The difficult delivery voyage to Melbourne

For the voyage from Chatham to Melbourne, Cerberus was registered as a merchant vessel, had her sides built up to the level of the breastwork, and received temporary masts and rigging. A first departure on 20 October 1870 ended when gale conditions made the ship uncontrollable. She sailed again on 7 November and passed through the Suez Canal under Victoria's flag, which secured the lower warship rate. Her nominal ten-day coal capacity sometimes proved closer to eight days, requiring frequent refuelling, and the crew came close to mutiny more than once. Cerberus finally reached Melbourne on 9 April 1871 and became flagship of the Victorian Navy, though hostile public nicknames reflected doubts about the purchase.