Warrego was commissioned into the RAN in 1912, and spent her early career operating in Australian waters.

[4] Warrego was laid down by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, but when she reached launch condition, the destroyer was disassembled and transported to Australia by ship.

[6] The reasoning behind this was to raise the standard of the Australian shipbuilding industry by giving Cockatoo Island hands-on experience in warship construction.

[2] During late August and early September, the destroyer escorted the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force to New Britain, and was involved in the landing of troops at Kabakaul to capture a nearby wireless station.

[2] Apart from a brief docking in Sydney, Warrego remained in the New Guinea area until 5 February 1915, when she was reassigned to patrols along the east coast of Australia.

[5] At the end of the war, Warrego was briefly deployed to the Black Sea before sailing to Gibraltar.

[9][10] The six destroyers, accompanying the cruiser Melbourne, arrived in Darwin on 26 March 1919: Warrego had to tow Parramatta and Yarra into harbour, as they ran out of fuel.

[8] On 23 July 1931, the ship sank at her berth (at location 33°50′49.4″S 151°10′17.9″E / 33.847056°S 151.171639°E / -33.847056; 151.171639[12]) , and had to be broken up with underwater demolition charges.