hmstorch

It looks like the tailings from Balmain Colliery just under the lower spar of the nearest ship which would put this after 1897. I think the clock tower at Balmain PO is also visible on the horizon which would support this date. On the other hand I'm not sure that the row of terraces that were discussed here are in this photo which puts it earlier than about 1905. This photo dated 18/08/1914 also of Sutherland Dock definitely has more building than the one here.

Museums of History NSW - State Archives Collection Thanks for posting this wonderful photo. I have recently been doing some snooping about various Sutherland Dock photos, and posted some comments here - The main photo is one of three (or possibly more) of the three ships. The other two look the same, but the sailor swabbing front right moves! - investigator.records.nsw.gov.au/asp/photosearch/photo.asp... investigator.records.nsw.gov.au/asp/photosearch/photo.asp... Don Shearman You are spot on with the date, I think. I searched Trove for "torch ringdove goldfinch dock" and found mention of them in Sutherland Dock in December 1898. The chance of the exact three same ships being in the dock at another date is fairly remote. SMH 13/12/1898 p.4, col.6 (at bottom) - trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/14190004

"NAVAL NEWS. - The Torch, Goldfinch, and Ringdove, the three cruisers which have been in Sutherland Dock recently together, were yesterday floated out, and to-day will come down to Farm Cove. ... "

Some good surmising going on... I think you're probably right - it would be highly co-incidental to get all three ships in the same dock at the same time again... So I'll update the date to reflect a probable date of 1898. Thanks!! - AG

Zoom in & Torch can be read at the stern!

There are a few other sightings of HMS TORCH on Flickr -

" Torch joined the Australian Station in February 1897, serving in New Zealand waters in 1898 and 1899. She was part of the naval escort for the visit of the Duke and Duchess of York to Australia and New Zealand aboard the chartered Royal liner HMS Ophir during 1901. After a refit, she recommissioned at Sydney on 29 November 1913. In July 1914 Torch, in company with the French cruiser Kersaint, was involved with a native uprising on the Island of Wala, Vanuatu. Five men were killed and four injured, and one native prisoner was captured. In August 1914 she became part of the New Zealand Division of the Pacific Station. " From - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Torch_(1894) So this photo is 1897+

Andy Waugh beachcomber australia Thanks folks :) Royal Museums Greenwich have some interesting objects relating to TORCH... Like this unusual speciman, collected by Capt Miller while TORCH was in the South Pacific 1903-05...

what an elegant vessel