- Author
- Baston, P.C., BEng (Hons), Sub-Lieutenant, RAN
- Subjects
- History - pre-Federation
- Tags
-
- RAN Ships
- None noted.
- Publication
- April 1992 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
Federation
The Federation of Australia followed on 1 January 1901 with the combining of all states into the Commonwealth of Australia. On 1 March 1901, all the states passed their naval forces and personnel to the Federal Government, but they were old and neglected. The time for an Australian Navy was not opportune.
At the 1902 Colonial Conference, Australia was represented by the Prime Minister and the Minister for Defence. The most important matters to be discussed were trade and defence, where Australia negotiated a new but less satisfactory naval agreement. The annual contribution was increased and the Admiralty still retained control over the naval units, however three stipulations were made:
a. the Australia Squadron was to be increased in tonnage, armament and defence,
b. a portion of the Squadron was to be manned by Australian and New Zealand sailors, and
c. there should be three ships of a seagoing and fighting quality used to train Australian and New Zealand sailors.
At the time there were three squadrons in the Indian and PacificOceans, they were the East Indies Squadron, the China Squadron and the Australia Squadron. The agreement stated that they would all have the duty of mutual support, that is to come to each other’s aid should the Empire be challenged. Additionally, it was agreed that the Australian Squadron would be the force in Australian waters.
It was also noticed that moves were afoot to establish an Australian Navy, but the government considered that the type of navy required would be too costly. The subsidy being paid to the Royal Navy was the best compromise, and this agreement would facilitate the training of Australian sailors to be ready to man any future Australian Navy.
In addition, the Admiralty reviewed the status of the Australia Squadron, and appointed a Vice-Admiral to the command.
Commonwealth Defence Act (1903)
Defence planning floundered until 1904 when the government proclaimed the Commonwealth Defence Act, This act created a post of Naval Officer Commanding Commonwealth Naval Forces. No single person held this post, and later was renamed Director of Naval Forces.
Captain William Rooke Creswell was appointed this post late in 1904. An ex-Royal Navy Lieutenant who emigrated to Australia, he advocated the need for a strong, local, independent naval force manned by Australians. He was to play a major role in the establishment of the Australian Navy, and was promoted Rear Admiral in 1911, and retired a Vice-Admiral in 1922.
In 1903, Barton was replaced by Deakin as Prime Minister. Public opinion was against the new naval agreement, and when Japan defeated the Russian Fleet in 1905, much concern for defence was heard. Deakin, with the support of the Labour Party, pressed for an Australian Navy.
In 1906, Creswell was sent to England to study naval developments. He received sympathy from the First Sea Lord, but no understanding from the Committee on Imperial Defence. Deakin was firm and set aside 250,000 pounds for harbour and coastal defence.
At the Imperial Conference in 1907, the application for an Australian Navy received favourable consideration. In 1908, Deakin was succeeded by Andrew Fisher as Prime Minister, who used the money set aside, and the Colonial Defence Act, to order three torpedo destroyers.
By 1909, the Admiralty was concerned with the German naval build-up, and anticipated war. At a conference on war, Australia offered to pay for the building of a battleship, and hoped in return it would be deployed to the South Pacific. This conference was a momentous occasion for both Australia and Canada, because the Admiralty finally accepted the concept of separate navies. Compulsory military training of youths was enacted in Australia, and the Australia Squadron became the Australian Navy.
Royal Australian Navy
The destroyers ordered by Fisher reached Australia in 1910, and on 10 July 1911, His Majesty, King George V granted the prefix ‘Royal’ to the Australian Navy. In a reconstituted Naval Board, Creswell was named First Naval Member.
In July 1913, all the Royal Navy establishments in Australia were handed over to the Royal Australian Navy, and on 4 October 1913, the Australian Fleet sailed into SydneyHarbour for the first time. The fleet was composed of the flagship, a battle cruiser AUSTRALIA, the cruisers MELBOURNE, SYDNEY and ENCOUNTER, and the destroyers PARRAMATTA, YARRA and WARREGO. Still under construction was a cruiser BRISBANE, three destroyers, two submarines, a depot ship and a fleet oiler.