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HMAS CANBERRA in Sydney Harbour
HMAS CANBERRA in Sydney Harbour

HMAS CANBERRA in Sydney Harbour

Photographer (Australian, 1899 - 1953)
Date1932
Object number00034962
NameGlass plate negative
MediumEmulsion on glass
ClassificationsPhotographs
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionThis photograph is believed to depict HMAS CANBERRA dressed overall at the Sydney Harbour Bridge opening celebrations in July 1932. A number of small sailing craft are also dressed in colourful pennants, and spectators watch from Mrs Macqaurie's Chair.HistoryThe County class heavy cruiser HMAS CANBERRA was launched in Scotland in 1927 and commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy the following year. Prior to World War II the cruiser remained in and around Australia's home waters conducting occasional cruises to New Zealand and New Guinea. When World War II broke out in September 1939, CANBERRA continued to serve in home waters, patrolling and escorting ships across the Tasman Sea. In 1940 it was transferred to the Indian Ocean escorting troopships and convoys from Fremantle to Colombo and Cape Town. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, CANBERRA escorted troopships to Malaya and Java theatres of war and supported the landing of American troops at Guagcanal and Tulagi in 1942. On 9 August 1942 two torpedoes struck the starboard side as well as over 20 salvos of 8-inch gunfire. Survivors were taken on board US Ships PATTERSON and BLUE, although of the 819 serving personnel 193 were lost. SignificanceThe Samuel J Hood photographic collection records an extensive range of maritime activity on Sydney Harbour, including sail and steam ships, naval vessels, crew portraits, crews at work, ship interiors, stevedores loading and unloading cargo, port scenes, pleasure boats and harbourside social activities from the 1890s through to the 1950s. They are also highly competent artistic studies and views - Hood was regarded as an important figure in early Australian photojournalism. Hood’s maritime photographs are one of the most significant collections of such work in Australia.