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HMVS
CERBERUS: Victoria's
Flagship
The
Outward Journey: The history of HMVS
Cerberus began, as one would expect judging by her current state, with
bad luck. Captain Norman, once captain of HMCS Victoria, had been
selected by the Victorian government to oversee the construction of the
Cerberus. Unfortunately he died in Ramsgate, England prior to delivery
of the ship. A Lieutenant Panter, was sent from Melbourne to command the
Cerberus and deliver her to Victoria. Completed in September
1870, she was beset with a number of frustrating delays. Firstly there
was much debate as to which flag she was entitled to fly. The admiralty
refusing to allow the use of the white ensign and the civil authorities
declining to register her as a merchant ship. (Editors
note: It seems that some
things don’t change in 130 years!) Finally when the
Cerberus was handed over she came with no stores on board, the admiralty
saying that the provision of stores was not a part of the contract.
Similarly Lt. Panter was not able to victual her from the navy stores at
Chatham for the same reason. Crew recruitment was
likewise slow, Panter having to rely on available merchant seaman to
fill his crew. A similar vessel to the Cerberus, HMS Captain, had
capsized only weeks before, taking its complement of 472 crew with her.
Sailors were understandably reticent when it came to signing on for the
voyage to Australia. Eventually HMVS
Cerberus and her 25 man crew departed Chatham, and promptly ran into
gale force winds in the English Channel. She could neither steer or make
headway against the storm. When Cerberus eventually put into Portsmouth
the crew immediately deserted. Sailing from
Portsmouth, this time with a complement of 65 crew members she reached
Malta where more desertions followed. It is said that three of her crew
preferred six months in jail rather than continue the journey to
Australia. At 12.30pm on 9th
April, 1871 the HMVS Cerberus tied up off Williamstown finally at the
end of her six month journey. Safe at last in Port
Phillip Bay (Melbourne, Australia). She would never leave
it again.
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