ProvenanceFrom 1910 to the 1960s the Gulf Trip on Adelaide Steamship Company vessels was a unique way to see South Australia. Popular with honeymooners and notorious party ships for young men, the seven-day trip cost £6 in 1939. Ships like the ‘Minnipa’,’ Manunda’, ‘Moonta’ and ‘Morialta’ provided an opportunity for romance and gave many South Australians the time of their lives. Leisure on board the ships was a priority with organised deck games, music, sing-alongs, and writing rooms for sending postcards to loved ones. This baggage ticket was produced for passengers travelling on the ‘Moonta’ during the 1930s and perhaps cherished as a souvenir.SignificanceAn example of ephemera from the Gulf Trip cruises run by the Adelaide Steamship company.
In a decade which witnessed economic depression and world war, the Gulf Trip was South Australia’s affordable version of the modern cruise ship holiday; leisure on board the ships was a priority with organised deck games, music, sing-alongs, and writing rooms for sending postcards to loved ones. It also had a somewhat salacious reputation as a place where men and women could fraternise with relative ease. Gulf Trip vessels were stocked with a large range of souvenirs for sale to passengers to remember the cruise of a life time.DescriptionCardboard baggage ticket provided by the Adelaide Steamship Co. to passengers sailing on the Gulf Trip. Ticket shows a picture of a ship on the sea on a yellow background with black and grey lettering. Adelaide Steamship Co. appears in yellow lettering on a black background at the bottom of the front side of the ticket.
Reverse of the tag is buff coloured card and has space for the passenger's name, cabin number and dates of travel on board the MV 'Moonta' all printed in black ink. A disclaimer is printed at the bottom: 'Passengers must take care of their luggage, as the Company will not hold themselves responsible for its safety unless booked as cargo.'Creator (person)Creator (organisation)The Adelaide Steamship Company LtdAcknowledgementKeywordsticketsDate of CreationDate of Usage1930sMaterialPaper Accession NumberHT 1986.0350
