Aberdeen Line Archives of Historical Documents, Passenger Lists, etc.
The Aberdeen Line operated steamships covering the route between London, South Africa and Australia.
Bringing Immigrants to Australia via South Africa
The steamships in this line travel via South Africa; the passengers are never subjected to extremes of temperature; and the time of journey if forty-six to fifty days. Departures from London are at regular three-week intervals, in accordance with time-table printed for the whole year, which is strictly adhered to. The accommodation is for first and third class passengers, and the cabins for the latter, which are either on the upper deck or 'tween decks, are lofty and well lighted. Passengers are not required to provide anything in the way of bedding, table or cabin appointments, which are provided by the Line on a very comfortable scale.
Aberdeen Line Typical Third Class, 4-Berth Cabin circa 1907
As with all the most modern vessels, refrigerator chambers guarantee fresh provisions throughout the voyage, while the general rooms and cabins are lighted throughout with electric light. A full staff of stewards and stewardesses attend to passengers' comfort, while in the event of sickness, the ship's medical officer attends free of charge, medicines being supplied free, as may be necessary. The ports of call between London and Sydney are Plymouth, Teneriffe, Cape Town, and Melbourne. (Note 1)
The Aberdeen Line was founded in 1824, and long occupied a prominent place in the Australian trade with its fleet of fast-sailing clippers. The present fleet, however, consists entirely of steamers, and of these the Themistocles and Demosthenes, of 12,000 tons, are the most famous, the latter being the first turbine steamer trading between England and Australia. The journey is made round the Cape of Good Hope, and, besides cargo, first- and third-class passengers are carried. (Note 2)
Aberdeen Line Materials Available for viewing
- Passenger Lists of the Aberdeen Line
- 1927-02-13 Dinner Menu, S.S. Demosthenes
- 1907 Vintage Advertisement for the Aberdeen Line
- 1906 History of the Aberdeen Line
Information about the Aberdeen Steamship Line
Aberdeen Line operated routes From London and Plymouth to South Africa and Australia. They also offered Round the World Tours and Tours to Victoria Falls and through South Africa.
Fleet of the Aberdeen Line
- S.S. Euripides, 15,000 Tons Triple Screw
- S.S. Demosthenes, 11,500 Tons, Triple Screw
- S.S. Themistocles, 11,500 Tons, Twin Screw
- S.S. Sophocles, 12,500 Tons, Twin Screw
- S.S. Diogenes, 12,500 Tons, Twin Screw
Note 1: New South Wales -The Mother State of Australia: A Guide For Immigrants and Settlers, 1906, Issued by The Intelligence Department, Authority of the Government of the State of New South Wales.
Note 2: All About Ships, Second Edition, Lt. Henry Taprell Dorling, R.N. , Cassell and Company, Ltd. New York, 1912, Page 141
