HMAS Stirling
Encyclopedia
HMAS Stirling is the Royal Australian Navy
's primary base on the west coast (Fleet Base West) of Australia
. It is located on Garden Island
in the state of Western Australia
, near the city of Perth
. Garden Island also has its own airport on the island .
, Royal Navy
(28 January 1791–23 April 1865), a British marine officer and colonial administrator who landed on Garden Island, Western Australia in 1827 and returned as commander of the barque Parmelia
in June 1829 to establish and administer the Swan River Colony
in Western Australia
. He was the first Governor of Western Australia (1828–38) and on his own initiative signed Britain's first limited treaty with Japan in 1854.
The planning of Stirling began in 1969 when, after it was decided to create the Two-Ocean Policy, a feasibility study into the use of Garden Island as a naval base was begun. The 4.3 kilometres (2.7 mi) causeway linking the island with the mainland was completed in June 1973. Construction of the wharves and workshops began in early 1973 and accommodation in 1975 with the facility, including the new Fleet Base West, being formally commissioned on 28 July 1978.
The first major unit to call Fleet Base West home was HMAS Stuart, having first been assigned to Stirling in 1984 for several years and, after refitting in the east, again in 1988 until decommissioning in 1991.
Stirling has expanded enormously within its existing boundaries and has seen building such as the Submarine Escape Training Facility – one of only six in the world and the only one in the Southern Hemisphere
. Stirling is home to all six of the Collins class
submarines operated by the Royal Australian Navy Submarine Service
.
Anzac Class Frigate
Collins Class Submarine
Replenishment
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
's primary base on the west coast (Fleet Base West) of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It is located on Garden Island
Garden Island (Western Australia)
Garden Island is a slender island about ten kilometres long and one and a half kilometres wide, lying about off the Western Australian coast, to which it is now linked by a man-made causeway....
in the state of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, near the city of Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
. Garden Island also has its own airport on the island .
History
The name HMAS Stirling honours Admiral Sir James StirlingJames Stirling (Australian governor)
Admiral Sir James Stirling RN was a British naval officer and colonial administrator. His enthusiasm and persistence persuaded the British Government to establish the Swan River Colony and he became the first Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Western Australia...
, Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
(28 January 1791–23 April 1865), a British marine officer and colonial administrator who landed on Garden Island, Western Australia in 1827 and returned as commander of the barque Parmelia
Parmelia (barque)
The Parmelia was a barque that was used to transport the first civilian officials and settlers of the Swan River Colony to Western Australia in 1829....
in June 1829 to establish and administer the Swan River Colony
Swan River Colony
The Swan River Colony was a British settlement established in 1829 on the Swan River, in Western Australia. The name was a pars pro toto for Western Australia. In 1832, the colony was officially renamed Western Australia, when the colony's founding Lieutenant-Governor, Captain James Stirling,...
in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. He was the first Governor of Western Australia (1828–38) and on his own initiative signed Britain's first limited treaty with Japan in 1854.
The planning of Stirling began in 1969 when, after it was decided to create the Two-Ocean Policy, a feasibility study into the use of Garden Island as a naval base was begun. The 4.3 kilometres (2.7 mi) causeway linking the island with the mainland was completed in June 1973. Construction of the wharves and workshops began in early 1973 and accommodation in 1975 with the facility, including the new Fleet Base West, being formally commissioned on 28 July 1978.
The first major unit to call Fleet Base West home was HMAS Stuart, having first been assigned to Stirling in 1984 for several years and, after refitting in the east, again in 1988 until decommissioning in 1991.
Stirling has expanded enormously within its existing boundaries and has seen building such as the Submarine Escape Training Facility – one of only six in the world and the only one in the Southern Hemisphere
Southern Hemisphere
The Southern Hemisphere is the part of Earth that lies south of the equator. The word hemisphere literally means 'half ball' or "half sphere"...
