Image Not Available

Invitation to cocktail party marking the 90th anniversary of the Royal Australian Navy

Date2001

Object number00026793

NameInvitation

MediumPaper, ink

DimensionsOverall: 110 x 158 mm

ClassificationsEphemera

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionOn 10 July 1911 King George V granted the title of 'Royal Australian Navy' to the Australian Fleet Unit. This invitation is to a cocktail party marking the 90th anniversary in 2001 and was hosted by Vice Admiral David Shackleton, AO, RAN.History10 July 2001 was the 90th anniversary of King George V granting the title of 'Royal Australian Navy' to the Commonwealth Naval Forces. Naval defence was originally provided in Australia by the British Royal Navy. Australia was established as a separate British Naval Station in 1859 and maintained a squadron of the Royal Navy. In 1909, during an Imperial Conference, a decision was made to deploy an Australian Fleet Unit of a battle cruiser, three second class cruisers, six destroyers, three submarines and a number of auxiliaries to Australian waters. The first two ships, PARRAMATTA and YARRA, reached Australian waters in November 1910. On 10 July 1911 King George V granted the title of 'Royal Australian Navy'. The Australian Fleet entered Sydney Harbour for the first time on 4 October 1913. This invitation is to a cocktail party held at Garden Island on the day of the anniversary and was hosted by Vice Admiral David Shackleton, AO, RAN. He was born in the UK in 1948 and migrated to Australia as a child. He joined the RAN in 1966. He served in Vietnam, underwent training in the USA and completed an exchange service with the Royal Navy. In 1992 he led a major RAN Task Group deployment to Southeast Asia while in command of HMAS Brisbane (II), one of the American-built 'Charles F. Adams' class guided-missile destroyers. In 1999 he was promoted to Chief of Navy and retired 2 July 2002. A commemorative dollar coin was also struck to celebrate the 90th anniversary.SignificanceThis invitation to a cocktail party commemorating the 90th anniversary of the granting of the title of 'Royal Australian Navy' by King George V.