Publication:Sea Talk Winter 2008/Birth of a new era
By CMDR Dennis Cowdroy
Now a Federal Court judge, CMDR Cowdroy is a former Justice of the Land and Environment Court. He submitted to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works that restoration of HMAS Creswell’s heritage buildings was ‘vital for the RAN’s and Australia’s heritage’.
HMAS Creswell – birth of a new era On March 19, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works of the Commonwealth Parliament recommended that the redevelopment of HMAS Creswell proceed at an estimated cost of $83.6 million.
Such recommendation will lead to a substantial upgrade of many of the facilities of HMAS Creswell and secure its future as a vital base for the Royal Australian Navy.
HMAS Creswell is of crucial significance to the heritage of the Royal Australian Navy. Its origins can be traced to 1899. In that year a report was prepared for British Admiralty emphasising the need for training Australian forces to undertake the sea defence of Australia.
In 1904 the newly created Commonwealth Parliament of Australia received the report and proceeded to implement its recommendation.
HMAS Creswell was founded in 1911 and was named after VADM Sir William R Creswell, the First Naval Member of the Australian Naval Board.
It was the first college established for the training of naval officers in Australia. It continued in this role until 1930 when, due to the worldwide financial depression the base was leased out and used as a resort.
In 1958 the base was returned to the Royal Australian Navy and it resumed its earlier role as a training facility for officers. However, even as late as the early 1990s its future remained uncertain.
The monies now to be allocated for the redevelopment of HMAS Creswell will ensure its future for the Navy.
The redevelopment recognises the value, not only to the Navy, but also to Australia of the heritage significance of the site and of the buildings that have been erected since 1911.
The base has been entered on the National Heritage Register as a place of national heritage significance. The funding will be allocated in part to restoring and improving existing buildings as well as providing for new facilities.
In respect of the heritage restoration, the existing two-storey building located on the western side of the quarterdeck known as Cerberus House will be totally restored and developed to provide a gunroom, games area, television and reading rooms and regulating office on the ground floor.
The first floor will contain meeting rooms including chaplain’s office, divisional officer’s rooms, the Naval Reserve initial entry training team (NRIETT) office and meeting rooms.
To the south the temporary gunroom will be removed and in its place a new building, similar to the former Geelong House will be erected. Its facade will reflect the heritage appearance of Cerberus House.
The new Geelong House will incorporate an auditorium on the ground floor to seat 400 persons or 250 persons at dining tables. The first floor will contain administrative offices and computer rooms. Geelong House will serve as a multi-functional training facility.
A new physical fitness centre is to be constructed near the current transport compound and contractor’s sheds. It will provide training facilities, including a 25 metre indoor swimming pool, weights training room, combined training room and cardio theatre, multi-purpose hall, equipment store and staff working accommodation and change facilities.
The RAN School of Survivability and Ships Safety (RANSSSS) will be modernised. A new two-storey building will be erected on the site and the existing gas-powered fire-fighting unit, leak-stop repair training unit and diesel fire-fighting unit will be upgraded.
The existing living accommodation and messing facilities will be upgraded and a new accommodation block of cabins will be erected on the western side of Dowling House.
The new building will be three storeys high with a flat roof. It will accommodate 32 cabins. The exterior of the building will feature hardwood timber weatherboard cladding to replicate the appearance of some of the existing heritage buildings.
Officer cadet recreational facilities, including messing facilities, will be upgraded as well as the armoury.
At the waterfront a new classroom will be constructed.
There will be an upgrade of the existing engineering services and infrastructure including electrical, communications, security, sewer, fire and potable water supplies, gas, irrigation and storm water.
Road works, car parking and lighting will also be improved.
The work will be carried out to ensure the quickest possible completion, consistent with the demands of HMAS Creswell’s training programs, and will be compliant with current environmental standards.
The allocation of funding for HMAS Creswell by the Commonwealth Parliament demonstrates its commitment to ensuring the preservation of the RAN’s oldest officer training facility and recognition of the importance of the facility in Australia’s national heritage.
