Schematics and details of Navy ships manufactured during WW2. First HMAS YARRA which was a Yarra Class sloop, commissioned Jan 1936 and sunk by Japanese on 4th March 1942. Second ship was HMAS WARRAMUNGA, a Tribal Class Destroyer Commissioned No. 42 and scrapped Jan 1963.1. Drafting drawing of HMAS YARRA March 1941 from side profile and top down profile on white paper stapled to cardboard. Includes description of all details of ship. 2, Drafting drawing of HMAS WARRAMUNGA March 1943 with side profile and top down profile.1. Headed 'HMAS YARRA March '41: Scale 1 inch = 16 feet. 2. Headed 'HMAS WARRAMUNGA" March '43: Scale 1 inch = 24 feet.hmas yarra, hmas warramunga

Medallion was produced by the Royal Australian Mint and given to members who served with Australian Forces or her Allies between 1939 - 1945. This was on the 60th Anniversary of the end of WW2. Given to Tony Cork who was in the Merchant Navy, England 1939-45.1. Gold coloured coin medallion produced by Royal Mint. On one side of the coin is the Commonwealth Coat of Arms with the reverse side symbolising the Navy, Army and AirForce through the depiction of sea, land and air over a stylized map of Australia. 2. Contained in a hard cardboard black box inscribed with gold writing and Commonwealth emblem and medal lays in a felt recess within the box. 1. One side inscribed "World War 2", "60 years""1945 - 2005". and stylized map of Australia. Other side inscribed around Rim "World War 2"and "Service to Australia" with Commonwealth of Australia emblem in centre. 2. Box on top has Commonwealth Emblem and "Australian Govt", "Dept of Veteran Affairs". Inside "60th Ann of WW2".medal, 60th anniversary ww2

Relates to "Edmond (Tim) Grey Bates" RAAF 20841. Enlisted 30/5/41. Discharges 30/6/45. Cpl. 1 Wireless & Gunnery School. Pacific Star awarded for Service in WW2. War medal was for all who served in the armed services or Merchant Navy in WW2. Australian Service medal was specific to Australian Citizens.Four WW2 Service Medals. 1. 1939-45 Star. 6 pointed Star of yellow copper and zinc alloy with a dark blue, red and light blue ribbon. Attached to a ring at the top. 2. Pacific Star - 6 pointed star of copper and zinc alloy with a small ring at top and colours on ribbon of red, dark blue, green, yellow, cream, dark blue and red. 3. War Medal 1939-45. Round silver medal in copper nickel with fixed straight bar on top. Attached ribbon is a combination of red, dark blue and white. 4. Australian Service Medal - round silver color medal of nickel alloy with fixed star and bar on top and ribbon colours of light blue, red, white and dark blue. 1.& 2. A crown and "GRJ VI" on front. 3. King George VI one side and roaring lion on other. 4. King George VI on one side and Commonwealth Emblem on other.medals, raaf, edmond grey bates

This box was produced by the Henderson business to hold half a pound of chocolates for sale to the Australian public. The box is a souvenir one, with the image of George V of England on the lid. This suggests that the box was produced perhaps to celebrate the coronation of George V in 1910. He reigned until his death in 1936.This box is of interest as a souvenir item sold in Australia and dating back to the early years of the 20th century. It will be useful for display.This is a white rectangular cardboard box with the base extended on all sides about half a centimetre out from the base. The box has a white cardboard cover which has a top with a navy blue background, a Union Jack, the six stars of the Southern Cross (making the Australian flag) with an image of King George V of England. The lettering on the top of the box is in gold print. The cover completely encloses the box. Inside the box are the remnants of a white lace-pattern paper used to line the box. There is a trace of silverfish damage on the side of the box and the edges of the box are a little crumpled. “Henderson’s ‘Australia’ Box, Chocolates ½ lb. Nett.”henderson chocolates

