On This Day
1850-1899 > Colonial Navies & RN
On This Day - 1850-1899
- March 28, 1885
HMQS GAYUNDA, (gunboat), arrived at Brisbane on her maiden voyage.
- March 27, 1885
ADML Sir George Tryon, CB, presented his proposals on the defence of Australia to the Governments of the Australian Colonies. The report recommended one fleet for all the colonies and New Zealand.
- March 25, 1885
CMDR J. C. P. Walcot, RN, was commissioned as commandant of the South Australian Naval Brigade.
- March 3, 1885
The NSW Contingent to the war in the Sudan sailed from Sydney in the troopships IBERIA and AUSTRALASIAN. Among those who served in the contingent were a number of ex-RN personnel and some NSW Naval Brigade personnel, (allowed leave to join the contingent). Also in the Contingent was Private Brownlow, who later served in the NSW Naval Brigade, ANF and the RAN and rose to the rank of Captain.
- February 16, 1885
Admiralty House, Sydney, was purchased for £40,000 from the Hon Thomas Cadell as an official residence for the Flag Officer Commanding the Australian Station.
- January 23, 1885
The Queensland Naval Brigade was formed under LEUT Walton Drake, RN.
- January 22, 1885
RADM Sir George Tryon, the first Flag Officer to command the RN Squadron on the Australia Station, hoisted his flag in HMS NELSON at Sydney.
- January 2, 1885
The Imperial Squadron in Australia consisted of HM Ships NELSON, (armoured iron cruiser); DIAMOND, (wooden screw corvette); ESPIEGLE and MIRANDA, (composite sloops); DART, (survey vessel); RAVEN, (steam composite gunboat); SWINGER, (screw composite gunboat); LARK (schooner); UNDINE and HARRIER, (schooners).
- December 17, 1884
A signal from CDRE Erskine, RN, Commanding Australia Station, to the Admiralty, reported the formation of German colonies in New Guinea and adjacent islands.
- November 13, 1884
HMQS GAYUNDAH, (gunboat), sailed from Newcastle upon Tyne, England, for Brisbane, QLD. The ship was under the command of CAPT Henry Townley Wright, RN, for the voyage.