GENERAL BAQUEDANO visits Sydney

The BAQUEDANO moored at East Circular Quay on 16 July 1931 and the crew spent two weeks in Sydney. The visit attracted significant public interest and the daily activities of the Chileans were reported in the Sydney Morning Herald.

The crew played a soccer match against members of the HMAS CANBERRA crew, laid a wreath at the Martin Place cenotaph, displayed their rigging skills while aloft and opened their vessel to the public. Captain Alvarez also hosted visits by the Governor of NSW Sir Phillip Game, the Premier of NSW and the Lord Mayor. The departure of BAQUEDANO from Sydney Harbour was quite eventful, with one rating attempting to desert the ship and swim ashore, two sailors being left at the dock and transported to the vessel by police launch and another bewildered Chilean was found wandering the streets. He was later reunited with his fellow sailors in Auckland after transport was arranged on a departing cargo ship.

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