Memorials & Monuments
on the Isle of Wight
- Ryde -
- H M S Sirius memorial -

H M S SIRIUS

ON 13 MAY 1787 THE FIRST FLEET SAILED TO AUSTRALIA FROM THE MOTHERBANK, JUST
OFF THIS SHORE. H.M.S. SIRIUS WAS THE PRINCIPAL NAVAL CONSORT FOR THE FIRST FLEET
WHICH ARRIVED IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, ON 26 JANUARY, 1788.

ON A VOYAGE TO OBTAIN PROVISIONS FROM CAPE TOWN TO SOUTH AFRICA TO SAVE
THE FLEDGLING COLONY OF NEW SOUTH WALES FROM STARVATION, H.M.S. SIRIUS
CIRCUMNAVIGATED THE GLOBE. WHEN SHE RETURNED TO SYDNEY SHE WAS IN DIRE NEED
OF REPAIR AND SO ON 19 JUNE, 1789 SHE WAS TAKEN TO WHAT IS NOW KNOWN AS MOSMAN
BAY, MOSMAN, TO BE CAREENED, REPAIRED AND REFITTED. SHE REMAINED IN MOSMAN
BAY UNTIL 12 NOVEMBER, 1789.

H.M.S. SIRIUS THEN SAILED FROM SYDNEY TO NORFOLK ISLAND WITH PERSONNEL AND
PROVISIONS. THERE SHE RAN AGROUND AND WAS WRECKED ON 19 MARCH, 1790.

MOSMAN COUNCIL, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA, COMMISSIONED THREE IDENTICAL
BAS-RELIEFS OF H.M.S. SIRIUS FROM THE SCULPTOR, ALEX KOLOZSY, TO COMMEMORATE
THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COMING OF EUROPEANS TO MOSMAN. THE MOSMAN
COMMUNITY PRESENTED THIS BAS-RELIEF TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE BOROUGH OF
MEDINA. THE OTHER RELIEFS ARE SITED AT MOSMAN BAY AND NORFOLK ISLAND.

THE MAYOR OF MOSMAN, ALDERMAN P.C. CLIVE, TOGETHER WITH ALDERMEN B.S.J.
O'KEEFE, A.M., Q.C. AND D.C. BROCKHOFF AND THE TOWN CLERK MR. V.H.R. MAY,
TRAVELLED FROM AUSTRALIA FOR THE UNVEILING CEREMONY.

THIS GIFT FROM THE COUNCIL AND THE PEOPLE OF THE
MUNICIPALITY OF MOSMAN
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE BOROUGH OF MEDINA
WAS UNVEILED BY
THE LORD MOTTISTONE, C.B.E.
LORD LIEUTENANT OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT
ON 29 JUNE 1991

COUNCILLOR MRS ADA LEIGH		ALDERMAN PETER CLIVE
MAYOR, BOROUGH OF MEDINA		MAYOR, MOSMAN MUNICIPALITY