Cerberus gained temporary freeboard for Australia

Was temporary freeboard added to Cerberus to improve seakeeping on the voyage to Australia?

Yes. Temporary wooden structure was added for the voyage.

Moving a low-freeboard coastal-defence ship across ocean distances required special measures. Temporary wooden structure was fitted to improve Cerberus's behaviour at sea. The added freeboard was a delivery-voyage expedient rather than a permanent redesign of the monitor. The modification separates the demands of a one-time passage to Australia from Cerberus's intended coastal operating environment.