Australian Fleet in Sydney

[Maritime Michael Ian]

Hello all!

Here are a few photos of part of the Royal Australian Navy fleet photographed in Sydney circa 1920s. They originally came from a book published annually by Sydney's Port Authorities. I only have a few pages from that publication, but I think they are interesting! Hope fellow members agree.

One of the photos, though strictly RN, I have included because it was taken at Port Melbourne, also from a page from a book long since gone unfortunately.

Ian

[herakles]

So has Port Melbourne! It used to be grand down there when the big ships came in. Now it's all trendy yuppy housing.

Very interesting photos. That picture of HMAS Australia must have been taken just before she was scuttled as part of that ridiculous treaty. I think she died in 1924.

[Maritime Michael Ian]

Yes I remember Station Pier very well, used to spend a lot of time there when working for P&O, Sitmar and Chandris Lines. I also was very surprised, when I went back for a visit in 2003, that the Centenary Bridge had been demolished.... instead of keeping it as a listed monument. The only bit that remains, apart from the two piers, is the former Port Melbourne railway station, now the terminous for the Box Hill-Port Melbourne tram. I still think with the bridge gone that some of the old character is missing!

The other thing I noticed was that HMAS Lonsdale, our Stone Frigate, had been scuppered and in its place is a couple of buildings, including a restaurant, which has taken, or been given, the name "HMAS Lonsdale Buildings", and these were built on the former holy of holies...the parade ground!

Ian

[herakles]

I am saddened to read this Ian. There's so much good that has been demolished around the place. The parade ground? Now that's going too far.

In the old days, we were always down at Station Pier taking a P&O to Sydney. It sure beat the train and that ghastly train swap at Albury at midnight. Oooooh! that's so long ago.

[Maritime Michael Ian]

Blimey Herk... that's bringing back memories....

And soggy toast for breakfast in the morning at Albury station! I remember when they completed the through gauge as I was living in Glenroy then... and that wason the main Melbourne to Sydney rail link.

Ian

[Harley]

Just to clarify (forgive me!) your first two pictures Ian are 1914 or earlier - HMAS Australia in her very-much-as-built form.

Harley

[herakles]

Unlike 1924 when she had to be scuttled Harley!

Soggy toast. Cut into triangles. Ah! railway food. Nothing like it.

[Maritime Michael Ian]

Harley,

I have to take your word for it, I have a suspicion that the original Sydney Port Guide, from which the photgraphs were taken, was printed I think early 1920... well it must have been because of the captioned photo of HMS Hood at Station Pier in 1924. The other photos I suppose were referring to earlier history, but I'm only guessing. I have a further suspicion that HMAS Australia's mast now ( or did 30 odd years ago) adorned the top of a locallandmark in Sydney Harbour... Bradley's Head. I seem to remember a lighthouse on the point, with the mast on the hill above it?? No doubt any Sydneysider will put me right on that!

And Herk....yes triangular slices and stewed tea !!!

Ian

[Batstiger]

A bit more nostalgia for you guys "down under"

Bob.

[Maritime Michael Ian]

Thanks Bob,

Nice photos of the days when we both had a proper Navy and not a politicians excuse for one. Funny how the powers that be can find the money to go to war, but cannot find the money to properly equip our three services of the materials needed to keep us on top line, yet they still expect our servicemen and women to be able to perform miracles! Then politicians wonder why the public aren't interested in voting and regard them with distrust!

Ian

[astraltrader]

Sad but very true, Ian. They would rather spend the money on more worthwhile recipients like - the Northern Rock!

[Maritime Michael Ian]

Yes, Terry... I suspect - like a lot of people - that there were/are a lot of Northern Rock's customers who are in labour seats....., but then I tend to be cynical when it comes to politicians, I reckon most of them are in it for what THEY can get out of it and not what they can give the nation or its people!

Ian

[herakles]

Hmmmm. Politicians. Why are they like bananas?

They start green, get bent and come out yellow.

[tonclass]

Michael,
Your first pic of 'Australia' in dry dock was taken on 11th May 1914.
Below is the sequence of photo's of her arriving in Sydney and drydocking that day.
Rgds
Rik

[herakles]

Excellent pics Rik!

[tonclass]

Cheers mate. Missed one out so have edited my post. There should be 4 pix now instead of 3.
Rik

[Maritime Michael Ian]

Rik,

Thanks for the photos.... great to see them.... I'm sure her mast was retained as a memorial to her and used on a Sydney harbour headland.... and I'm convinced that it was at Bradley's Head.

Ian (Michael)

[tonclass]

Have you 'Googled' to check Ian ?

Rik

[tonclass]

As Ian has quite rightly remembered, the mast of HMAS AUSTRALIA is, indeed, preserved on Bradley's Head in Sydney.
Rik

[herakles]

I'll wager not many Australians know that.

[Maritime Michael Ian]

Thanks Ton, so my 'little grey cells are still working' !:)

[Batstiger]

It's a pity that the powers that be can't preserve the mast on the old Ganges site like this and treat it with the reverence it justly deserves!

[Stan.J]

One mast that is still kept, Is the mast from H.M.S.Royal Arthur, Corsham,Wiltshire where many of us first joined the Navy. It is now in the Gardens of St.Nicholas`s Church Liverpool.(The Sailors Church)

[Maritime Michael Ian]

Hello again!

Got another photo, this time of HMAS Sydney, RAN's carrier which I photographed at Garden Island from the Sitmar Liner "Australis" in January 1970.

[tonclass]

Great photo Ian. But wee bit too small. How about a BIG version ?

Rik

[Maritime Michael Ian]

Hi Rik,

I cropped the prvious one because there was a cargo vessel ahead/astern of HMAS Sydney, so have included her as taken. Hope this one is OK

Ian

[herakles]

It is far better cropped!

[John Brown]

Another ships mast that is preserved is that of the old pre dreadnought USS Maine. In 1898 she suffered a magazine explosion whilst moored in Havana harbour with the loss of nearly 300 men. The loss of the Maine precipitated the Spanish American War.

Eventually, many of the dead were interred in the Arlington National Cemetary. A memorial was built at the cemetary which had the USS Maine's main mast as its center piece.

Pictures are of the Maine after the explosion and of the memorial.

[spruso]

Hi
Just a correction. The mast on Bradley,s Head in Sydney is actually from the cruiser HMAS Sydney of WW1 vintage. The mast was removed after HMAS Sydney I was decommissioned in 1928 and relocated to Bradley's Head in 1934.

See the article at:
http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2008/jan/20080122/index.htm

Cheers
Spruso

[herakles]

Nice site.

I took the liberty of posting a few pictures from there.

The first is: Deputy Fleet Commander CDRE Simon Cullen, AM, RAN, salutes the Australian White Ensign at the HMAS Sydney I Memorial Mast Colours Ceremony.