- Author
- A.N. Other and NHSA Webmaster
- Subjects
- History - general, Ship histories and stories
- Tags
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- RAN Ships
- HMAS Parramatta III, HMAS Parramatta II, HMAS Parramatta I
- Publication
- June 1981 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
The memorial to the three ships bearing the proud title of HMAS Parramatta will be unveiled at 11.00 a.m. on Saturday, 13th June, 1981 at Queens Wharf Steps in the City of Parramatta. All members are invited to this event, which concludes one of the largest projects undertaken by the society. Admiral Sir Victor Smith will officiate at the unveiling ceremony.
Three ships have borne the name Parramatta, the stern section of the first named being the centrepiece of the monument. HMAS Parramatta I was launched in 1909, and was therefore the “first born of the new Commonwealth Navy”, the incorporation of her stern is quite appropriate. HMAS Parramatta II, was a Grimsby class sloop and was lost on the Tobruk Run in WW2. HMAS Parramatta III is a destroyer escort and is still serving in the R.A.N. All three ships will be remembered by this memorial.
Parramatta’s stern is unusual, as the rudder is hung from the sternpost, and as such will probably be the only ship’s rudder of this type to be seen in Australia. The hull section has been well and truly stiffened, so that it will last for many generations of Australians to see.
In selecting Queens Wharf Steps as the site for the memorial particular attention was paid to the early history of the Colony of New South Wales. The original Government House at Parramatta still stands, and when the early governors travelled by boat from Sydney to this residence, Queens Wharf Steps was their landing place. It is fitting that the Parramatta Memorial should stand at this site, so closely linked to our past.
The actual unveiling of this memorial has taken a long time, various difficulties having presented themselves over the years. In 1973 the stern and bow were removed from the hull of the old destroyer where she lay aground in the Hawkesbury River, with the intention of forming a memorial using both sections. It was later decided to use only the stern at Parramatta, and negotiations are taking place to have the bow permanently placed on Garden Island.
The committee would be very pleased to see a large turn-out of members for this historic event. If you can spare the time, please come along and lend your support. Remember the date, 13th June, 1981 at 11.00 a.m. at Queens Wharf Steps, Parramatta.
