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Category: Royal Australian Navy

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Bradleys Head

HMAS Sydney (I) Mast Bradleys Head

Bradleys Head

Many people using Sydney Ferries will have past Bradleys Head with its mast from HMAS Sydney, but many will not know its significance. This small headland holds memorials to the Royal Australian Navy ships lost during wartime.  The RAN considers this location the pre-eminent naval memorial in Australia.

  • Bradleys Head Location
    Location

HMAS Sydney Mast and Associated Memorials

The most striking feature on the headland is the mast of HMAS Sydney (I), because it stands tall above its surroundings. It commemorates all who served on the four ships named Sydney and forms the focal point for the other memorials. Walking around the gardens you come across memorials to individual ships, from the first submarine AE1 to HMAS Canberra.

  • HMAS Sydney (I) Mast Bradleys Head
    HMAS Sydney (I) Mast
  • HMAS Sydney (I) Mast at Bradleys Head
    HMAS Sydney (I) Mast at Bradleys Head From the Harbour
  • HMAS Canberra Plaque Bradleys Head
    The Rifle Wall

Doric Column

Sitting off the headland is a Doric stone column in the waters of the harbour. It is from the demolished Sydney Post Office and in conjunction with the tower off Fort Denison, it was used for speed trials of vessels in Sydney Harbour. No longer used for this purpose, it is an interesting sight.

  • Doric Column Bradleys Head
    Doric Column
  • Doric Column at Bradleys Head
    Doric Column at Bradleys Head From the Harbour

Bradleys Head Light

The Bradleys Head Light, completed in 1905, is located on the point of Bradley’s Head Peninsula. Used as a navigation marker and warning light, it also makes for a great photograph. The lighthouse is mounted on a rock and connected to shore by a footbridge.

  • Bradleys Head Light
    Bradleys Head Light

Access to Bradleys Head is past the Taronga Park Zoo and down a narrow windy road. On the way down, you will pass the Rifle Wall, part of the old fortifications built to defend Sydney. Although probably not as interesting as the naval memorials, it is still historically important and worth stopping at.

  • The Rifle Wall Bradleys Head
    The Rifle Wall

A great little stop for a wander around, either before or after the zoo if you are interested.  Or you could add it to a visit to Middle Head and its fortifications.

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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ANZAC Day Sydney

World War 1 Flags ANZAC Day March Sydney

ANZAC Day Sydney

We usually attend ANZAC Dawn Service in our home town of Singleton. However since our daughter joined the RAN and was marching in Sydney we travelled down to see her.

By far the biggest parade in the state if  not Australia (we haven’t seen Melbourne’s parade so cant compare). It was impressive for its sheer size.

Getting There

Travelling down by train we arrived at Central Station in plenty if time to walk into the city a grab a coffee along the way. We could have caught a train to Hyde Park but wanted to stretch our legs after a 2 hour train journey.

We picked a spot near Bathurst Street and staked our place at the barriers so that we could get the best view. This turned out to be a good plan as the crowd was soon several people deep.

The ANZAC Day Parade

The parade started with the cavalry horse being led with no rider but with boots placed  backwards in the stirrups to represent its deceased rider and extending this to all of those killed in battle.

For Fallen Comrades ANZAC Day March Sydney
For Fallen Comrades

Veterans who were no longer able to walk or march followed in cars. These all received huge cheers as they went past. Veterans then passed marching behind their unit flags, some interacting with the crowd, all receiving huge cheers.

  • Ford Falcon Taxi For Veterans ANZAC Day March Sydney
    Ford Falcon Taxi For Veterans
  • Plymouth Taxi For Veterans on the March Anzac Day
    Plymouth Taxi For Veterans on the March

Once the veterans had passed currently serving personnel marched passed.

  • World War 1 Flags ANZAC Day March Sydney
    World War 1 Flags
  • Royal Australian Navy ANZAC Day March Sydney
    Royal Australian Navy

Interspersed with the marchers were bands from around the state with the Scottish bands with pipes and drums providing some great sounds.  The parade goes on for 4 hours, and provides a lot of history to today’s society.  Once the parade is over, there is the opportunity to play two up, or eat and socialise throughout a huge area.

Scots Band on Anzac Day
Scots Band on Anzac Day

The march ends at the ANZAC Memorial in Hyde Park, where the ceremony is held.

  • ANZAC Memorial Hyde Park Sydney
    ANZAC Memorial Hyde Park Sydney

If you are in Sydney on April 25, it is highly recommended that you go and visit the parade.  If you live in Sydney, this is something worth doing, to remember those how have and do serve Australia.

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre

Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre

How to Get There

The Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre is on Garden Island in Sydney Harbour. To get there you catch the Sydney Ferry to Double Bay. This stops at a Garden Island only during the Centre’s opening hours (9:30AM to 4:30PM but check their website to be sure). There is no access via the Naval Base, only from the ferry wharf.

Approaching the Heritage Centre, you pass a series of memorials to ships lost and people killed in service to the RAN. These are worth a detailed look at before entering the main building. 

Corvette Memorial Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre
Corvette Memorial

Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre
Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre

What You See At The Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre

Entry to the Heritage Centre is free, but you must leave before the last ferry. There is a very good display of Royal Australian Navy history inside the main building. There are items from the formation of the navy after federation to the present day. We found the staff to be friendly and approachable.

Wheel From HMAS Protector Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre
Wheel From HMAS Protector

Twelve Inch Shell From the Battlecruiser HMAS Australia (I)Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre
Twelve Inch Shell From the Battlecruiser HMAS Australia (I)

Eating

There is also a cafeteria catering for snacks and lunch. Food was great and reasonably priced.

On the Waterfront

Outside on the waterfront are some very interesting displays. These include the SeaCat anti-aircraft missile and Australian designed Ikara anti submarine system, whilst a small museum, there is a lot of great displays and history presented over the entire site.

Ikara Anti-Submarine Missile Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre
Ikara Anti-Submarine Missile

Seacat Anti-Aircraft Missile Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre
Seacat Anti-Aircraft Missile

Eight Inch Gun From HMAS Australia (II) Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre
Eight Inch Gun From HMAS Australia (II)

 An additional area to see there is a large garden up the back, which given some great views to the harbour.

If you have a few hours to spare, the Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre is a great place to learn about the history of the RAN.

Old Tree on Garden Island Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre
Old Tree on Garden Island

For other places to visit in Sydney, please have a look at some of our other posts.

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