WEATHER COMPENDIUM: Ships in port on wet, windy, dreary and dull days - NTL, artistical touches H.J Kookaburra].

6191. The photo, from the Northern Territory Library, shows HMAS VOYAGER [I] in Darwin in 1942.

 

Well, this is going to be a biggy. With a title like that above, one feels that critical and artistic success is assured, as well as a smash hit at the box office. We wish to stress from the outset, however, that the collection does NOT contain images of warships battling storms at sea. All the images linked below are contained within ports and harbours, mostly around Australia, but also overseas.

 

We now go further and say that not only does it illustrate barometric pressure readings, but that the COMPENDIUM is open to serious scientific study.

 

With almost 6,200 images on the Photostream the scope of it reaches a scientifically acceptable survey or polling sample. So, the question is this: with roughly 35,000 nautical miles of Australian coastline, why is it that something like 95% of our awful weather images seem to come from the one place, Port Phillip Bay and the dear old city of Melbourne?

 

Dealing with thousands of ship photographs over more than 100 years of RAN history - particularly the superb images of Allan Charles Green [1878-1954] from the State Library of Victoria - this is something we have noticed for years.

 

Being a Melbourne resident, born and bred, Kookaburra would have to say there is a serious and consistent difference in the light between Port Phillip and perhaps all of our northern other ports and harbours. It's a guesstimate, but we would say that 60-70% of Green's Melbourne images - and there are thousands of them - are taken in poor light, ranging from a monotone dull to drizzling and outright stormy. Weather to turn an umbrella inside out [ like the first few images in the COMPENDIUM below].

 

We forgot some of this weather effect here during South Eastern Australia's 13 years of drought, from 1997-8 to 2010-11, when Victoria was something like living in Queensland and intra-state migration patterns reversed. But now the low pressure systems coming from Bass Strait and the Southern Ocean are seriously back. Water storages are nearly full again, and we're nostalgic for the sunny days of drought.

 

 

We present here the raw data in COMPENDIUM form of more than 60 images. Our 'comment' boxes are open below for similar scientific obervations.

 

Photo: Northern Territory Library, artistic treatment H.J. Kookaburra.

 

The COMPENDIUM:

Pics 1058, May 23, 1949: HMAS SYDNEY [III] departs Melbourne on a dark delivery voyage 1. A.C. Green, SLV.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/4345193761/

Pic 1636: May 23, 1949, HMAS SYDNEY [III] departs Melbourne on a dark delivery voyage 2, A.C. Green, SLV.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/4360904373/

Pic 1097: May 23, 1949, HMAS SYDNEY [III] departs Melbourne in bleak weather, A.C., Green, SLV.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/4577505567/

Pic . 1057. Nov. 6, 1952, frigate HMAS MACQUARIE shivers in Melbourne’s Yarra, A.C. Green, SLV.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/4345177809/in/photostr...

Pic 933, P&O’s PATONGA, drenched at Station Pier Melbourne, 1960s, by Robert Winduss

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/4312835219/

Pic 2704. HMAS ANZAC [II] launched in drizzle at Williamstown, Aug. 20, 1948, A.C. Green SLKV.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/4892343795/

Pic 605. Destroyer HMAS SWORDSMAN with advancing thunderheads in Melbourne’s Yarra, 1920s, A.C. Green, SLV.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/3955549603/

Pic 790: Destroyer HMAS QUICKMATCH under lowering skies, Melbourne Dec 17, 1946, A.C. Green, SLV.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/3992948775/

Pic 794. HMAS SHOALHAVEN gets a soaking in Melbourne Feb. 13, 1947, A.C. Green , SLV.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/3995426712/

Pic 603. HMAS SUCCESS [I] in light but drenching rain, Melbourne, 1920, A.C. Green, SLV.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/3956282074/

Pic. 1500, frigate HMAS CULGOA docks against advancing weather, Melbourne, Nov. 8, 1948, A.C. Green, SLV.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/4502030857/

Pic 583. Mar. 7, 1949, frigate HMAS BARCOO on bracing Port Phillip Bay, A.C. Green, SLV.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/3952907481/

Pic 1436 BARCOO in showery Melbourne on July 24, 1946, A.c. Green, SLV.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/4469043601/in/photostream

Pic 973. Frigate HMAS BARWON pays off on chilly Port Phillip Bay, Mar. 1947, A.C. Green, SLV.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/4324991062/in/photostream

Pic 1073: Carrier HMS THESEUS gets an inkling of Melbourne’s weather, July 11, 1947, A.C. Green, SLV.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/4351297646/in/photostream