This brand of starch was first manufactured in 1914, during the First World War, and continued to cover the other wars and military conflicts that followed. It was a time when Australian made was important due to the limited supplies coming from England and Europe. This was a period when the demand for "home grown" produce was at its peak. This was in a time when by necessity not by the "Buy Australian" campaign (of later years) which was the major factor for the demand of goods. It was in a time when starch was used in formal clothing to put a "crisp" or fresh new appearance for clothes. The important social more of "clothes make the person" was in vogue. This is a sample box provided by the manufacturer as an advertising and promotional method of prospective customers becoming aware of the product. This type of promotional avenue brought results and ensured that this type of advertising and inducement by manufacturers would be ingrained as a lasting avenue through to the 2nd Millennium This box which once contained starch powder is very significant to a rural semi isolated region because it clearly demonstrates that the social mores of the city were also entrenched into the rural population. The fashion of the day, even in remote areas, especially rural, were still a requirement to be maintained on certain special occasions. Cleanliness and stiff "upper lip" persona were just as important in the rural sector as in city and Government circles. Institutions such as hospitals, Government Offices and the legal personnel were bound by the fashion of the starch appearance (no dirt sticks to a personage with the "starch" look). Appearances, especially the first ones, were the judgmental image that remained in the uppermost regions of the viewer.This box with white writing and a "formally clad" man on a navy blue background held Australian grown maize based starch powder(1 LB gross). The package is made from 200 gsm thick cardboard. As production was made during the two World Wars 1914 to 1945 the promotion was heavily focused on Australian made and Australian grown maize.The front(has "Sample" on top) the rest inscriptions are the same on each cover both and back, "DANDY" below this a figure outlined in white on a navy blue background "hat and tails" outfit. Next to the sketch in smaller lettering" STRONGER THAN OTHER STARCHES. LESS REQUIRED". Below the figure "GLOSS" and below this in larger print "STARCH". Below this and in smaller print "CONTENTS. NETT WEIGHT 14 1/2 ozs" Below this and in smaller print "MANUFACTURED BY MAIZE PRODUCTS PTY LTD FOOTSCRAY VICTORIA" On one side of the box and in large white print on royal blue background"PURITY, STRENGTH AND UNIFORMITY." On the other side are the manufacturers directions. On the left side "FOR RAW STARCH" Underneath and in smaller print,"Dissolve in warm water a quantity to give the required thickness. Add bluing if required Stir before each using. On the right side "FOR BOILING STARCH" underneath this in small print"Mix well in small quantity of cold water to creamy consistency. Add boiling water, and stir constantly while cooking. Allow to cool, and add blueing if required. Underneath these two sets of instructions is "Make your consistency thinner than if using another kind of Starch"household starch, household cleaning, domestic laundering.

This singlet has been made as a swimming singlet or top for a man to wear loosely over swimming trunks. It dates from about the 1920s. Both men and women in the 19th and early 20th centuries wore swimming costumes that modestly covered most of the body and for public bathing they usually bathed separately.This item has no known local provenance but is of interest as a vintage piece of men's clothing.This is a navy cotton singlet with a rounded neckline and beige-coloured cotton edging around the neck, sleeve holes and bottom end. There is a printed label at the inside top of the neck. Made In Australia Magpievintage swimming costumes, warrnambool sea baths

This navy officer’s hat has been reconditioned and this alteration may have been done for theatrical purposes. No information is available on its original owner or his country or rank.This hat is of minor interest as it is no longer in its original condition and has no known local provenance. This is a Navy officer’s hat with a white cloth circular top and a black material base and a band lined with black material. It has a Bakelite peak. The black band has an off-centre cloth badge of metallic thread featuring decorative feathers and a flag with a blue and red six-pointed star. The hat appears to be a re-conditioning of an original hat and the badge is probably not an original one. The edges of the hat are frayed and soiled. The hat has a leather lining with the maker’s name inside the hat but this is illegibleSouthhamptonaustralian navy uniform, history of warrnambool

