Shortly after 11:00 am on Saturday, 29 August, the fleet rounded Port Philip Heads to start the thirty-mile trip to anchorage at Hobson's Bay.  This port was to be universally acclaimed the best port-of-call of the entire cruise.  Sailors were greeted like heroes and enjoyed the favor of the citizens of Melbourne.

The postcards and souvenirs were fantastic.  Melbourne was ready with booklets of the city and the surrounding countryside that contained images, tips, schedules and maps.

The above booklet was issued to celebrate the fleet's arrival and contains pictures of the departure from Hampton Roads and photos of the ships. 

Being competitive cities, Melbourne worked hard to out-do Sydney.  The reception was known as "American Week" and in exuberance and frenzy, topped anything that the fleet had experienced thus far.  The crowds at events were over whelming and the beer flowed freely.  Too freely.  

Some blue jackets strayed from the ranks during the customary parade and the Navy's Band found it hard to keep step.  Admiral Sperry was furious and when reports reached Roosevelt, one man was discharged and several received court martials.

From the collection assembled by Frank Lesher, USS Virginia

"Went up to our friends at the piano store and he gave us the Fiji Island curios that he had promised us.  He gave me a hatchet made out of stone and wood, and two war clubs that they used to beat each other over the head with.  These are genuine articles as he lived in the islands for four years."

The Melbourne Welcome

Emanuel Lofquist, USS Connecticut, received an Honorary Member's Ticket to the Melbourne Bicycle Club on September 8,1908.

On September 2, he visited the Northcote Town Hall for the evening events.  The evening events included song, recitation, solos and dance.

A pass to the Olympic Athletic Club for ENS Lofquist

Program for Melbourne, part of the Emanuel Lofquist Collection

On Monday the fleet's formal entry to the city included the landing of a naval brigade at Port Melbourne that marched to the city.  On Thursday, the event highlight of the visit occurred.  The fleet was involved in a military review.  The review included the cadets from Ballarat who had marched five days to participate in the review.  That night a dinner for 3,000 was planned for the sailors at 7:00 pm.  Only one sailor arrived.  With a delay till 9:00 pm there was a crowd of seven.  The paper explained it as such, "When every tar has a girl on his arm it is easy to understand he does not want to leave the lights and the crowd to pass the time in the company of men with whom he has to live on board ship."

Left:  "Dear Beatrice - I dropped you a line from Sydney,, are next stop is Albany, be sure and write because we get mail in Manila.  Jim"

Right:  A card written from a 'pen-pal' in Melbourne to P. J. Best, a sailor on the USS Kentucky.  On the front is an indication of where the Kentucky was located.

This booklet was issued to celebrate the fleet's visit to Australia.  The booklet provides a glimpse of the people and community that greeted them upon their arrival.

It was not only sailors, people were trampled in the crowds and fell from buildings while watching the parade.  Crowds caused a grandstand to collapse and a bridge to breakdown.  Two sailors were killed by a trolley who's motorman seemed overtaken by the celebration.

The above photos are from the same series.  At left, fleet landing, at right, the fleet parade.

August 31, 1908

Melbourne

"Hello Flo, How are you?  I am having a great time."

Be Good, Eddi

Possibly Eddi ment to say he was being good!

The mood was one of acceptance of this nation that came to provide security.  An expression of:  Take note England !  If you don't recognize our need for protection we may turn our national security to our close friends the Americans.  The talk of secession was in the air.  America had become "Big Brother".  With this, only 2 of the 6 British colliers showed up in Melbourne to partly show America the dependence it still had on Great Britian.  Sperry had to purchase 16,000 tons of inferior Australian coal to get to the coaling station at Albany.

This was a advertisement for the Federal Palace Hotel celebrating the fleet's visit to Melbourne.

The cover shows the USS Georgia.

Desertions were high in Melbourne, over 300 sailors tried to stay with their girls.  More than 200 were successful !  Before leaving Melbourne, souvenir medals were presented to every member of the fleet.  The ships also gained additional mascots, dogs, monkeys, parrots, wallabies, kangaroos, and koala bears.