HMAS Cerberus History
History
Historical gates.
The site for HMAS Cerberus was recommended by Admiral Sir Reginald Henderson KCB RN after an extensive search of the Australian coastline for suitable locations for major Naval bases. He proposed that a base be established on Hann's Inlet between Sandy Point and Stony Point on Westernport Bay.
The base was to include a Torpedo School, a Destroyer Base and a Submarine Base, and be capable of accommodating up to 2000 personnel. The site, covering over 1500 hectares (nearly 3600 acres), was purchased in 1911. The first sod was turned in 1913. The old wharf and hospital were erected first, followed by A, B and C Blocks. The Wardroom, Warrant Officers’ Mess, Captain’s and other Officers’ residences were built between 1915 and 1917. The Drill Hall, Gunnery School and Torpedo School (now part of the Technical Training Centre) were established in 1917 at the height of building activity. The power house and other residences were built between 1918 and 1920.
The base was officially opened in September, 1920, under the command of Commander FC Darley RN. The idea of using it as a Fleet Base was soon abandoned and it became known as Flinders Naval Depot in 1921. The Depot was commissioned HMAS Cerberus on 1 April that year.
Historical Gangway.
Royal Colours were first presented to HMAS Cerberus, on behalf of His Majesty King George V, by the then Governor-General the Right Hon John Lawrence Baird, 1st Baron Stonehaven, GCMG, DSO, PC, JP, DL, in 1927. They were the first Royal Colours to be presented to an Australian Naval Unit. The Queen's Royal Colours were presented in 1954 by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh. Royal Colours incorporating the Southern Cross were later presented by Governor-General Lord Casey in 1968. The present Royal Colours were presented by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1986.
In 1930, during a period of Naval retrenchment, the Royal Australian Naval College moved from Jervis Bay to HMAS Cerberus, where it remained until 1958 when it returned to Jervis Bay.
The outbreak of World War II found the facilities inadequate to deal with the needs of wartime recruits who were passing through Cerberus at the rate of 400 a month. Temporary buildings were erected to cope with the needs of this sudden influx.
Our Lady Star of the Sea Chapel.
The first Women's Royal Australian Navy (WRANs) arrived in 1942 and, apart from a short post-war break, have been part of the RAN ever since. 1942 also saw the introduction of an Officers’ Training School to train selected recruits as officers for war service. The school trained 1000 sailors during the war and closed in 1945.
There have been many changes to since the war. Progressively, many of the temporary buildings have been dismantled and replaced.
The Roman Catholic Chapel, Our Lady Star of the Sea, was opened in 1948, followed by St Mark’s Chapel in 1954. Other additions include the present accommodation blocks, cinema, Senior Sailors' Mess, Club Cerberus, gymnasium and aquatic centre, Seamanship School and Wharf, Communications School, Recruit School and Health Centre.
The phasing out of apprentice training, the closure of HMAS Nirimba and the introduction of tri-service training has resulted in many changes at HMAS Cerberus.
St. Mark's Chapel.
Street names of HMAS Cerberus
HMAS Cerberus has a rich history with extensive links to notable personnel and ships from the past. Many of the streets and roads within the base have been named in recognition of individuals who have strong links to the base or ships with geographical connections to Victoria.
HMAS Cerberus Heritage & Learning Centre
The HMAS Cerberus Heritage & Learning Centre (aka Museum) is open Monday-Thursday from 0930-1430 and other dates by arrangement.
Community / Veteran Groups are invited to visit by providing the following information via email: Contact Name and Mobile Number. Further visitor details will be required for entry onto the base and can be provided prior to your visit. Confirmation of your visit request will be emailed back to the originator and due to base access requirements, no visits will be permitted to take place until the requesting Point of Contact has received confirmation back from the Heritage and Learning Centre (HLC). Additionally, all visitors over the age of 16 will be required to show Government-issued photo ID on the day of visit to meet security requirements for entry. No ID = NO entry. All enquiries should go directly by email to navy.history@defence.gov.au
