Great White Fleet US sea power on parade

'Visiting ships at anchor, Julian Ashton (1851-1942)' Australian National Maritime Museum

Two vivid paintings of America's spectacular Great White Fleet in Sydney Harbour in 1908 are the centrepieces of a centennial exhibition coming to the Australian National Maritime Museum which opens on August 14 2008.

One, a big, sunny work in oils attributed to the distinguished Australian painter Rupert Bunny (1864-1947), shows the battleship fleet steaming proudly into the harbour watched by welcoming spectators on a variety of small craft along the North Shore.

The other, a superb panorama in watercolours by Julian Ashton (1851-1942), shows the visiting ships at anchor, seemingly filling the harbour all around Fort Denison.

President Teddy Roosevelt sent the so-called Great White Fleet, 16 great battleships with smaller escort vessels, around the world to demonstrate America's naval strength.

He wanted his countrymen and the world to know that the US Navy was capable of operating globally, and particularly in the Pacific at a time when America's relations with Japan were becoming uneasy.

The fleet visited 32 ports in 26 countries including Sydney (20-27 Aug 1908), Melbourne (29 Aug-5 Sept) and Albany, WA (11-17 Sept). In their peacetime livery of white with gold scrollwork and banners of red, white and blue on their bows, the ships made a magnificent sight wherever they went.

It's believed this is the first time the two paintings of the fleet in Sydney Harbour have been shown in a public exhibition. The Julian Ashton picture was acquired this year by the museum, the painting attributed to Rupert Bunny is on loan from a private collector.

Another feature of the exhibition will be a magnificent 3 metre long scale model of the USS Vermont, one of the Great White Fleet's Connecticut Class battleships.

And there will be a set of historical stereoscopic photographs of the American battleships in Australian waters and the welcoming celebrations as well as a comprehensive sets of Great White Fleet commemorative postcards and other souvenirs recalling the visit.

The National Maritime Museum will also present a day-long symposium Great White Fleet - US sea power on parade 1908-2008, with distinguished speakers from Australia and overseas, on Saturday 23 August.

Tickets $25. For details and bookings, phone (02) 9298 3709.

The exhibition Great White Fleet - US sea power on parade will be on view until January 2009 - admission free. The National Maritime Museum, at Darling Harbour, is open daily, 9.30 am to 5 pm.

www.anmm.gov.au

by Australian National Maritime Museum Media