Williamstown Dockyard was one of Australia's principal ship building yards at Williamstown, Victoria

Williamstown, Victoria

Williamstown is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 8 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Hobsons Bay. At the 2006 Census, Williamstown had a population of 12,733....

, 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...

.

The Colony of Victoria decided to construct a large slipway at Williamstown to provide ship repair facilities in 1856 and the Government Patent Slip was opened in 1858. Slip Pier was built in 1858 and was used in conjunction with the Government Patent Slip. The Slip Pier was later known as the Lady Loch Jetty after the similarly named Government steamer. The pier and Government Patent Slipway were demolished in 1919.

In 1858, the Colony of Victoria decided to build a graving dock and dockyard. Construction commenced in 1868, and was completed in February 1874. The Alfred Graving Dock, named after Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh

Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha was the third Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, and reigned from 1893 to 1900. He was also a member of the British Royal Family, the second son and fourth child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha...

, was built at a cost of £300,000. The graving dock was 143 metres (469.2 ft) in length, 24 metres (78.7 ft) wide, 8 metres (26.2 ft) deep. The dock was designed by William Wardell

William Wardell

William Wilkinson Wardell was a Civil Engineer and Architect, notable not only for his work in Australia, the country to which he emigrated in 1858, but also for having a successful career as a surveyor, and an ecclesiastical architect in England and Scotland before his departure.In Australia,...

 for the Public Works Department (Victoria)

Public Works Department (Victoria)

The Public Works Department was a government agency which operated in Victoria between 1855 and 1987.Over its long history, the department had various responsibilities, many of which were later devolved to other departments or authorities...

, and it was the largest structure of its type in the southern hemisphere.

The Dockyard Pier, originally known as Dock Pier was constructed in 1874 for use with vessels engaged in pre/post docking in the Alfred Graving Dock. In the 1870s, the railway department contracted for the construction of a new pier to meet increased demand imposed by wool and later grain handling. When completed in 1878, it was initially referred to as the Western Pier, but was later renamed New Railway Pier. It was rebuilt in 1915 and 1927 and was renamed Nelson Pier in 1923. The pier and surrounding land was purchased by the Commonwealth in 1967, and use of the facility declined. Demolition work began in 1979 due to its poor condition. Nelsons Pier West was constructed in 1978 to replace the nearby Nelson Pier. It provided two cranes and two berths for the refitting and outfitting of warships. Reid St Pier was constructed for the Melbourne Harbour Trust for exclusive use with its own floating plant in September 1891. It was later used to house the tug fleet, and was rebuilt in 1949.

In 1913, the dockyard was known as the State Shipbuilding Yard and was requestioned in 1918 by the Commonwealth. Ownership passed to the Melbourne Harbor Trust in 1924 and during World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 it was requestioned by the Commonwealth in 1942 and was known as HM Naval Dockyard Williamstown, or Williamstown Naval Dockyard. In 1987 it passed into private control of Tenix Defence

Tenix Defence

Tenix Defence was Australia's largest defence contractor with core capabilities in Aerospace, Land, Marine and Electronic Systems applications. BAE Systems announced its intention to acquire the company from Tenix in January 2008 and the acquisition was completed in June 2008 for A$775 million...

 and then acquired by BAE Systems Australia

BAE Systems Australia

BAE Systems Australia, a subsidiary of BAE Systems plc, is the largest defence contractor in Australia. It was formed by the merger of British Aerospace Australia and GEC-Marconi Systems and expanded by the acquisitions of Armor Holdings in 2007 and Tenix Defence in June 2008.-History:BAE Systems'...

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Vessels constructed at Williamstown Dockyard

