HMAS Kuttabul | |
---|---|
Fleet Base East, Sydney, New South Wales | |
Fleet Base East | |
File:HMAS Kuttabul.png Crest of HMAS Kuttabul | |
Type | Naval base |
Site information | |
Controlled by |
Royal Navy (1856-1911) Royal Australian Navy (1911-1967) Royal Australian Navy (1967-Present) |
Site history | |
Built | 1856 |
In use | 1856-present |
Battles/wars | Attack on Sydney Harbour |
Garrison information | |
Past commanders | Commander Todd Wilson, RAN |
HMAS Kuttabul is the Royal Australian Navy's primary naval base {Fleet Base East} on the east coast of Australia. It is located on Garden Island in Sydney, New South Wales. The administrative, training and logistics support centre is situated south of Garden Island in the suburb of Potts Point.
The base is named for the steam ferry HMAS Kuttabul that was sunk while docked at Garden Island during the Japanese midget submarine attack on Sydney Harbour in 1942.
History[]
Garden Island itself has been host to a naval base since 1856, when the government of New South Wales suggested giving the area over to the Royal Navy as a base for ships serving on the Australia Station. Following the foundation of the Royal Australian Navy in 1911, all naval establishments were given over by the UK to the RAN. However, until 1939, the ownership of Garden Island itself was in dispute, with NSW claiming it as its property. This was solved when the Australian government initially requisitioned the island (together with the naval base) under emergency wartime powers. The government then purchased Garden Island from NSW for £638,000 in 1945.
The Garden Island facility houses the Captain Cook Graving Dock, the largest graving dock in the Southern Hemisphere.[citation needed] The dock was constructed between 1940 and 1945, by filling in the area between Garden Island and Potts Point. The dock and associated dockyard are operated under lease by Thales Australia. The northern tip of Garden Island is as of 2008 open to the public, accessible only by ferry. The area features the Navy Heritage Centre, opened in 2004, and graffiti dating to the First Fleet in 1788.
From its foundation until the establishment of the Two Ocean Policy and commissioning of HMAS Stirling in 1978, Kuttabul was the RAN's main naval base. With the establishment of two main bases, Kuttabul and Garden Island took on the additional designation of Fleet Base East.
Ships Stationed[]
Although Kuttabul is the main administrative part of Fleet Base East, Fleet Base East is also responsible for the Mine Counter Measures forces of the RAN stationed on the east coast. These are based at HMAS Waterhen.
Anzac class frigate
Adelaide class frigate
Huon class minehunters (at Waterhen)
Amphibious
Replenishment
Sail Training (at Waterhen)
Heritage Items | ||||||||
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Date | Description | Details | ||||||
1945 | Captain Cook Dock | Constructed between 1941–45 and opened 24 March 1945 as the largest Graving Dock in southern hemisphere. 1,139 feet long, 45 feet deep. | ||||||
1888 | Royal Navy/Royal Marine Barracks | Northern & southern balconies added in 1892 | ||||||
1888 | Kitchens/Laundry | Meals were prepared in kitchens and taken into Barracks for eating | ||||||
Detention Quarters | Cell door bolted to wall behind Barracks. The only relic remaining of Detention Quarters | |||||||
1942 | Tanks/air raid shelter | Underground water tanks for kitchens made into air raid shelters for 100 people | ||||||
1928 | Lubricating Oil Store | Modernised and lift added in 1984 to become Dockyard Supply Centre | ||||||
1893 | Sheerlegs Crane | Constructed by Easton & Anderson, then the largest crane in the world. Design Load 160T and Test loaded to 200T. Removed in 1940 | ||||||
1951 | Hammerhead Crane | One of only 15 still standing around the world, the crane has not been used since 1996. Department of Defence has announced removal. | ||||||
