About Us

HMAS Castlemaine is one of the sixty Australian-built Bathurst Class corvettes to serve throughout World War II, and is the last such vessel still afloat, having been restored by volunteers over four decades. She was built by the Melbourne Harbour Trust at Williamstown Naval Dockyard and launched in 1941 by Mrs R G Menzies, wife of the Prime Minister and celebrated the 70th anniversary of commissioning in 2012. Now berthed at Gem Pier in the heart of Williamstown's historic Nelson Place precinct, HMAS Castlemaine is open to the public on weekends, public holidays and by arrangement. Visitors can visit all parts of the ship and see how crews lived and worked during the war years, witness the original main engines turning over and view a wide range of artefacts documenting Australian maritime history. A visit to the ship is an interactive hands on experience for all the family. Normal open times Saturday and Sunday, and public holidays, 11:00am until 4:00pm.