Name	Type	Class	Completed	Notes
HMAS Anzac (D59) HMAS Anzac (D59) HMAS Anzac was a Battle class destroyer of the Royal Australian Navy . Named after the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, the destroyer was commissioned in 1951. The ship served on two tours of duty during the Korean War, and attempts to distinguish herself from British ships led to the...	Destroyer	Battle Battle class destroyer The Battle class were a class of destroyers of the British Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy . Built in three groups, the first group were ordered under the 1942 naval estimates. A modified second and third group, together with two ships of an extended design were planned for the 1943 and 1944...	1951
HMAS Anzac (FFH 150) HMAS Anzac (FFH 150) HMAS Anzac is the lead ship of the Anzac class frigates in use with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal New Zealand Navy . Entering service in 1996, the frigate operated as part of the INTERFET peacekeeping taskforce in 1999. In 2003, she was involved in the Battle of Al Faw, and became the...	Frigate	Anzac Anzac class frigate The Anzac class is a ship class of ten frigates; eight operated by the Royal Australian Navy and two operated by the Royal New Zealand Navy...	1996
HMAS Arunta (FFH 151) HMAS 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...	Frigate	Anzac Anzac class frigate The Anzac class is a ship class of ten frigates; eight operated by the Royal Australian Navy and two operated by the Royal New Zealand Navy...	1998
HMAS Ballarat (J184) HMAS Ballarat (J184) HMAS Ballarat , named for the city of Ballarat, Victoria, was one of 60 Bathurst class corvettes constructed during World War II and one of 20 built for the Admiralty but manned by personnel of and commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy .-Construction:Ballarat was laid down by HMA Naval...	Corvette	Bathurst Bathurst class corvette The Bathurst class corvettes were a class of general purpose vessels produced in Australia during World War II. Originally classified as minesweepers, but widely referred to as corvettes, the Bathurst class vessels fulfilled a broad anti-submarine, anti-mine, and convoy escort role.Sixty Bathurst...	1941
HMAS Ballarat (FFH 155) HMAS Ballarat (FFH 155) HMAS Ballarat is an Anzac class frigate of the Royal Australian Navy . The frigate was laid down in 2000 and commissioned into the RAN in mid-2004...	Frigate	Anzac Anzac class frigate The Anzac class is a ship class of ten frigates; eight operated by the Royal Australian Navy and two operated by the Royal New Zealand Navy...	2004
HMAS Benalla (J323)	Corvette	Bathurst Bathurst class corvette The Bathurst class corvettes were a class of general purpose vessels produced in Australia during World War II. Originally classified as minesweepers, but widely referred to as corvettes, the Bathurst class vessels fulfilled a broad anti-submarine, anti-mine, and convoy escort role.Sixty Bathurst...	1943
HMAS Castlemaine (J244) HMAS Castlemaine HMAS Castlemaine , named for the city of Castlemaine, Victoria, was one of 60 Bathurst class corvettes constructed during World War II, and one of 36 initially manned and commissioned solely by the Royal Australian Navy ....	Corvette	Bathurst Bathurst class corvette The Bathurst class corvettes were a class of general purpose vessels produced in Australia during World War II. Originally classified as minesweepers, but widely referred to as corvettes, the Bathurst class vessels fulfilled a broad anti-submarine, anti-mine, and convoy escort role.Sixty Bathurst...	1942	Preserved as museum ship in Williamstown Williamstown, Victoria Williamstown is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 8 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Hobsons Bay. At the 2006 Census, Williamstown had a population of 12,733.... , 600m from the slipway where she was constructed.
HMAS Cook (A 219) HMAS Cook HMAS Cook , named for Captain James Cook, was an oceanographic survey vessel of the Royal Australian Navy .Cook was laid down by HMA Naval Dockyard at Williamstown, Victoria on 30 September 1974, launched on 27 August 1977 and commissioned into the RAN on 30 April 1981.Cook paid off on 31 October...	Survey Vessel		1980
AV Crusader (AV2767) Australian Army ship Crusader (AV2767) Crusader was an Australian Army amphibious operations support ship of World War II. She was launched shortly before the war ended and entered service in late 1945. The Army did not need a ship with her capabilities after the war and she was sold in 1947 to the Queensland Cement and Lime Company...	Army Cargo Ship		1945
HMAS Culgoa (K408)	Frigate	Bay Bay class frigate The Bay class was a class of 26 anti-aircraft frigates built for the Royal Navy under the 1943 War Emergency Programme during World War II...	1945
HMAS Derwent (DE 49)	Destroyer Escort	River River class destroyer escort The River class was a class of six destroyer escorts operated by the Royal Australian Navy . Plans to acquire four vessels, based on the British Type 12M frigate, began in the 1950s. The first two vessels had some slight modifications to the design, while the next two underwent further changes...	1964
