10. H.M.V.S. CERBERUS

In the early days of Australia’s colonies, the Port Phillip District was without protection as the few British naval vessels available were stationed in Sydney. In 1851, when Victoria separated from New South Wales and the rich goldfields were discovered, Melbourne became an obvious, unguarded, attraction for sea-borne raiders. The Victorian Navy was formed and, with 16 ships, was the largest and most powerful of the colonial navies.

Commissioned by the Victorian government in 1866, Cerberus was built in England to counter the threat of a suspected Russian invasion. Jointly funded by the British and Victorian governments, Cerberus was built for 140,000 pounds, of which Victoria was responsible for 40,000 pounds, plus all the costs of crewing and delivery to Australia.

The design of Cerberus was a radical departure from contemporary naval ships with wooden hulls and sails. She was not only the first British warship to be powered solely by steam, but she used steam engines to raise the anchors, rotate the turrets and operate the pumps. Cerberus was the first breastwork monitor, and is the only one remaining. She was the first ship in the world to be built with rotating gun turrets mounted on a central superstructure, thus becoming the forerunner of all modern battleships. She had a double bottom and the area between could be flooded when in action, until her decks were awash, making her a difficult target.

HMVS Cerberus arrived in Port Phillip Bay in 1871 and as ‘the most powerful ship for harbour defence in the world’ became flagship of the Victorian Navy. She commenced a period of 53 years service,  which must rank as one of the longest of any naval vessel in the world. After Federation she became part of  the Royal Australian Navy, before being withdrawn from service and sold for scrap in 1924. She was initially purchased for use as a breakwater by members of Black Rock Yacht Club, but was finally purchased and relocated to her present site by Sandringham City Council in 1926.
 
The Cerberus history of service was such that the Royal Australian Navy named the base at Flinders after the ship. Cerberus was the first vessel to become a registered place in the National Heritage List.  For information about attempts to preserve the ship, visit  www.cerberus.com.au