English: This photograph most likely depicts the P&O liner RMS Strathnaver leaving for London from West Circular Quay in Sydney at 4pm on 11 March 1932.

A note about the research on this photograph from an ANMM member:
"The first thing I noticed was that while the Harbour Bridge looks complete (officially opened Saturday, 19th March 1932), if you look at the North Eastern Pylon in the photo, it still has the last of the steel beams that projected out from the top that allowed suspended catwalks to be used to clean the granite facings of the pylons before opening.
Also a date of December 1932 seems at odds with the fact that as a ‘wonder of the age to Sydneysiders’ there are no pedestrians on the eastern walkway, or trams and trains or even motor traffic visible.
Another point to note is that the time of departure currently stated (11.30 am, Saturday, 31st December 1932) does not square with the shadows cast by the bridge structure evident on the base of the southern pylons in the photo. The sun is obviously past that hour and, from the shadows cast, is to the west and in the afternoon.
The photo shows RMS Strathnaver (not RMS Strathaird) departing Sydney for London 4 pm Friday, 11th March 1932 (8 days before the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.)"
See Trove article nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16847083
This photo is part of the Australian National Maritime Museum’s Samuel J. Hood Studio collection. Sam Hood (1872-1953) was a Sydney photographer with a passion for ships. His 60-year career spanned the romantic age of sail and two world wars. The photos in the collection were taken mainly in Sydney and Newcastle during the first half of the 20th century.
The ANMM undertakes research and accepts public comments that enhance the information we hold about images in our collection. This record has been updated accordingly.
Photographer: Samuel J. Hood Studio Collection

Object no. 00035575