The County class cruiser HMAS AUSTRALIA, (CAPT F. W. H. Goolden, RN), was commissioned. AUSTRALIA was laid down in John Brown Yard, Clydebank, Scotland, on 9 June 1925, and launched on 17 March 1927. Dame Mary Cook, (Wife of the Australian High Commissioner in London), performed the launching ceremony. RADM G. F. Hyde, RAN, hoisted his flag in AUSTRALIA for her voyage to Australia.