In May 2022, Navy Headquarters South Australia was recommissioned as HMAS Encounter. The base is situated within the Osborne Naval Shipyard Precinct at Outer Harbor on the Lefevre Peninsula, South Australia.
The function of HMAS Encounter is to support naval shipbuilding capability in South Australia. In addition, Encounter provides administrative support to Navy personnel and represents Navy in the local community. Navy personnel work across various sites within metropolitan Adelaide including the:
- central business district
- RAAF Base Edinburgh
- Defence Science and Technology Office Salisbury
- Australian Submarine Corporation.
Encounter also supports various elements of the Royal Australian Navy Reserve. This includes Royal Australian Navy Band South Australia and the South Australian Regional Reserve Cell.
Navy contributes to a range of joint capabilities in South Australia including:
- science and technology
- remote sensor and surveillance
- electronic warfare
- recruitment
- experimentation.
Situated on the Adelaide Plains, the region is known for its many festivals, sporting events, food, wine, coastline and hills. It boasts large defence and manufacturing sectors and the emerging space sector.