The end of the battle cruiser Australia according to the Dutch newspaper Vlissingse Courant dated Wednesday 16 April 1924

In a news item was the end of the Australian 19,000 tons battle cruiser Australia (1) described which was scuttled off Sydney the Saturday before as a result of the naval limitations of the Washington Naval Treaty (2). At the ceremony were six other warships present, 3 belonging to the Australian navy and 3 to a British squadron on a voyage through the British empire. Her deck were covered by flowers and green and navy planes dropped wreaths while she sunk. Before she was scuttled was everything of value and which could be loosened taken away and she was towed by four tugs towards her final destination. Two large valves were opened and flying colours she slowly disappeared below the waves while she was saluted with gunshots fired by the other warships. At the end was the sea covered with 200 wreathes brought on board by representatives of navy, army and patriotic associations. Until the last days efforts were done to pursue the cabinet not to handle this ship in this manner but according to prime minister Bruce (3) this was the only solution.

Notes 
1. Her building was ordered on (9 December 1909 at the yard of John Brown&Company at Clydebank with building number 402, laid down on 26 June 1910, launched on 25 October 1911, commissioned on 21 June 1913, decommissioned on 12 December 1921 and scuttled on 12 April 1924. Her pennant numbers were C 6/09/81 and her motto was Endeavour. She belonged to the Indefatigable-class with a displacement of 18,797 (load)-22,485 (full load) tons and as dimensions 590’ (over all) x 80’ x 30’4” (maximum). The four shaft Parsons turbines and 31 Babcock-Wilcox boilers supplied 44,000 shop allowing a speed of 25 knots and with a speed of 10 knots she had a range of 6,690 nautical miles. Her crew numbered 820 men. The armament consisted of 4x2-12” guns, 16-4” guns and 2-18” submerged torpedo tubes. The armour consisted of a 4-6” belt, 1,5-2,5”belt, 7”barbettes and turrets, while the conning tower had 4-10” and 2.5” bulkheads to protect against torpedo attacks.
2. A treaty between the United States, British Empire, Japan, France and Italy signed on 6 February 1922 as a result of the Washington Naval Conference between November 1921-February 1922 which intended to limit the total capitals ship tonnage of these five major powers.
3. Stanley Melbourne Bruce, 1st Viscount Bruce of Melbourne (15 April 1883-25 August 1967), prime minister in the period 9 February 1923-22 October 1929.