HMAS Castlemaine

HMAS Castlemaine

Hadn’t been here for around 10 years when I took this photo yesterday, the ship hasn’t moved an inch since i was here last. People can board the Castlemaine on weekends for a small price or during the week by appointment.

HMAS Castlemaine (J244/M244/A248), named for the city of Castlemaine in Victoria, Australia, is a Bathurst class corvette of the Royal Australian Navy.

Laid down by the Melbourne Harbour Trust at Williamstown in Victoria on 17 February 1941, launched on 7 August 1941 by the then Mrs. R. G. Menzies (wife of Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies) and commissioned at Melbourne on 17 June 1942.

Castlemaine paid off to reserve on 14 December 1945 and was immobilised at HMAS Cerberus at Crib Point in Victoria as a training hulk for Engine Room Artificers, who ran the boilers in part providing steam heating throughout the base.

In September 1973 the Minister for Defence announced that the Australian Government had made a gift of HMAS Castlemaine to the Maritime Trust of Australia to become a maritime museum. Castlemaine is presently berthed at Gem Pier, Williamstown, Victoria, adjacent to the historic Customs House.

Colour selection was done in Lightroom and HDR in Photomatix

HMAS Castlemaine belongs to the following groups:

HDR Photography, History, PixElations - The Art of Photoshop and Rusty, Crusty and Falling to Bits