ANMS122[009]