The River class destroyer HMAS YARRA was commissioned, Commanding Officer LEUT Thomas. W. Biddlecombe, CNF, (ex RNR), from South Australia. HMAS YARRA was laid down in Denny & Co, Dumbarton, Scotland, and Mrs N. J. Moore, (Wife of Western Australia’s Premier), performed the launching ceremony on 9 April 1910.
The River class destroyer HMAS PARRAMATTA, was commissioned Commanding Officer LEUT Henry J Feakes, CNF, (ex RNR), a Victorian. PARRAMATTA was laid down in Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Govan, Scotland, and launched on 9 February 1910. Mrs Asquith, (Wife of the British Prime Minister), performed the launching ceremony.
CAPT Frederick Tickell CMG RN(tempy), (CNF) was on board HMAS Parramatta as flag ship for his role as Senior Officer (unoficial Commodore) of the two ship flotilla as it sailed to Australia. Now the three officers commanding the two ships were, for this journey of delivery, Royal Navy. It appears that the ships were to remain Admiralty property, possibly for Maritime Law reasons, until formerly handed over to the Australian Government.