Pic1003. Battleship USS OKLAHOMA approaches Bleak City, July 1925 – A.C. Green, SLV.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/4331975373/in/photostream

Pic 1071. July 5, 1947, frigate HMAS SHOALHAVEN and the colours of Melbourne, A.C. Green, SLV.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/4351266864/in/photostream

Pic1401: AUSTRALIA [II] and frigate MURCHISON huddle at Wellington, NZ, Feb. 1950

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/4456567793/in/photostream

Pic 1524. LST 3014 docked docked a dreary day in Melbourne, ca 1946, A.C. Green, SLV.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/4519690668/in/photostream

Pic. 1121. Mar. 76, 1949, a brisk outing for corvette HMAS LATROBE in Melbourne, A.C. Green, SLV.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/4368799985/

Pic 1038 “S’ Class destroyer HMAS TATTOO on a gloomy Melbourne day, ca. 1925, A.C. Green, SLV.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/4339669975/

Pic. 724. June 17, 1946, HMAS BATAAN leaves Melbourne on a dark day, A.C. Green, SLV.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/3976460375/

Pic 1902, Ca. 1920s, cruiser HMAS BRISBANE [I] is accord with Melbourne’s weather, A.C. Green, SLV.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/4634137541/

Pic 488. HMAS TOBRUK in Melbourne’s Port Phillip Bay on a typical 1952 day, A.C. Green, SLV.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/3936697627/

Pic 1531. Oct. 1934 Italy’s ARMANDO DIAZ arrives to a cloudy Melbourne welcome, A.C. Green, SLV.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/4525739266/

Pic 1608-9. Feb. 14, 1946, returning HMAS AUSTRALIA [II] departs stormy Melbourne, A.C. Green SLV.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/4550740472/in/photostr...

 

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/4550208057/

Pic 2159: Oct 1938: HMAS HOBART [I] and HMAS ALBATROSS in puddled Portsmouth, UK.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/4700579900/in/photostr...

653. May 1920, HMS RENOWN and the Prince of Wales receive a less-than-sunny welcome in Melbourne, A.C. Green, SLV.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/3966188930/

Pic 1059, Torpedo Boat Destroyer [TBD] HMAS WARREGO [I] on inclement Port Phillip Bay, May 1920, A.C. Green, SLV.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/4345961320/in/photostr...

Pic 476. A new mother farewells HMAS AUSTRALIA [II] from a wet pier in Melbourne, Clarrie Cook

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/3935037747/in/photostream

Pic 596-7: HMAS HOBART [I] under modernization with grey skies in Newcastle, NSW, Feb. 21, 1955.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/3955737932/in/photostream

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/3954982237/in/photostr...

Pic 965. July 17, 1937, HMAS AUSTRALIA [II] at a wet, puddled wharf in Brisbane.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/4321657659/in/photostream

Pic 2384. HMAS BRISBANE [II] swept by showers in Manila, Aug 28, 1992, by Glenn Crouch.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/4751101969/in/photostr...

Pic 2581: HMAS WARRAMUNGA and HALIGONIAN DUKE in Melbourne during the great nationwide winter strike of July 1949.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/4842094665/in/photostr...

Pic 188. HMAS BARCOO grounded at Glenelg, South Australia, April 12, 1948.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/3855981171/in/photostream

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/3856098645/in/photostream

Pic 241. A November storm builds up over Garden Island, Sydney.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/3873916165/in/photostream

Pic 2398; HOBART [II] and PERTH [II] in wet windy Auckland, Oct 2, 1991, Glenn Crouch.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/4754093340/in/photostr...

Pic2607 HMAS QUEENBOROUGH on a dark 1967 day in Sydney.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/4851969286/in/photostr...

Pic3035; destroyer HMAS in overcast Newcastle NSW , April 27, 1955, Sam Hood.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/5025083414/in/photostr...

Pic 3161: HMAS AUSTRALIA [II] under a cloud, 1950.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/5067676552/in/photostr...

Pic 3422; HMAS ARUNTA, CULGOA, and AUSTRALIA [II] at blustery Port Melbourne.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/5240222214/in/photostr...

Pic 3931. Corvette HMAS MARYBOROUGH nearing completion at Walkers yard in Maryborough, Qld.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/5444533793/in/photostr...

Pic 4270 HMAS QUEENBOROUGH and PERTH [II] on a drizzling day at Garden Island, Sydney, 1969.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/5591978834/in/photostr...

Pic 4280. HMAS KANIMBLA and HMS LEANDER in light drizzle on the Brisbane River, Ca. 1941.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/5602764249/in/photostr...