This is a Warrnambool High School cap from the 1930s. Warrnambool High School was established in 1907 with a farm site in Merrivale and it was also in several sites in the main town area, with the longest occupancy in Hyland Street. In 1961 the school moved to its present location in Albert Park (Grafton Road). The High School amalgamated with Warrnambool North Technical School in 1995 to form Warrnambool College. Malcolm Goodall, the owner of the cap, was born in 1917 and died in 2010. He lived in Coulstock Street and he worked in the tinning department of Nestles. The Goodall family has been in the Warrnambool area since the mid 1850s including being at the farm, ‘Wanstead’ in East Warrnambool and at Framlingham in the 19th century where William Goodall was the manager of the aboriginal settlement. This cap is of interest as an example of the boys’ uniform at Warrnambool High School in the 1930s and as a memento of Malcolm Goodall. His ancestors were pioneers in the Warrnambool district.This is a boy’s cap made of dark green cloth with octagonal sections and a cloth button on top. The peak is edged with navy and cream cord. The centre front of the cap has a school badge with the school initials and motto. The inside of the cap is lined with black cloth with a cream centre and has the cap seller’s business details and the name of the owner of the cap. Some of the printed material here is indecipherable. The stitching is worn in some places. W.H.S. Sine Labore V. Becker Boys Shop & Hosiery Parlour Warrnambool Name: M. Goodall warrnambool high school, goodall family, history of warrnambool

This helmet has been used by a member of the Royal Australian Navy in the early to mid 20th century. The Commonwealth Naval Forces were formed after Federation in 1901 and became known as the Royal Australian Navy in 1911. Pith helmets are now used only in the Australian Defence Forces for ceremonial purposes. No information is available on A.B. Pollock.This helmet is retained for display purposes.This helmet is made of white material with a six-segmented crown and a peak and back covering. In the centre of the crown is a dome with three breathing holes. On top of the dome is an ornamental gold-coloured metal finial. The edge of the crown has a band of white fabric and in the centre of this is a metal badge with a crown, anchor and seven stars and the wording ‘Royal Australian Navy’. Inside, the helmet has a leather rim with an adjustable leather string with brass clips (one missing). Inside, the breathing holes are made of brass and the metal rotates to open or close the holes. Inside also are the size of the helmet, the owner’s name and some other indecipherable information Royal Australian Navy A.B.Pollock 6⅞ vintage headwear, royal australian navy, history of warrnambool

No information is known about Mrs Mc Lean or her father. These buttons appear to come from a British Navy uniform and may date back to the 19th century as British Navy buttons today have a crown on top of the anchor. . These buttons have local provenance but the details are unknown. They are very good examples of early British naval Buttons so have considerable significance. the 1970's mounting of these buttons has been retained for historical reasonsSix brass concave circular buttons and two smaller identical buttons secured through a crudely cut rectangular piece of cardboard. The buttons feature a raised anchor and rope. The back of the cardboard has blue lined paper adhered to it. Through the paper are pieces of brass rings. Naval buttons given by Mrs McLean of he father's Uniform

[Five views of Thursday Island, including] Thursday Island from Military Barracks, The T.S. Hospital, Darnley Island Torres Straits, Main Street, Native Feast, [ca. 1917-1920] See https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/catalog/3117659 Dear Mum A few lines to let you know I've arrived at the top end of Aussie safely & now on my way down the coast towards Sydney. I'll be over on leave about the eighth Sept cheer up dont forget to send the suitcase about the second of Seot it will give me time to pack it then remember me to all & best love to yourself and Dad, your son Bill.This item, a souvenir from Thursday Island from between the wars (circa 1923) was brought home to Research, Victoria by Bill Teagle who was serving in the Royal Australian Navy (1919-1945). According to Bill's neice Valerie Waller (nee Feldbauer, daughter of Violet and Theodore 'Curly' Feldbauer), her Uncle Bill would always bring some sort of souvenir home from his travels for family members. The item ( along with a series of postcards from Japan of the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1 September 1923) was possibly given by Bill Teagle to his sister Margaret Rose (formerly Ingram) who later married Richard Edward (Eddie) Fielding in early 1948. (Eddie had been engaged to someone else before he went to war, but his fiancée broke it off before his return to Australia.) It was cared for by the Teagle/Fielding family for approximately one hundred years. It is of particular significance given the family's connection to the Eltham War Memorial through 'Curly' Feldbauer and the significance of that memorial to the local community and represents that despite the horrors of war, former friends then foes can become friends again.tom fielding collection, postcard, thursday island

