HMAS Sydney (1912) - Decommissioning and Fate

Decommissioning and Fate

Sydney paid off at Sydney on 8 May 1928 and arrived at Cockatoo Island, Sydney, on 10 January 1929 where she was broken up. After scrapping, the ship's foremast was retained, and in 1934, it was erected at Bradleys Head by the floating crane Titan. This initially served as a monument to the engagement against Emden, but was later rededicated as a monument for all Australian sailors killed at war. Part of the bow, including the stem head, jackstaff, and fairleads, was set into the seawall at Milsons Point, under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. One of the cruiser's derricks is on display in the Victory Memorial Gardens in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, and a compass stand is located at Port Macquarie, New South Wales. The main top-mast was erected at Environa, New South Wales, but rotted at the base and collapsed. It was later moved to Jervis Bay.

During the 1930s, two of the 6-inch guns were transported to Western Australia, and in 1938 were installed at Buckley Point on Rottnest Island. These were withdrawn from service and placed in storage in 1944, then were sold to a scrap merchant in 1963. However, the dealer never collected, and the guns remained on site until 1980, when army reservists retrieved and refurbished them, with one on display outside the Army Museum of Western Australia. Another of the ship's guns was used on Thursday Island from 1940 to 1987.