"Yarra" had a displacement of 700 tons, a length overall of , beam of , and a maximum draught of . The destroyer was powered by three Yarrow oil-burning boilers connected to Parsons turbines, which delivered 10,000 shaft horsepower to three propeller shafts. "Yarra"s designed maximum speed was (although she achieved a full knot higher during full-speed trials), and she had a cruising speed of , giving the ship a range of . The ship's company consisted of between five officers and 68 sailors.