HMAS Echuca (J252) HMAS Echuca HMAS Echuca , named for the town of Echuca, Victoria, was one of 60 Bathurst class corvettes constructed during World War II, and one of 36 initially manned and commissioned solely by the Royal Australian Navy .-Construction:...	Corvette	Bathurst Bathurst class corvette The Bathurst class corvettes were a class of general purpose vessels produced in Australia during World War II. Originally classified as minesweepers, but widely referred to as corvettes, the Bathurst class vessels fulfilled a broad anti-submarine, anti-mine, and convoy escort role.Sixty Bathurst...	1942	Transfered to RNZN Royal New Zealand Navy The Royal New Zealand Navy is the maritime arm of the New Zealand Defence Force...  on 5 March 1952, and served as HMNZS Echuca.
HMAS Flinders (A 312) HMAS Flinders HMAS Flinders , named for Matthew Flinders , was a hydrographic survey ship of the Royal Australian Navy .Flinders was laid down by HMA Naval Dockyard at Williamstown, Victoria on 11 June 1971. She was launched on 29 July 1972 and commissioned into the RAN on 27 April 1973.Flinders was...	Survey Vessel		1973
HMAS Geelong (J201) HMAS Geelong (J201) HMAS Geelong , named for the city of Geelong, Victoria, was one of 60 Bathurst class corvettes constructed during World War II, and one of 36 initially manned and commissioned solely by the Royal Australian Navy ....	Corvette	Bathurst Bathurst class corvette The Bathurst class corvettes were a class of general purpose vessels produced in Australia during World War II. Originally classified as minesweepers, but widely referred to as corvettes, the Bathurst class vessels fulfilled a broad anti-submarine, anti-mine, and convoy escort role.Sixty Bathurst...	1942	Sank on 18 October 1944, after colliding with a tanker north of New Guinea. No lives were lost.
HMAS Horsham (J235) HMAS Horsham HMAS Horsham , named for the city of Horsham, Victoria, was one of 60 Bathurst class corvettes constructed during World War II, and one of 36 initially manned and commissioned solely by the Royal Australian Navy .-Construction:...	Corvette	Bathurst Bathurst class corvette The Bathurst class corvettes were a class of general purpose vessels produced in Australia during World War II. Originally classified as minesweepers, but widely referred to as corvettes, the Bathurst class vessels fulfilled a broad anti-submarine, anti-mine, and convoy escort role.Sixty Bathurst...	1942
HMAS Kooronga HMAS Kooronga HMAS Kooronga was a 60-ton tug boat and training ship operated by the Royal Australian Navy . She was constructed at the Williamstown Dockyard, Victoria in 1917. Kooronga was commissioned on 6 June 1924 and named Cerberus II as a tender at the Flinders Naval Depot. The vessel was later renamed HMAS...	Tug		1924
HMAS Melbourne (FFG 05) HMAS Melbourne (FFG 05) HMAS Melbourne is an Adelaide class guided-missile frigate of the Royal Australian Navy . Originally ordered as HMAS Torrens, the ship was renamed during construction, and entered service in 1992. Melbourne has been deployed to the Persian Gulf on several occasions, and served as part of the...	Frigate	Adelaide Adelaide class frigate The Adelaide class is a ship class of six guided missile frigates constructed in Australia and the United States of America for service in the Royal Australian Navy. The class is based on the United States Navy's Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates, but modified for Australian requirements...	1992
HMAS Newcastle (FFG 06) HMAS Newcastle (FFG 06) HMAS Newcastle , named for the city of Newcastle, New South Wales, the largest provincial city in Australia, is an Adelaide class guided-missile frigate of the Royal Australian Navy . The last ship of the class to be constructed, Newcastle entered service in 1993...	Frigate	Adelaide Adelaide class frigate The Adelaide class is a ship class of six guided missile frigates constructed in Australia and the United States of America for service in the Royal Australian Navy. The class is based on the United States Navy's Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates, but modified for Australian requirements...	1994
HMNZS Otago (P148) HMNZS Otago (P148) HMNZS Otago is a Protector class off-shore patrol vessel in service with the Royal New Zealand Navy.The ship was built by Tenix as part of the New Zealand government's Royal New Zealand Navy plans, and was expected to enter service in late 2008. She was launched in Williamstown, Victoria on 18...	Offshore Patrol Vessel	Protector Protector class OPV The Protector-class offshore patrol vessel is a ship class of two offshore patrol vessel operated by the Royal New Zealand Navy since 2010. The ships are named and .-Key dates:...	2010
HMAS Parramatta (FFH 154) HMAS Parramatta (FFH 154) HMAS Parramatta 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...	Frigate	Anzac Anzac class frigate The Anzac class is a ship class of ten frigates; eight operated by the Royal Australian Navy and two operated by the Royal New Zealand Navy...	2003
HMAS Perth (FFH 157) HMAS 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...	Frigate	Anzac Anzac class frigate The Anzac class is a ship class of ten frigates; eight operated by the Royal Australian Navy and two operated by the Royal New Zealand Navy...	2006
