Jul and Oct 1986 - Navy League of Australia

Being scuttled at Black Rock. 1926CERBERUS in February. 1982Ong.no/ plans for HMVSAge alone makes the ship significant By comparison, the sailing shipPOLLY WOODSIDE now restored by the National Trust, was launchedseventeen years after the launching of the CERBERUSThe CERBERUS was an even greater departure from ships of herdaySpecial compartments in the hull could be filled with 500 tons ofwater to reduce the freeboard making the ship a smaller target for attackHeavy armour plating, from six to 10 inches in thickness, protectedthe hull, citadel and guns The main armament was four 10 inch MLR18 ton guns, two in each turretThe principal dimensions of the CERBERUS were length. 225 feet,overall beam 45 feet draught 15 feet 6 inches, and displacement 3.340tonsThe CERBERUS was laid down in 1867Dismantling the monitor prior to scuttlinglaunched in 1868 andCERBERUScompleted in September 1870 CERBERUS came to Melbourne underher own power and the voyage took 123 day*. She arrived in Port PhillipBay on April 9. 1871 to a great welcomeCERBERUS was the flagship part of the Victorian Navy, and in 1911.following Federation, became part of the newly formed Royal AustralianNavy VBetween 1871 and 1911. she was a familiar sight of WilliamstownManned by well trained crewmen, the CERBERUS played a key rolein the numerous naval mock battles and exercises with the shore forts atQueenscliff and the HeadsShe was used as a floating store for explosives during World WarOne. and in 1921. was renamed HMAS PLATYPUS II. and was used asa submarine depot shipThe CERBERUS history of service was such that the Royal AustralianNavy named its base at Flinders after the shipBy 1924 there seemed to b. no practical use for the CERBERUSand she was sold as scrap Much of the valuable parts were stnpped fromthe ship, and in 1926 the Black Rock Yacht Club became interested in thehull for use as a breakwater in HaH Moon BavThe City of Sandringham then decided to purchase the hull, togetherwith turrets, guns and anchorsThe purchase of the CERBERUS was typical of the enterprising spiritof the Sandringham community who pnded themselves on having apremier seaside resort The CERBERUS was towed to its current locationand scuttled at high tide on a sandbankThe hull still serves as a breakwater, but after nearly 60 years ofbattenng from the waves there has been some obvious deterioration whichconcerns both historians and the community in generalThere have been recent inspections by Royal Australian Navy divingteams, the results of which are not publicly available, but it is theconsidered opinion of naval architects that the CERBERUS is still capableof being salvaged. although this may not be the case for very much longerRESTORATION PROPOSALSIn Apnl 1985. Naval Architects A R Colquhoun & Associates PtyLtd investigated the preservation and restoration of the CERBERUS andprepared an extensive reportThe architects recommended that the CERBERUS be refloated bysealing and pumping out and then transported to an exhibition siteThe preferred site to locate the warship for permanent exhibition isthe old Wright and On Dock* on the Yarra River opposite the WorldTrade Centre, and )ust east of the location of the historic POLLYWOODSIDE barqueThe CERBERUS would be permanently moored, resting on aprepared bedThe Port of Melbourne Authority is landscaping the nearby area, anda small craft landing and walkway across the dock has been constructedrecently