Player cigarettes were extremely popular amongst the British troopsA rectangular tin with a printed image on lid,of a lifeboy with Players Navy Cut in red print and an image of a sailor in the centre. Right side top corner is marked Gold Leaf. Background is a blue/green colourbritish, cigarettes, player, troops

Worn by french navy during WWIICloth French naval cap with white crown blue band with red stripe and red "pompom" in centre of top. Cap has an attached webbing chin strap.cap french navy

Registered plaques representing R.A.N. , W.R.A.N.S. , H.M.A.S. Vampire, and H.M.A.S. Perth.Rare collection of Royal Australian Navy plaquesPine-board backing with 4 plaques mounted 1. Royal Australian Navy, 2. W.R.A.N.S.,3.HMAS Vampire, 4.HMAS Perth, The plaques are mounted on a wooden shields. 1. Royal Australian Navy plaque consists of an oval shape topped by a regal crown and bottom an anchor and chain, The center of the plaque is Black in color embossed in a ring of "Royal Australian Navy" the center of the plaque is a symbol of an anchor and chain. 2. W.R.A.N.S. Triangle shape with a Crown made-up from a sailing ship and the bottom a bow of blue ribbon. The lower half of the triangle is a wreath of leaves. the center of the triangle is painted light blue and has small stars one in each corner. In the center there is a ships anchor and chain. The bottom of the plaque is the initials "W.R.N.S." 3.HMAS Vampire A circular plaque a crown on the top a sailing ship in a crown format. Over a name of Vampire in gold on a black back ground the middle is a circle painted blue with a black Bat in the center. The bottom of the plaque is emblazoned with a boomerang, stone axe and aboriginal waddy followed by a banner "Audamus" meaning "we dare, we venture, we risk" 4.HMAS Perth, A circular plaque a crown on the top a sailing ship in a crown format. Over a name of Perth in gold on a black back ground. The middle is a circle painted gold with a black Griffen in the center. The bottom of the plaque is emblazoned with a boomerang, stone axe and aboriginal waddy followed by a banner "Fight and Flourish". motto.plaques, r.a.n., w.r.a.n., h.m.a.s. vampire

Vietnam Veterans parade 1987. Australia gives the Vietnam Veterans:soldiers, navy and airman finally receive the "welcome home" they deserved. Vietnam Veterans parade 1987. Australia gives the Vietnam Veterans:soldiers, navy and airman finally receive the "welcome home" they deserved. Stained pine board with three Vietnam plaques mounted on - plaques - 1. Australian force Vietnam, 2.National memorial to Vietnam forces 3 Vietnam vetrans parade sydney 1987. 1. Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial and 2. National Memorial to Vietnam forces The Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial is dedicated to all those Australians who served, suffered and died in that conflict. It was built largely through contributions from the Australian people, raised by the Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial Committee. 3. Vietnam Vetrans Parade Sydney 1987 On October 3, 1987, around 22, 000 Vietnam veterans marched in a ‘Welcome Home’ parade through the streets of Sydney It was estimated that the parade was watched by a crowd of up to 100,000, including Prime Minister Hawke, and that it stood up to ten deep along the parade route in some places. he marchers carried more than 500 Australian flags, each flag representing a serviceman who had lost their life during the Vietnam War. These simple acts represented the reconciliatory nature of the event – the flags, standing for the nation-state, were accepted as a proper symbol for the fallen by the veterans and symbolised their reconciliation with the body politic that they felt had rejected their rightful place in the Anzac narrative after the end of the Vietnam conflict. Plaques:- 1. Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial, Wooden Shield with metal shield with black outer ringed by service corps insignia, inner with a white band of the shield shape. the interior of the metal shield is light blue circle, with a white vertical sword, the top of the sword is a banner of red and orange strips. Below the metal shield is a Australian Army rising sun badge. Followed by a banner inscribed with " Australian Force Vietnam" 2. National Memorial to the Australian Vietnam Forces :- Small wooden shield, with a metal rectangle inscribed - vietnam veterans, welcome home parade 1987, plaques

