History - pre-Federation

Captain Cook’s Plotting Board

Ellis, John · Mar 27, 1997 ·

There is a coffee table in Maritime Headquarters, Australia that has a link with Captain Cook. The table has a dark wooden board set into it with the board protected ...

Naval Medicine in Australia – Some Origins in Northern Waters

Pearn, John · Mar 6, 1997 ·

The health of all sea-encircled nations depends in time of conflict, on the health of its seamen. Australia’s “discovery” by European naval commanders and the subsequent colonisation by British fleets ...

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The Harrington Papers – Queensland Defence Force (Marine) 1900-1907

Harrington, Hubert Ernest · Dec 5, 1996 ·

By Hubert Ernest Harrington, a Sub-Lieutenant in the Queensland Defence Force (Marine), 1900-1907 In a letter dated 14 February 1996, Commodore L H Nicholson RAN (Retd) advises: “….I have what ...

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HMQS “Gayundah” – Conduct Unbecoming – 1888

Wilson, Graham, Warrant Officer Class Two, Australian Intelligence Corps · Jun 5, 1996 ·

Introduction On a spring afternoon in Brisbane in October 1888, twenty armed policemen, under the command of the Commissioner of Police, marched down Edward Street and deployed to take up ...

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A Memoir on Milford Sound (NZ)

Bateman, Walter Samuel Grono, Commodore, RANR · Jun 5, 1996 ·

The spectacular scenery of Fiordland on the south west coast of the South Island of New Zealand is well-known to cruise ship passengers and the ships’ companies of the occasional ...

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Background to Names and Words to Describe Ships and Boats

Lancaster, John · Mar 5, 1996 ·

(‘He that would go to sea for pleasure, would go to hell for a pastime.’ Old proverb.) It is sometimes difficult for Guides to explain to the public that we ...

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Letters: HMAS Stirling followup

Letter Writer · Dec 6, 1994 ·

I was surprised to read on page 15 of the March 1994 Naval Historical Review in the article on HMAS STIRLING that, and I quote “…and returned in June, 1829 ...

HMS Sirius – Australia’s First Flagship

Barton, Alan · Mar 12, 1994 ·

H.M.S. SIRIUS features prominently in our Australian history as she served as Governor Phillip’s flagship, and the guardship to the First Fleet of eleven ships when our nation commenced in ...

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Garden Island Rock Carvings – The Forgotten Men

Rivett, Norman C · Jun 12, 1993 ·

Extract from: The Naval Engineers of Garden Island 102 Years of Naval Management 9th February, 1889 to 15th February, 1991 Most people associated with Garden Island have felt at some ...

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Letters: ‘Ocean Cruizer’ for State of Victoria

Letter Writer · Jun 12, 1993 ·

I have come across a bit of a curiosity from the past which may be of interest to some of the members. In March 1886, Major General Sir Andrew Clarke ...

Letters: Convict Settlement

Letter Writer · Jun 12, 1993 ·

I read with interest the December 1992 issue of Naval Historical Review, but there were two articles in particular that I would like to comment on. While Brigadier Howard was ...

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HMVS Victoria – Australia’s First Warship

Davis, D.F. · Dec 12, 1992 ·

Her Majesty’s Colonial Ship VICTORIA was a screw sloop, laid down January 1855, launched 30th June 1855, completed November 22 1855 by YOUNG, SON, MAGNAY AND CO, LONDON. Delivered to ...

Hydrographic Work of John Lort Stokes and HMS Beagle

Hordern, Marsden · Dec 12, 1992 ·

Australian history is full of the exploits of her land explorers: Forrest, Hume, Cunningham, Mitchell, Eyre, Strzlecki, Sturt, Burke, Wills, Gregory, Warburton, Giles and many more. Much less is known ...

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Letter: London Gazette August 19,1768

Letter Writer · Dec 12, 1992 ·

I enclose a copy of the London Gazette of August 19th, 1768 which I regard as being a wonderful facet of naval history affecting the future of this continent and ...

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Ville de Bordeaux – Incident At Port Adelaide – 1841

Sullivan, John · Jul 12, 1992 ·

This story came about because of a reference in ‘The Three Headed Dog’ (the Victorian Chapter’s newsletter) to the ‘siege’ which began on 9th March 1842. The editor of T.H.D. ...

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The Factors that Led to the Formation of the RAN in 1911

Baston, P.C., BEng (Hons), Sub-Lieutenant, RAN · Apr 27, 1992 ·

The formation of the Royal Australian Navy in 1911 was brought about by many factors over a considerable period. Initially the defence of Australia was the responsibility of the Royal ...

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A Brief History of HMVS Cerberus

A.N. Other · Apr 1, 1992 ·

In 1866, the Government of Victoria requested a ship from the British Admiralty to bolster the Colony’s defences. At this time, in England, a new type of ship designed for ...

Fremantle Naval Artillery

A.N. Other · Sep 3, 1990 ·

On 11 February, 1879 the following announcement was published in the West Australian Government Gazette. Colonial Secretary’s Office Perth, 10th February 1879 His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to ...

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Captain Arthur Phillip – Bathampton’s link with Australia

Darling, Sylvia M. · Jun 29, 1990 ·

Quite a number have heard about it, but not many have seen it, said my hostess as we drove over the crest of a hill in a heavy squall to ...

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HMAS Swan and the Dampier Memorial – 1938

Hinchliffe, L.M. · Mar 19, 1989 ·

After the September Crisis HMAS SWAN, which had been in Western Australia at the Crisis, was ordered by the Naval Board to proceed to Broome to unveil a memorial to ...

HMS Driver – First Paddlewheel Ship to Circumnavigate the World

Rivett, Norman C · Jun 11, 1987 ·

HMS DRIVER, a 180 foot paddlewheel sloop, was the first steam vessel to circumnavigate the world. The voyage took five years and commenced from Portsmouth in 1842. Her record, despite ...

Sirius, HMS – Wreckage Recovered from First Fleet Flagship

A.N. Other · Dec 9, 1985 ·

Divers continue the search for Sirius remains FROM ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIVES in the wreck-strewn waters off Norfolk Island an Australian Bicentennial project is slowly piecing together the final chapter in the ...

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Success & Failure – The Story of the Torpedo Gunboat

Kurumba · Mar 25, 1981 ·

ORIGINALLY THERE WERE THIRTY-THREE BUILT, comprising five classes in all. They were the torpedo gunboats of the Royal Navy, a smaller but faster variant of the traditional cruiser, but capable ...

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HIRMS Rynda Arrives

A.N. Other · Sep 30, 1975 ·

THE LAST QUARTER of the 19th century saw a wild scramble by the European powers to annex unclaimed islands in the Pacific. During this period ships of the Russian, Austrian, ...

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HMS Orlando at Cockatoo Dock – 1887

A.N. Other · Aug 16, 1972 ·

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History - pre-Federation

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