The IFR was expected to have similar scale and public impact to that experienced during previous reviews held in Sydney, as the RAN 75th Anniversary (1986) and the Bicentennial Naval Salute (1988).

[2] It was also confirmed that Prince Harry would attend the IFR as part of his first official visit to Australia.

The ships were greeted by the Governor-General of Australia, Quentin Bryce, from Bradleys Head on 4 October.

In addition to the fleet review itself, the following events were scheduled to coincide with the IFR:[5] On 21 June 1913, the battlecruiser HMAS Australia was commissioned at Portsmouth, and sailed towards Australia on 25 July 1913 accompanied by the also new light cruiser HMAS Sydney.

On 2 October 1913 both ships arrived at Jervis Bay, New South Wales, where the rest of the Australian fleet joined them: the protected cruiser Encounter, the light cruiser Melbourne, and the destroyers Parramatta, Warrego, and Yarra.