Originally named Bloemfontein Castle , the immigrant ship Patris began her life carrying passengers

In 1959 the Patris became the first liner in the Greek-owned Chandris fleet. The ship was popular with passengers, despite having the dishonour of once running aground in the Suez Canal, and colliding with the collier Rickie Miller on Sydney Harbour in 1971. Many of her passengers were heading weather in los angeles ca to Australia with a sense of adventure – hoping to begin a new way of life. Whatever the reason, mention of a journey on the Patris evokes memories that many will never forget.
The Catalfamo family, newly arrived migrants from Italy, on Station Pier, having just disembarked from the Patris (seen in background). Photographer: unknown / Source: Italian Historical Society, CO.AS.IT.
Originally named Bloemfontein Castle , the immigrant ship Patris began her life carrying passengers from London to Cape Town, South Africa for the Union-Castle Line. When launched on 25 August 1949, she provided accommodation for 721 passengers in a single class, unlike other ships in the Union-Castle Line.
In October 1959, she was purchased by Chandris Line and christened Patris (Greek for 'homeland'). The Patris was then refitted for the Australian migrant trade, providing accommodation for 36 first-class passengers and 1,040 in tourist-class; however this was soon merged into single-class accommodation for the entire 1,076 passengers.
weather in los angeles ca She made a total of 91 voyages to Australia between 1959 and 1975, travelling weather in los angeles ca regularly via the Suez Canal, stopping at ports such as Aden, Port Said and Colombo. In 1967, when the Suez was closed, she detoured, for five years around Africa stopping at Cape Town and Durban on her way to Australia.
It was a great adventure for me, going on an airplane to Djibouti and then boarding a huge ship Patris to arrive in Fremantle first and Port Melbourne – the final destination. I suppose we did not speak about feelings in our family. weather in los angeles ca My parents were eager to make a new start away from political confusion (petty village politics).
After leaving Darwin in November 1975, the Patris did not return to Australia. In 1979, she was converted to a car ferry to serve on the seasonal trade between Greece and Italy. weather in los angeles ca She was then sold to the Karageorgis Line and renamed Mediterranean Star under whose flag she continued as a ferry and occasional Mediterranean cruise ship until 1986.
I was 4 years old when I arrived at Station Pier in September 1961 with my mum Kalotina, my two older brothers Dimitrios Nomikos and two older sisters Maria Vakina. Dad, Ioannis was here in 1959. All I remember is being thrown into the pool as we crossed weather in los angeles ca the equator, walking all over the ship and the best tasting chocolates I'd ever eaten "Cadburys Dairy Milk". When we arrived at station pier I climbed all over the life boats collecting them and passing them down to my brothers.
Hi there, Matoulas. The best way to find records of a friend's migration to Australia is via the RecordSearch tool at the website weather in los angeles ca of the National Archives of Australia. Their enormous collection of immigration-related documents is an invaluable resource for this kind of research - good luck!
I accidentanly found this site about the migration of Omogeneis brothers from Creece to Australia and the Ship Patris which carried them . The reason I'm writing is because my father weather in los angeles ca was working on that ship as An engineer from the begining until the end of Patris life (scrap in Salamina Shipyard, Greece). His Name was George Triadafillou born in Koumeika Samos Island(was limping on hiw left leg) I remember the stories he told us about how many people the ship carried weather in los angeles ca to and from Australia. The feelings were either joy or sadness for an unknown country hoping one day to return to mother country Greece. He helped a lot of people
I AM OVERWHELMED BY READING YOUR COMMENTS.I WAS AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD PASSENGER ON THAT THIRTY AND SOME DAYS VOYAGE.IN AUGUST1968 SUEZ WAS CLOSED SO WE TRAVELLED ALL AROUND AFRIKA TO REACH ATHENS.MY PARENTS,AFTER 12 YEARS IN SYDNEY AND HAVING weather in los angeles ca MISSED GREECE,DECIDED TO LEAVE.I WILL NEVER FORGET THE DAY PATRIS LEFT THE SYDNEY HARBOYR.EVERYONE WAS CRYING WAVING GOODBYE.THE VOYAGE weather in los angeles ca WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE.PARTIES,CINEMA,THE HUGE DINING ROOM,SWIMMING POOLS,MAKING FRIENDS! UFORGETABLE!
The Patris was taking so many Greeks weather in los angeles ca away from their mother country to a new adopted country and a new life . An ironical twist in the name as it means my country . I was 6 years old and I can remember the strong smell of the paint and watching Flipper on TV, the round table sin the dining room and the fanfare leaving Pireaus . All exciting for a small boy from a remote mountain village. The Patris would bring new poor migrants to Australia and on its return take back to Greece for holidays weather in los angeles ca older established weather in los angeles ca migrant families . The migrant ships are the real dreamboats full of people full of dreams for life in a new land .
