This image depicts a petty officer aboard HMAS AUSTRALIA I handing a floral wreath to a commander just prior to the scuttling on 12 April 1924.

An article in 'The Sydney Morning Herald' described the public sentiment before the scuttling:

'The regard for the old flagship was pathetically evident at the Man-o'War Steps yesterday. On the jetty a great pile of wreaths bore testimony of the sentimental attachment that had developed between [HMAS AUSTRALIA] and the people. Many of the wreaths bore no cards - a silence more eloquent than the greatest emblazoned scroll. Others bore the simple anonymous words 'Digger,' 'A Loyal Australian,' 'Two Little Aussies,' and others gave only the initials of the sender. Up till last night over 200 tokens had been received, and they were taken to Garden Island and placed on the deck of the AUSTRALIA.'

['A Retrospect', The Sydney Morning Herald, Saturday 12 April 1924, p 17]

This photo is part of the Australian National Maritime Museum’s Samuel J. Hood Studio collection. Sam Hood (1872-1953) was a Sydney photographer with a passion for ships. His 60-year career spanned the romantic age of sail and two world wars. The photos in the collection were taken mainly in Sydney and Newcastle during the first half of the 20th century.

The ANMM undertakes research and accepts public comments that enhance the information we hold about images in our collection. This record has been updated accordingly.

Photographer: Samuel J. Hood Studio Collection