The River class destroyer escort HMAS PARRAMATTA, (CMDR G. R. Griffiths, DSC, RAN), was commissioned. PARRAMATTA was laid down in Cockatoo Island Dockyard, Sydney, 3 January 1957, and launched on 31 January 1959. Lady Dowling, (Wife of ADML Sir Roy Dowling, RAN, Chief of the Naval Staff), performed the launching ceremony.