T.S.S Fairstar Sitmar Line Badge

Was built as the Bibby Lines TSS Oxfordshire in 1956 by Glasgow’s Fairfield S.B. & Eng Co. Ltd, in the Govan yard and was launched as the Oxfordshire on 15 December 1955 by Mrs Dorothea Head, wife of the Minister of Defence.

During her sea trials, Oxfordshire having an intended service speed of around 17 knots actually achieved an average speed of 20.93 knots.

Her maiden voyage from Liverpool on 28 February 1957 was to Hong Kong, travelling via Cape Town, calling at Dakar, Durban, and Singapore and in her first 5 years she was used mainly as a troop ship travelling all over the world.

In March 1964, during a rebuild she was bought by Fairstar Shipping Corp, Monrovia (Sitmar Line) and given the name Fairstar then in 1965 she operated in the South Pacific cruising it from Sydney till 1974.

Then on 13 November 1974, she became first cruise ship to be permanently based in Australia all year round

Measures 38mm and is still on its original card