1788 | Original Gardens | Gardens were first started on 11 February 1788 for crew of HMS Sirius and used by various ships till 1806. Hence the name Garden Island, given in 1788 in January | ||||||
1893 | Naval Stores | Water hydraulics provides the power for the lifts and hoists | ||||||
1893-c.1960 | Standard gauge rail | Tramway operated around the Island. It was extended to Dock in the 1940s. Steam crane locomotives provided motive power | ||||||
1889 | Chain & Anchor Store/Battery Shop | Submarine batteries maintained. Fire station located at end of Store | ||||||
1889 | Spar Shed/Torpedo Store | Early Church Services in upstairs Dining Room | ||||||
1889 | Sawmill/Factory | Machinery in factory run by belts from a main steam driven shaft | ||||||
1916-1960s | Cable & Chain Testing Machine | Used to pull cables & chain to test links and ends | ||||||
1895 | Coal Store | Storage for nearly 500 tons of coal, with its timber Coaling Wharf at the front, serviced with rail lines | ||||||
1913 | HMAS Parramatta Bow | Stern is located in a park in Parramatta | ||||||
1924 | Gun workshop and store | Converted to the RAN Heritage Centre in 2005 | ||||||
Various | Memorials dedicated to ships of the Royal Australian Navy | |||||||
1893 | Tidal Baths | Closed in 1973 due to Harbour water quality and condition of the pool | ||||||
1886 | 2nd Boat Shed | Since 2005 the Dockyard Display for the RAN Heritage Centre | ||||||
1896 | 3rd Boat Shed | First boatshed built west of island in 1858 | ||||||
1893-5 | Administration Building | Originally with single story on each side. Extended in 1920s & 30s. | ||||||
1942 | H.M.A.S. Kuttabul Memorial | The site of the sinking of the ferry Kuttabul with a loss of 21 lives | ||||||
1887-9 | Rigging House | First major building constructed. Upper floor was a sail loft, lower floor-boat shed and
rigging house. The sail loft was used as a ballroom and function centre in the years after it was completed | ||||||
1942 | Slipways/ Air Raid Shelter | Northern Slipway later used as an stell reinforced air raid shelter. The steel plate was originally for the HMAS Sydney which was lost in battle | ||||||
1950 | Tarakan Disaster Memorial | Landing craft HMAS Tarakan petrol tanks exploded, claiming 8 lives | ||||||
1905-1948 | Detention Quarters | Navy gaol with 20 cells. Closed in 1943, demolished in 1948 | ||||||
1884-1888 | Original End of lsland | Reclaimed from Hill spoil. Original end of lsland close to north end of Rigging
House. A rocky shoal extended south where Rigging House is now situated | ||||||
1902 | Coffer Dam | Constructed to surround a basin to drain in order for the Dock to be constructed | ||||||
1996 | Church /Memorial Chapel | Balcony inside had 20 partitions for prisoners from gaol to occupy | ||||||
1885 & 1895-6 | Residences | Constructed for Supervisors on call, continued use till the 1990s | ||||||
1880 | 1st Tennis Court | Built around 1880 just south of the residences | ||||||
1884 | 2nd Tennis Court | Built around 1884 on the area south of the present fuel tank remained till c.1930 | ||||||
1788 | Rock Carvings of Initials FM,WB & IR | 3 men surveying Port Jackson landed and carved their initials | ||||||
1902 | 1st Signal Station | |||||||
1910 | 2nd Signal Station | A 72 metre mast was constructed in 1912. Shortened flag mast now located at National Maritime Museum | ||||||
1925 | 3rd Signal Station | |||||||
1917 | Oil Fuel Tank | 5,000 Ton Oil Fuel Tank planned in 1913, excavations began in 1915, continuing till 1917 when tank was constructed for the new fuel oil burning ships |
References[]
- "HMAS Kuttabul". Royal Australian Navy. Archived from the original on 2008-09-26. http://web.archive.org/web/20080926142239/http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Kuttabul. Retrieved 2008-09-04.
External links[]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to HMAS Kuttabul (naval base). |
Coordinates: 33°51′45″S 151°13′36″E / 33.8625°S 151.22667°E
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