The Americans are returning...
At 11:26am on 20 August 1908, around 650,000 Australians crammed the harbour foreshore to witness a magnificent sight – the American Fleet sailing through Sydney heads.
The day had been declared a public holiday and celebrations would continue throughout “Fleet Week”, the grandest festivities Sydneysiders had witnessed since federation.
Sixteen battleships and their escorts steamed into the harbour, dropping anchor in a formation from Rose Bay to Cremorne, the last ship, Kentucky reaching its mooring at 12.34 pm.
Australia was taking a step away from Britain, asserting independence and offending its mother country when Prime Minister Alfred Deakin invited the fleet without seeking Britain’s permission, as protocol demanded.
Official celebrations centred on Sydney Town Hall, the city’s largest indoor venue, which had been a hive of activity for months.
Sydney Town Hall, illuminated in honour of the visit of the American Fleet, from George St in 1908.(City of Sydney Archives, CRS NSCA CRS 51/219)
The Fleet dropping anchor marked a coming of age for Australia as a nation and was the first milestone in our long association with the United States.
US President Barack Obama is coming to Australia in November to mark the 60th anniversary of the ANZUS alliance.
But as the City of Sydney’s archives show, Australia and America were busily forming bonds more than 40 years earlier.
The Great White Fleet was the popular name for the two United States Navy battle squadrons undertaking a 15 month circumnavigation of the globe by order of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, who sought to demonstrate America’s growing military power and blue-water navy capability
Sydney was the first of three Australian stops and the visit made a forceful impact on Australian society, politics and defence.
Sydney’s Town Hall, host to the official banquet to welcome the fleet, was draped with 2,500 electric globes, the clock storey of the tower hung with a huge five-pointed star.
The City Council’s Electric Lighting Committee had met to discuss the supply of electricity required for a series of brilliant illuminations of buildings across the city.
Shops and businesses made feverish preparations. Dozens of applications were made to the Town Clerk for permission to erect poles, commemorative obelisks, statues of Liberty, Columbia and the Mayflower for the Fleet celebrations.
They included “an application to erect a 50 foot high Pedestal and ‘Statue of Liberty’ outside the Daily Telegraph Newspaper Office building in King Street”.
The day dawned cloudily, but the haze cleared and brilliant sunshine made the harbour sparkle as in the battleships sailed, led by the flagship Connecticut.
Whistles and cheers rose from the Australian crowds. Anchored below Vaucluse on the Australian warship, the Newcastle, the Star Spangled Banner played on deck where Prime Minister Deakin stood with assembled dignitaries, military chiefs and political leaders.
Inside Sydney Town Hall preparations were underway for the official state banquet to welcome the fleet.
The grand Centennial Hall was lined with palms, ferns, flowers and American flags. The banquet tables were decorated with violets and daffodils and the room was lit with “powerful electric lights shaded with pink gauze”.
On Friday, 21 August 1908, naval cutters towed by a steam launch began ferrying the units of marine corps and sailors ashore.
Rear Admiral Sperry and the commanding officers of each ship were met by Sydney Lord Mayor, Sir Thomas Hughes, dressed in his ermine lined robe and chains.
Lord Mayor of Sydney 1908 Alderman Sir Thomas Hughes
(City of Sydney Archives,
NCSA CRS 43: 1904 frontispiece 1)
Following the official welcome to Australia, the Lord Mayor led a procession of thousands of US marines through city streets crowded with onlookers.
As the American sailors took to the streets that night, the Admiral Sperry and his senior officers gathered with two thousand guests in uniform and evening dress for the State banquet, which would be described as “one of the most remarkable gatherings in the history of the State”, with the Governor General, state governors, premiers, senior politicians in attendance.
View of the Fleet departing Sydney Harbour led by The Connecticut and approaching Bradleys Head.1908. (City of Sydney Archives SRC17890).
Rousing speeches and toasts were delivered to accompanying cheers and hear-hears.
The Prime Minister praised “the Americans and their astonishing progress”.
“There is no need for Australia to pose as the poor relation,” he said.
“We should rather represent Australia as a younger sister. The a
Americans have sent us the most magnificent fleet we have ever seen: the only fleet of battleships that have ever entered our harbours, and yet we look forward to the day when from our harbour shall go a fleet worthy to be compared with that magnificent squadron.”
View southerly along Pitt St showing flags, bunting and decorations for the visit of the American Fleet to Sydney. At L Royal Exchange International Building and at R Exchange Hotel. 1908. (City of Sydney Archives SRC17889).
Below is the original application to erect a "Statue of Liberty" outside The Daily Telegraph building in King Street, Sydney.
Downloads
- City of Sydney Archives, NSCA 28 1908/1551 | PDF 329Kb
- City of Sydney Archives, NSCA 28 1908/1551 | PDF 453Kb
- City of Sydney Archives, NSCA 28 1908/1551 | PDF 351Kb