Item relates to John Henry Goodall VX95342, refer Cat No 5768 for his service details. Item in the Goodall collection re Allan Frederick Goodall DFC, RAAF, refer Cat No 543.2 for his service details. Allan and John were Brothers.Badge "Service Australia" crown at top and depiction of Army, Navy, Airforce with scroll under, rear has a pin attachment.On front, "Australia". On rear, stamped "22962", In raised form, "1948", Issued by the C'WTH GOVT", "Amor Sydney"badges, service

Certificate issued by "California Gully Mechanics Institute/10th June 1946/ From the Citizens of California Gully.Photograph - colour photograph, half portrait of a soldier in uniform. Certificate beside photograph - in colour at top Australian Coat of Arms with two flags. print in Navy blue and brown ink. Three service badges illustrated. Frame - timber with marble effect paint finish, gold trim. Mount - Cardboard, dark green colour. Glass front. Backing - Cardboard.Handwritten in black ink on Certificate "Craftsman W. G.Wrights".framed items, certificates, ww2

Dress coat - Navy blue colour, cotton twill fabric. Navy blue cotton sateen lining with beige cotton fabric lining to sleeves. Full belt with bakelite and metal buckle. Buttons - black colour bakelite with metal shank. Emblazoned with the King's Crown and a Wedge Tailed Eagle in flight c WW2. Flight Sergeant Crown and Stripes on top sleeves.uniform, raaf, ww2

F/O POLKINHORN .T. M96. 3867. 12/7/45. Information has no correlation in Service Records.1. Dress coat - navy blue colour, cotton twill, navy blue cotton sateen lining with beige cotton fabric lining to sleeves. Full belt with bakelite and metal buckle. Buttons - black colour bakelite with metal shank. Emblazoned with the King's crown and a wedge tailed eagle in flight WW2. Set of RAAF wings above left top pocket. Rank Insignia on sleeve. 2. Trousers - navy blue colour cotton twill and button fly. 3. Tie - black colour rayon fabric.3. Makers label - black ink print on label - "David Jones/ FOR SERVICE/ SYDNEY" Black ink typewritten - "F/O POLKINHORN. T. /M96, 3867, 12/7/45" Blue ink handwritten - "Ball"uniforms, raaf, ww2

Items in the collection re MAX Jolliffee, refer Cat No 4322.3 for service details..1) Badge metal square shape blue with gold trim and text, one pin on rear. .2) Badge metal silver colour black background crown at top, centre has the letters "CMF". .3) Badge metal centre oval shape, colours gold, black, two blues, crown at top, centre figure boomerang at bottom, one pin on rear. .4) Badge, miniature of .3).1) "National Servicemens Association 51 - 72 Navy Army Airforce". .3) .4) Royal Australian Signals Association".badges, association, cmf

