After serving for 24 years, SS America was sold to the Greek-owned Chandris Group in 1964 and renamed Australis.

The new Australis was refitted extensively to nearly doubled her passenger capacity.  Her maiden voyage was from Piraeus on August 21, 1965 to Australia and New Zealand via Suez canal, returning to Southampton via the Pacific, Panama and Miami.  SS Australis sailed regularly from Southampton on this route and was the last liner providing a regular service to Australia and New Zealand from Southampton until her final voyage  on November 18, 1977. 

SS Australis was also popular as a cruise ship in Europe and out of Australia and New Zealand, although her primary purpose was the transfer of immigrants after WWII.   She continued this very profitable trade for fourteen years.  

In 1978, Australis was sold to Venture Cruises of New York.  Under Venture Cruises ownership, the ship was renamed America.

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 This model of the Australis features:

• Scratch-built

• All wooden and metal parts

• Plank-on-frame hull construction just like the way real ships are built

39" long x 13" tall x 6 wide    $1,500  S & H is $90

Add light feature:  $200        
(Cord can be unplugged from base for displaying without light.  Adjustable brightness level. Work with both  110v and 220v)

For display case, click here: https://www.modelshipmaster.com/products/accessory/displaycase.htm

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