Pic 4473. Another of the HMAS BARCOO grounded pics, April 1948.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/5688748130/in/photostr...

Pic 4490: HMAS QUEENBOROUGH makes a stormy day departure from Sydney, Ca. 1960s.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/5692078445/in/photostr...

Pic 4638. HMAS MELBOURNE at Tamar Basin, Hong Kong just before Typhoon Irma, May 1966.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/5884239158/in/photostr...

Pic 4670. HMAS WESTRALIA [II] and STUART [II] at rainswept HMAS STIRLING dock, WA, 1991.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/5884239158/in/photostr...

Pic 4752. Umbrella farewell for HMAS QUEENBOROUGH bound for Britain, Jan. 1955

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/5985100454/in/photostr...

Pic 5076-7 July 1945, HMAS AUSTRALIA [II] on a puddled dock in New York’s Hudson River.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/6359850705/in/photostr...

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/6359783505/in/photostr...

Pic 5126.Seeking shelter: a scene from the London Victory March, June 8, 1946.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/6402310205/in/photostr...

Pic5256. Frigate HMAS HAWKESBURY under stormy skies in Sydney.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/6490285905/in/photostr...

Pic 5349. HMAS SYDNEY [II] arrives in brisk and breezy Port Melbourne, 1936.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/6551213897/in/photostr...

Pic 5351. HMAS AUSTRALIA [II] and an overcoat, overcast day at Port Melbourne.

 

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/6553713499/in/photostr...

Pic 5352-3. Definitely a brisk day for HMAS AUSTRALIA [II] at Port Melbourne.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/6556727947/in/photostr...

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/6556811575/in/photostr...

Pic 5404-6. Cloudy arrival at Port Melbourne for HMAS AUSTRALIA [II], CA. 1946.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/6594504133/in/photostr...

Pic 6016-18. Ton Class minesweepers at Tamar Basin HK, Typhoon Irma in vicinity, May 1966.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/7517252470/in/photostr...

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/7517412038/in/photostr...

Pic 6198: Cross winds and showers sweep HNLMS PIET HEIN in Melbouyrnbe's Yarra - A.C. Greeen.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/7793963014/in/photostream

Pic 6201. HNLMS PIET HEIN [ex-HMS SERAPIS] departs Melbournbe under lowering skies, March 1953 - A.C. Green.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/7794434052/in/photostream

Pic 6202: Another dark view of HNLMS PIET HEIN's Melbourne departure - A.C. Green.

www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/7794489300/in/photostream

 

 

 

PHOTOSTREAM COMPENDIA COMPLETED THUS FAR:

 

HMAS AUSTRALIA [I] Indefatigable Class battlecruiser; two parts, beginning under Entry 5476, 100 images.

 

HMAS WARRAMUNGA [I] Tribal Class destroyer: single entry under pic 5470, 50+ images

 

HMAS ARUNTA [I] Tribal Class destroyer, two parts, under Pic entries 5467-5468, 80+ images

 

HMAS HOBART [I] Modified Leander Class light cruiser: Two parts, under pic entries 5464-5465, 100+ images

 

HMAS MELBOURNE [II] Light fleet aircraft carrier: seven parts, under pic entries 5444-5450, 350+ images

 

HMAS QUEENBOROUGH, 'Q' Class or Type 15 fast anti-submarine frigate; Two parts under pic entries 5435,5436, 60+ images.

 

HMAS ANZAC [II] Battle Class destroyer, Two Parts under pic entries 5429-5430; 60+ images.

 

HMAS SHROPSHIRE, heavy cruiser: Three Parts under pic entries 5415-5417, 75+ images

 

HMAS AUSTRALIA [II] heavy cruiser : Three parts under pic entries 5412-5415, 200+ images

 

BRITISH PACIFIC FLEET IN AUSTRALIA; single entry; under Pic 5365, 50+ images

 

HMAS BARCOO, WWII River Class frigate, under Pic NO. 6186, 30+ images

 

HMAS VAMPIRE [II], Daring Class destroyer, three parts beginnging at Pic NO. 5501, 100+ images.

 

HMAS WATERHEN. WWII 'Scrap Iron Flotilla' destroyer, single entry Pic 6266, 20 images. '

 

BOYS AND BATTLESHIPS: COMPENDIUM ESSAY on a 20th Century Romance, under Pic NO. 5488, 20+ images

 

FOUL WEATHER IN PORT COMPENDIUM - single entry at Pic NO. 6191, 60+ images.

 

 

Done