The battle-cruiser HMAS AUSTRALIA, (CAPT S. H. Radcliffe, RN), was commissioned at Portsmouth, England. AUSTRALIA was laid down in John Brown Yard, Clydebank, Scotland, on 23 June 1910, and launched on 25 October 1911. Lady Reid, (Wife of the Australian High Commissioner), performed the ceremony. AUSTRALIA sailed in company with HMAS SYDNEY for Australia in July 1913, flying the flag of RADM G. Patey, RN.