. Stirling is home to all six of the Collins class
Collins class submarine
The Collins class is a class of six Australian-built diesel-electric submarines operated by the Royal Australian Navy . The Collins class takes its name from Australian Vice Admiral John Augustine Collins; all six submarines are named after significant RAN personnel who distinguished themselves in...
submarines operated by the Royal Australian Navy Submarine Service
Royal Australian Navy Submarine Service
The Royal Australian Navy Submarine Service is the collective name of the submarine element of the Royal Australian Navy. The service currently forms the Navy's Submarine Force Element Group and consists of six Collins class submarines....
.
Garden Island
Garden Island is 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) in length, 1.5 kilometre (0.93205910497471 mi) wide, and is 13 square kilometres (5 sq mi) in area, with Stirling occupying approximately 28% of that area. The remaining portion of the Island is nature reserve, the navy has been active in the removal of introduced flora and fauna species. The island has its own quarantine conditions, which prohibit bringing of plants and animals to the island.Ship Stationed
- HMAS AruntaHMAS Arunta (FFH 151)HMAS Arunta is an Anzac class frigate of the Royal Australian Navy . The ship, named for the Arrernte people, was laid down in 1995 and commissioned in 1998...
- HMAS WarramungaHMAS Warramunga (FFH 152)HMAS Warramunga is an Anzac class frigate of the Royal Australian Navy .-Design and construction:The Anzac class originated from RAN plans to replace the six River class destroyer escorts with a mid-capability patrol frigate...
- HMAS StuartHMAS Stuart (FFH 153)HMAS Stuart is an Anzac class frigate of the Royal Australian Navy . She was built at Williamstown in Victoria, and commissioned into the RAN in 2002. The frigate is operational as of 2011.-Design and construction:...
- HMAS ToowoombaHMAS Toowoomba (FFH 156)HMAS Toowoomba is the seventh Anzac class frigate of the Royal Australian Navy . She was laid down in 2002 by Tenix Defence Systems and commissioned in 2005....
- HMAS PerthHMAS Perth (FFH 157)HMAS Perth is an Anzac class frigate of the Royal Australian Navy . The last of the class to be completed, she was built by Tenix Defence Systems and commissioned into the RAN in 2006. In 2007, Perth became the first major warship of the RAN to be commanded by a woman...
Collins Class Submarine
- HMAS CollinsHMAS Collins (SSG 73)HMAS Collins is the lead vessel of the six-submarine Collins class operated by the Royal Australian Navy .Named for Vice Admiral Sir John Augustine Collins, Collins was laid down in February 1990, and was the only submarine of the class to be partially constructed by Kockums' Malmo shipyard...
- HMAS FarncombHMAS Farncomb (SSG 74)HMAS Farncomb is the second of six Collins class submarines operated by the Royal Australian Navy .Named for Rear Admiral Harold Farncomb, the submarine was laid down in 1993 and launched in December 1995—the first submarine to be completely constructed in Australia.A combination of factors led to...
- HMAS WallerHMAS Waller (SSG 75)HMAS Waller is the third of six Collins class submarines operated by the Royal Australian Navy .Named for Captain Hector Waller, the boat was laid down in 1992, and launched in 1997...
- HMAS DechaineuxHMAS Dechaineux (SSG 76)HMAS Dechaineux is the fourth of six Collins class submarines operated by the Royal Australian Navy .Named for Captain Emile Dechaineux, the boat was laid down in 1993 and launched in 1998...
- HMAS SheeanHMAS Sheean (SSG 77)HMAS Sheean is the fifth of six Collins class submarines operated by the Royal Australian Navy .Named for Ordinary Seaman Edward Sheean—the only submarine of the class to be named for an enlisted sailor—the boat was laid down in 1994 and launched in 1999...
- HMAS RankinHMAS Rankin (SSG 78)HMAS Rankin is the sixth and final submarine of the Collins class, which are operated by the Royal Australian Navy . Named for Lieutenant Commander Robert William Rankin, the boat was laid down in 1995, and commissioned into the RAN in March 2003, following major delays.Early in her career, Rankin...
Replenishment
- HMAS SiriusHMAS SiriusHMAS Sirius is a commercial tanker purchased by the Royal Australian Navy and converted into a fleet replenishment vessel to replace . Launched in South Korea on 2004, and converted in Western Australia, Sirius was commissioned in 2006; three years before a purpose-built vessel would have, and at...