Interior of the passenger liner 'Australia' (1892) showing the First Class Smoking Room, as displayed by the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co at the Royal Naval Exhibition, held in the grounds of the Royal Hospital at Chelsea from 2 May to 24 October 1891. The caption above the entrance stated: 'SMOKING ROOM OF THE S.S. AUSTRALIA (7000 TONS) WHICH WILL BE REMOVED AND FITTED UP IN THE SHIP, AFTER THE EXHIBITION IS CLOSED'.

The main public rooms on the 'Australia' were designed by the Arts and Crafts architect Thomas Edward Collcutt (1840-1924). Collcutt had been apprentice to G. E. Street before establishing his own practice in 1873. His commissions included the Palace Theatre and the Savoy Hotel. He was elected a president of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1906. Collcutt started working for P&O in 1891; he designed the company’s headquarters in Leadenhall Street, London, and the P&O pavilions for the Royal Naval Exhibition in 1891, and the Paris International Exhibition in 1900.