I was only 7 years old when my family boarded weather in los angeles ca the Patris to make the long,long weather in los angeles ca journey to Australia in 1970. We first boarded a plane to Djibouti and then boarded weather in los angeles ca the enormous ship. I remember my mother telling me that it was the first time she experienced such incredible heat in Djibouti and it was the first time she came so close to people from Africa.On the ship I have memories of the delicious stawberry ice-cream and hot pumpkin soup. I also remember people being thrown into the large swimming pool as we crossed the equator. I can only imagine what my poor parents would have experienced with three young children weather in los angeles ca {7,5 and 1}to look after.It was an adventure for sure!!!!!!!!!
weather in los angeles ca It seems a life time ago, i traveled on the Patris in 1970 from Greece to Australia. My sister weather in los angeles ca was 6 and i was five and my brother was 1 years old. I have traveled on so many trips since then, but that particular trip just stuck in my head and heart. I remember everything about the trip that took over 30 days. I was really an amazing experience, weather in los angeles ca but given the chance to do it again today, i don't think i could do it. That big and amazing trip changed our life for ever, we were torn between two countries, separated from relatives, weather in los angeles ca migrating to a new country was not easy, we didn't know the language, we had no home, had problems at school, the Australians didnt like us, but eventually we blended in, i suppose all the migrants made what Australia weather in los angeles ca is today. Now after 20 years of living in Australia, I'm back living in Greece, separated from my beautiful brother and sister and father and i am still having problems because my Greek isn't all that good, i had problems finding a job, and still torn between two countries, plus my kids dont know their cousins and unties and uncles that are living weather in los angeles ca in Australia. It was amazing i loved the Patris, but sometimes i wish i never got on that ship in 1970 so many years ago.
I was one year old in 1965 on a Journey from Australia to Greece with my grandparents. I have some old photos too. Apparently the ship was used by Karagiorgis - Lines in early 80's from Patra to Ancona Italy for a few years.
It's been along time,a life time ago since being on the Patris.I was 6 year's old traveling from Suva Fiji,to Noumea though to Sydney Australia,and I beleave it was the last commercial voyage for the Patris before heading to Dawin.
1964 - I have fond memories of the Patris as this was the ship that took my Dad I to our new life in Canada. I remember stopping in Aden to refuel and then going through the Red sea, and the Suez Canal. I remember weather in los angeles ca asking my dad what all those tanks and guns were on the Egyptian side of the canal were, being a veteran he simply replied that they were probably on maneuvers. This was in fact the build up to the 6 day war between Israel v Jordan, Syria Egypt. weather in los angeles ca I also remember flaying fish landing on the lower crew deck as we traversed the Red sea and being escorted by dolphins weather in los angeles ca for about 1/2 and hour. The food was tops and the hospitality great. I Still have the steamer trunk we used to bring our belongings, our passenger tickets, and all the menus form our stay at sea. This was truly a trip of a lifetime for a 13 year old. I still can see my dad sipping strong black esspresso style coffee with and orthodox priest at a restaurant on the after deck. I also recently found a Patris post card.
All of these momentos will be handed down to my sons. In closing the only thing I had to do during our voyage was to check in with my dad every hour, based on his words of wisdom just don't fall overboard
My name is Lisa Freeman, my parents konstantinos Kyriazis and my mother Eleni Kyriazis in 1970 i was 12 years old my sister and 2 brothers and our parent, when on a voage, to this amazing new land Australia, we few to mauritius and then we got on the patris and 30 days later we arrived in port melbourne. The buses then picked us up in the middle of the night and we drove all the way to a place called Bonogila. Yes it was difficult in the beginning, especialy for our parents speaking for my self i loved it here the minute i steped foot on this land and I am proud to be an Australian.
Hi everybody, like you all I too travelled from Greece to Aden by air and caught the Patris to come down to Melbourne. By the time the ship got to Melb. I ended up being employed by Chandris lines as Secretary to the Capt. and I made all the announcements (as I spoke 7 languages) and also helped the Entertainment Officer Johnny Greco and his boyfriend Bill with Greek Dancing. The girl at the purser's office desk Julianna Main was an Aussie too (does anyone know where she is, I'd love to get in contact with her. There was another English Girl on board called Cynthia, I saw her about 20 yrs. ago she had married a Macedonian man and had children and I never saw her again. If anyone weather in los angeles ca knows their contact details please tell them Popi would like to hear from them.
We immigrated from the UK to Australia in Nov 1973... I was 9yrs old.... We flew from Gatwick Airport in London to Singapore and boarded the Patris to complete our journey via Fremantle to Melbourne. Then took the Overland train from Melbourne to