ANZUK was a Tripartite Force by Australia, New Zealand and UK to defend Pacific Region. Started 1/11/71 to 31/12/74. Bases out of Singapore. This plaque represented the Base Transport Unit.Brown wooden shield with unit emblem mounted on it. Emblem round with unit name at bottom, Crown at top. Image of Singapore Island in Middle and flags of Australia, NZ and UK coming off island. Island is white, rest mainly gold colour and some navy blue and red on flags.Inscribed with "ANZUK FORCE SINGAPORE" & "ANZUK BASE TRANSPORT UNIT". Handwritten on shield at top " R.A.A.S.C." and at bottom "317633 CPL A. R. CORNELIUS 1970-1972". On back handwritten in texta "317633 CPL A. R. CORNELIUS ANZUK BTN Singapore 70-71-71." passchendaele barracks trust, anzuk

The scroll relates to Sidney Charles Rowley No H1258, enlisted in the RAN on 14.6.1940 age 21 years, KIA 6.1.1945 while serving on HMAS Australia.Memorial scroll on light fawn coloured card, top has Coat of Arms with the letters “GVI RI” over. The following text in black and red relates to the death of a RAN Sailor in WW2.In red print, “Leading Seaman S.C.Rowley Royal Australian Navy”memorial scrolls, ran, hmas australia,

Francis Metternick - served in Merchant Navy WW2 - British or Australian ??1. Gauze bandage - white cotton, Dark Blue Paper wrap. 2. Pressure bandage - cotton twill - cream. 3. Container for Iodine - black plastic, brown screw top glass tube - attached to brown screw top. 4. Glass bottle with brown stopper containing liquid. 5. Glass syringes and i measurement pipette & 4 solid tapered glass tubes. 6. Dressings - 2 cotton, pink in blue labelled paper wrap,3.B Hax Iodine, Tincture British Pharmacopoeia Hack, 72 Red Lion Street, London, WC1. 4. Ammoniated Tincture/Quinine. Prepared in Accordance with the British Pharmacopoeia. Dose from half to one teaspoonful in a wine glass & water, Boots, Nottingham. 6. Boric Lint, Antiseptic dressing for surgical purposes. Australian Herbal stores, 10 Bath Street, Jersey C1. medical equipment, bandages, syringes

The “46” attached to the crown is the year of financial membership, ie 1946. Refer Cat No 4768.4.1) Badge “Returned from Active Service” brass depicts Army, Navy & Air Force with a crown at top, rear as two lugs with pin through and stamped & raised lettering. .2) Badge RSL membership, depicts the 3 Services Army, Navy, Air Force, colours white, blue, red and gold, at top is a crown with Number “46” as an attachment..1) Stamped on, “A353069”, raised, “issued by the Cwealth Govt” .2) Stamped on, “97726”, raised, “Badge remains the property of the League Australia”badges, awards, membership, active service

Army officer's peaked cap worn on formal occasions, dark blue with red band around hat. The peak top side is finished in high gloss black leather and the hat has a similar high gloss black hat band. Worn by an officer in the Royal Australian Engineers (RAE). This hat is referred to as a 'blues' hat.Navy blue cap with red and black trimming. The hat itself is a flat cap made out of navy blue felt. around this is a red felted band, itself encircled with a black patent band and peak. The black band is held on by two smaller badges, which are brass in colour and have an image of the Australian map (above which is the crown) and around the edges says Australian Military Forces. At the front of the cap is a badge which says: Royal Australian Engineers. On badge: Royal Australian Engineers. Moni Soit Qui Mal Y Pense Inside cap: L. Silberston and Sons Ltd London hat, engineer, army, australian army, rae, royal australian engineer, officer

Identifying Personnel...Historic Aesthetic Interpretive.Oblong portrait.....Brown/gold frame....green paper background....Masonite backboard....Insignia.pieces.Top centre COAT OF ARMS ‘’AUSTRALIA’’.Lapel badgeROYAL NAVY AUSTRALIA......THE AUSTRALIAN ARMY 1901/2001.....ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIRFORCE .....all PETTY OFFICERS.Centre row... PETTY OFFICERS l/r Royal Blue Crown&Anchor....AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH MILITARY FORCES3rd pattern/Rising Sun.Lower row CHIEF PETTY OFFICERS.....Laurel Wreath ,Crown &anchor ....THE AUSTRALIAN ARMY CROWN&RISING SUN. 7th Pattern....Cap badge RAAFCROWN&WATTLE. badge, military, australian