HMAS Shepparton (J248)	Corvette	Bathurst Bathurst class corvette The Bathurst class corvettes were a class of general purpose vessels produced in Australia during World War II. Originally classified as minesweepers, but widely referred to as corvettes, the Bathurst class vessels fulfilled a broad anti-submarine, anti-mine, and convoy escort role.Sixty Bathurst...	1943
HMAS Stawell (J348) HMAS Stawell HMAS Stawell was a Bathurst class corvette named for the town of Stawell, Victoria. Sixty Bathurst class corvettes were constructed during World War II, and Stawell was one of 36 initially manned and commissioned solely by the Royal Australian Navy .The corvette later served in the Royal New...	Corvette	Bathurst Bathurst class corvette The Bathurst class corvettes were a class of general purpose vessels produced in Australia during World War II. Originally classified as minesweepers, but widely referred to as corvettes, the Bathurst class vessels fulfilled a broad anti-submarine, anti-mine, and convoy escort role.Sixty Bathurst...	1943	Transfered to RNZN Royal New Zealand Navy The Royal New Zealand Navy is the maritime arm of the New Zealand Defence Force...  on 5 March 1952, and served as HMNZS Stawell.
HMAS Stuart (FFH 153) HMAS 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:...	Frigate	Anzac Anzac class frigate The Anzac class is a ship class of ten frigates; eight operated by the Royal Australian Navy and two operated by the Royal New Zealand Navy...	2002
HMAS Swan (DE 50)	Destroyer Escort	River River class destroyer escort The River class was a class of six destroyer escorts operated by the Royal Australian Navy . Plans to acquire four vessels, based on the British Type 12M frigate, began in the 1950s. The first two vessels had some slight modifications to the design, while the next two underwent further changes...	1970
TRV Tailor (803) TRV Tailor (803) TRV Tailor was a Torpedo Recovery Vessel operated by the Royal Australian Navy until 1988. She was constructed by the Williamstown Dockyard. Designated as TRV 255, she was renamed TRV 803 Tailor on 6 November 1982...	Torpedo Recovery Vessel		1971
HMNZS Te Kaha (F77) HMNZS Te Kaha (F77) HMNZS Te Kaha is one of ten Anzac class frigates, and one of two serving in the Royal New Zealand Navy . The name Te Kaha is Māori, meaning 'fighting prowess' or 'strength' ....	Frigate	Anzac Anzac class frigate The Anzac class is a ship class of ten frigates; eight operated by the Royal Australian Navy and two operated by the Royal New Zealand Navy...	1997
HMNZS Te Mana (F111) HMNZS Te Mana (F111) HMNZS Te Mana is one of ten Anzac class frigates and one of two serving in the Royal New Zealand Navy. The name Te Mana is Māori, approximately translating as 'status' or 'authority' ....	Frigate	Anzac Anzac class frigate The Anzac class is a ship class of ten frigates; eight operated by the Royal Australian Navy and two operated by the Royal New Zealand Navy...	1999
HMAS Toowoomba (FFH 156) HMAS 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....	Frigate	Anzac Anzac class frigate The Anzac class is a ship class of ten frigates; eight operated by the Royal Australian Navy and two operated by the Royal New Zealand Navy...	2005
TRV Trevally (802) TRV Trevally (802) TRV Trevally was a Torpedo Recovery Vessel operated by the Royal Australian Navy until 1988. She was constructed by the Williamstown Dockyard. Designated as TRV 254, she was renamed Trevally and designated TRV 802 on 6 November 1982...	Torpedo Recovery Vessel		1971
TRV Tuna (801) TRV Tuna (801) TRV Tuna was a Torpedo Recovery Vessel operated by the Royal Australian Navy until 1988. She was constructed by the Williamstown Dockyard. Designated as TRV 253, she was renamed Tuna and designated TRV 801 on 6 November 1982...	Torpedo Recovery Vessel		1971
HMAS Vendetta (D08) HMAS Vendetta (D08) HMAS Vendetta was one of three Daring class destroyers built for and operated by the Royal Australian Navy . The destroyer was built by Williamstown Naval Dockyard and entered service in 1958. During her early career, Vendetta was deployed to the Far East Strategic Reserve on multiple occasions...	Destroyer	Daring Daring class destroyer (1949) The Daring class was a class of eleven destroyers built for the Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy . Constructed after World War II, and entering service during the 1950s, eight ships were constructed for the RN, and three ships for the RAN. Two of the RN destroyers were subsequently sold to and...	1958
HMAS Warramunga (FFH 152) HMAS 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...	Frigate	Anzac Anzac class frigate The Anzac class is a ship class of ten frigates; eight operated by the Royal Australian Navy and two operated by the Royal New Zealand Navy...	2001
HMNZS Wellington (P55)	Offshore Patrol Vessel	Protector Protector class OPV The Protector-class offshore patrol vessel is a ship class of two offshore patrol vessel operated by the Royal New Zealand Navy since 2010. The ships are named and .-Key dates:...	2010
HMAS Yarra (DE 45)	Destroyer Escort	River River class destroyer escort The River class was a class of six destroyer escorts operated by the Royal Australian Navy . Plans to acquire four vessels, based on the British Type 12M frigate, began in the 1950s. The first two vessels had some slight modifications to the design, while the next two underwent further changes...	1961

External Links

• Alfred Graving Dock