Postcards produced for the Fleet's visit to Australia included a variety of graphic cards that were tinted like the pair of cards displayed above.

View of Sydney Harbor from North Sydney, showing the entire American Fleet and Auxiliaries.  This is a three card set.  To view select image above.

Sydney hailed the arrival of the American Fleet as a sign that Japanese aggression would not be allowed to expand towards them without having the American Fleet to deal with.  The defeat of the Russian Navy and the departure of the British Navy to waters closer to home had left a void that the people of Australia felt America could fill.

What great cards.  The artists of Australia certainly prepared for the arrival of the Fleet by creating some of the most colorful and patriotic cards of the cruise.  The American Flag with an eagle appears on almost all of the cards created for the Fleet's visit.

At right is a rare portrate photograph taken of the four admirals and their staff Lieutenants while in Sydney.  From left to right:  Rear Admiral William Emory, Rear Admiral Charles Sperry, Rear Admiral Seaton Schroeder, and Rear Admiral Richard Wainright.  The photo was taken by Vice Regal Photographers of Sydney.

The above cards show tinted photo images of the fleet arrival, the human flags, at anchor, decorations on Macquarie Street, and the Maypole celebration.

The postcard at left "Australia Welcomes Uncle Sam and his Fleet" provides another way of viewing the Fleet's arrival.

At right, an advertisment card with the USS Kentucky illustrated for selling Ward Brothers sewing machines in Melbourne.

James Reckner's book, Teddy's Roosevelt's Great White Fleet;  "So intense was Australia's interest in the visit that half the population of that city "remained awake the entire night and thousands upon thousands of them long before night was over were on their way to the hill tops outside the city limits, where they massed seemingly in unbroken lines to view the spectacle.  Estimates of the number of spectators vary from 500,000 to 650,000."

This is a great little program of the fleet activities in Sydney.  The program includes a complete description of the units of the fleet including photos of the ships, a map of the city, rank insignia identification , names of the senior offices on each ship, and a detailed schedule of the planned events each day.  I have scanned each page and included them for viewing below:

(page 1-2) (page 3-4) (page 5-6) (page 7-8) (page 9-10)

 (page 11-12) (page 13-14) (page 15-16) (page 17-18)

(page 19-20) (back cover)

This program was provided for the Fleet's visit to Parramatta, just outside Sydney on Wednesday, August 26th, 1908.  Events included a boat trip up the Parramatta River with a reception by the Mayor at Town Hall.  Afterwards sailors would see some of the historic sites and meet for a luncheon at the main pavilion.  At 4:30 pm a Tree Planting and tug of War between the Americans and H. Company was planned.

These are two Keystone stereviews that depict the fleet in Sydney.  Though there are many stereoviews from the Rose company, these are the only two I have from Keystone.

Certainly one of the most unique items issued for the Fleet's visits was this set of spoons.  On the front Teddy Roosevelt on the handle, one of the battleships in the bowl, and the words 'American Fleet'.  On the back, Admiral Evans and Dewey.

These identical cards were issued for the fleet visit with different amounts for franking.  These cards were used within Australia and few found there way back to the States as sailor mail.

On the morning of  Friday, August 21st, the official landing of the Admiral and his staff occurred at Farm Cove.  A public reception was planned at the Domain where the Prime Minister, Mayor, and various state dignitaries greeted the American Fleet.  Following the reception, a procession of the offices, sailors, and marines of the fleet proceeded through the city.  At right, a postcard showing the reception at the Domain.

At left is an invitation to the public reception for Admiral Sperry, his Officers and men, given by the Commonwealth of Australia.  The inviatation is to his Honorable D. Watkins, MP.  This large engraved invitation was given in contrast to a public invitation as shown below.

The above collection shows Sydney illuminated at night for the fleet's visit.  From left to right: Fleet units in the harbor, the Post Office, Town Hall, Circular Quay, Sydney Mint, Custom House, Railway Station, Custom House Close-up.

On Sunday more than 1500 sailors of the fleet attended mass at St. Mary's Cathedral.  Afterwards there was a banquet at the Town Hall.  The postcard to the right is the first reference to the fleet as the "Great White Fleet" that I have seen in print.  Prior to this I believe that the fleet was refereed to as the "American Fleet" or the Atlantic Fleet. This is a postcard of the front page of the Evening News, Thursday, August 20, 1908.

On Monday 250,000 Australians mobbed Centennial Park to watch the review of the combined Royal Navy, American Navy, and commonwealth naval and military forces of New South Wales.  With 12,000 men under arms it was the largest military review in Australia to date.  By Tuesday everyone was tired and sailors were seen shopping and mailing postcards.  At this point both the Americans and Australians had done enough meeting and needed a rest.

No set of photographs better documented the fleet's visit to Sydney and Melbourne than the Rose Sterographs.  The card to the left, 'American Fleet in Australia.  Three fine U.S. Battleships in Sydney Harbour, viewed from Cremorne Heights'.   To see the complete set of Rose Stereographs visit my Series page,

The Rose Stereographs.

The above collection of postcards are from the M. R. Battey Collection of cards.  They are from Australia, I am just not sure where!  Some of these views might be recognizable to other collectors or historians.  Please write.

The last full day in Sydney was highlighted by a massed demonstration by nine-thousand school children at the Sydney Cricket Grounds, a tour to Parramatta, a rifle match, baseball games, garden party, and a dinner party onboard the Connecticut.

Liberty in Sydney had been great.  As boats returned to the ships, 91 men failed to report.  But before the day was over, 60 had returned to the Yankton, the rest staying behind.  At 8 a.m. on Thursday the 27th the Fleet got underway with thousands lining the shores to wish the well.

The sailors of the fleet had many opportunities to see the countryside of Australia.  One of the trips that many took advantage of was the rail trip to Blackheath.  Below is a booklet brought back from Frank Lescher.  His letter home describes his day's adventure.