Blue book in good faded condition of paper and cardboard coversOn the spine is the name of the book in gold writing with dark oliptical marking with gold stars in the top and bottomjohn winton novel companion book club, companion, novel, navy

Beverley Wheeler entered the school in 1942; Bev was Walker House Captain in 1955 and a member of the 1955 Hockey Team. she received sports colours and was also a probationer.Brown wool blazer pocket with embroidered Clarendon PLC crest, Hockey 1955 and House Captain 1955; navy blue ribbon sewn to top of pocket.beverley-wheeler, house-captain, clarendon-presbyterian-ladies-college, 1955

HMAS Melbourne (R21) was a Majestic-class light aircraft carrier of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Operating from 1955 until 1982, she was the third and final conventional aircraft carrier to serve in the RAN. Melbourne was the only British Commonwealth naval vessel to sink two friendly warships in peacetime collisions. The ship was laid down for the British Royal Navy as the lead ship of the Majestic class in April 1943, and was launched as HMS Majestic (R77) in February 1945. At the end of World War II, work on the ship was suspended until she was purchased by the RAN in 1947. At the time of purchase, it was decided to incorporate new aircraft carrier technologies into the design, making Melbourne the third ship to be constructed with an angled flight deck. Delays in construction and integrating the enhancements meant that the carrier was not commissioned until 1955. Melbourne never fired a shot in anger during her career, having only peripheral, non-combat roles in relation to the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation and the Vietnam War. However, she was involved in two major collisions with allied vessels. On the evening of 10 February 1964, Melbourne collided with and sank HMAS Voyager when the Daring class destroyer altered course across her bow. Eighty-two of Voyager's crew were killed, and two Royal Commissions were held to investigate the incident. The second collision occurred in the early morning of 3 June 1969, when Melbourne collided with and sank the Allen M. Sumner class destroyer USS Frank E. Evans in similar circumstances. Seventy-four United States Navy (USN) personnel died, and a joint USN–RAN Board of Inquiry was held. These incidents, along with several minor collisions, shipboard accidents, and aircraft losses, led to the reputation that Melbourne was jinxed. Melbourne was paid off from RAN service in 1982. A proposal to convert her for use as a floating casino failed, and a 1984 sale was cancelled, before she was sold in 1985 and towed to China for breaking. The scrapping was delayed so Melbourne could be studied by the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) as part of a secret project to develop a Chinese aircraft carrier and used to train PLAN aviators in carrier flight operations. HMAS Melbourne was decommissioned on 30 June 1982, having spent 62,036 hours underway and having steamed 868,893 nautical miles. A proposal to convert her for use as a floating casino failed, and a 1984 sale was cancelled, before she was sold for scrap in 1985 and towed to China for breaking. The scrapping was delayed so Melbourne could be studied by the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) as part of a secret project to develop a Chinese aircraft carrier and used to train PLAN aviators in carrier flight operations.The pictorial history of HMAS Melbourne with rare photos. Now a scarce title and highly desirable title that is now long out of print. Has provenance history of all ships movements from 1955 till decommissioned.HMAS Melbourne 25 YearsOn the front page is a picture of HMAS Melbourne with the words at top "H.M.A.S. Melbourne. At bottom are the words in orange, '25 Years'. In white, are the words 'by Ross Gillett' then 'Forward by Rear Admiral G.G.O. Gatacre C.B.E. DSO. DSC & Bar, RAN'. On the rear page is a list of all the Captains that served on the HMAS Melbourne between 1955-1980.hmas melbourne, aircraft carrier, royal australian navy, australian navy, westland whirlwind, sea venom, fairy gannet, bristol sycamore, westland wessex, douglas skyhawk, grumman tracker, westland sea king, fleet air arm, hmas albatross, nowra