The Smoking Room and Library

Amidships on the Promenade Deck is the Smoking Room, in which some slight traditional influence is apparent. The central roof between four triangular pillar casings is formed by a twelve-sided panelled margin and stepped up with moulded troughings to a carved centre-piece.

A carving symbolic of each month of the year has been set in each panel. These are designed on an Anglo-Saxon theme by E. R. Thompson and like the rest of the duodenary ceiling are finished in dull gold.

Forward and aft of this feature, boarded ceilings in figured walnut terminate over walls built up in rectangular panels of green copper bronze, the intersections of which are covered with small gold bronze plaques showing signs of the Zodiac. To the aft end, a fireplace in brick and tile is built against the metal wall.

The opposite end is fitted with a built-in sideboard carrying a hot plate and finished in rich burr veneer decorated with metal enrichments. These walls are flanked with projecting veneered casings in figured willow and mazur birch. The casings return to double entrance doors, divided into rectangular panels of walnut, macassar and sycamore bandings into each of which a pane of glass is inset.

Cabin Lounge

At the head of the staircase on Promenade Deck is a wide glazed screen formed by heavy crossbanded rails and moulded vertical mullions. It embodies two framed porches which carry double doors of cast silver bronze glazed and fitted with decorative grilles. Flanking the doors are marquetry motifs executed in rare woods and showing bouquets of spring and autumn flowers as designed by John Pringle.

At the forward end of the room, panelling is carried out in figured thuya burr surrounding a low wide fireplace over which an illuminated circular niche serves as background for a green bronze kneeling female figure captioned “The Spirit of Youth.” The work is by Barney Seale.

Two solid veneered doors set in this panelling give access to the Theatre vestibules, on each side of which deep alcoves house bookcases and built-in writing desks. About 600 volumes are stored in glass and white metal cases of white weathered sycamore and macassar crossbandings.

Flanking panels are in figured olive ash and opposite this is similar panelling enclosing a brick and tile fireplace. The bronze panel over this is mounted with a casting in silver showing Sir Walter Raleigh by C. Cameron Baillie. These two features are enclosed between shallow pilasters carried out in ash burr which is repeated at the sides of the bulkheading of the island bar.

The Two Restaurants

The Balmoral Restaurant, situated on Restaurant Deck, measures 93 feet in length by 54 feet wide and rises through two decks. Seating is arranged for 280 persons at tables for two, four, five and six persons. Upholstered armchairs covered in fine leather are grouped around tables.

The raised central roof is formed by a series of shaped panels veneered in quilted birch, pale gold in colour, and the broad moulded effect is carried up the sides and over the ceiling with a supporting central beam which carries spot lighting. Continuous concealed lighting contained in golden metal troughs also illuminates the room.

To each side, two panels of plate glass have been wheel-cut and embossed in acid with figures representing “Day” and “Night” and are arranged with edge lighting against velvet black. Designs are by John Hutton.

At the after end of the dome, plain panelling of quilted birch is background for a gesso centrepiece by F.H. Coventry. Opposite this the panelled surface is in quilted birch with a decorative surround in modern metalwork to a large clock.

The sides of the Restaurant are divided into shallow bays, with wide divided mirror panels inserted between decorative panels of natural sycamore. The sycamore is carved in low relief depicting scenes from rural and agricultural life. Wall surfaces to the remaining bays are in shaded warm beige.

The lighting of the lower sections is by use of continuous glazed cornice, carrying fluorescent tubes, and by flush fittings giving direct spot lighting over tables. Fitted furniture is carried out in maple burr and mahogany, relieved with silver and gold metals, with chairs of toned sycamore. Blue and grey leather coverings are picked up in the deck coverings.

Two Private Dining Rooms are located side by side on the starboard side forward section of the Balmoral Restaurant. These rooms are illuminated with semidirect fluorescent tubes and are fully air-conditioned.

The larger room can be arranged to seat 16 persons at a banquet table which can be divided to seat eight at each of two tables. The other room is fitted with a central table to seat eight. Both have full fashioned upholstered armchairs and necessary sideboards.

The inner wall of the large room is veneered in Nigerian peartree of delicate pink hue with horizontal bandings of macassar ebony. At each end the surfaces are covered in quilted textured leather in light fawn with blue piping. Three windows are of glazed glass with wheel-cut engravings of marine subjects by J. Buckland Wright.