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H.M.A.S. AssaultPrint Page 
The plaque commemorates the location of H.M.A.S. Assault which was a naval base in World War Two for training of boat crews, beach parties, and commandos to man assault landing craft used in the Pacific campaigns in World War Two.
It also served as a migrant camp after World War Two until 1956.
Approval was granted by the Australian War Cabinet to establish “HMAS Assault”, an RAN Naval Training Centre, in the Port Stephens area of New South Wales. The site was chosen after an aerial inspection in June 1942 because it was a safe haven from the Japanese Submarine activity occurring off the east coast of Australia and because the locality was mostly a small isolated fishing village.
The Allied Works Council erected numerous buildings including the Sick Bay, which now houses the Port Stephens Community Arts Centre at Shoal Bay Road, Nelson Bay near Port Stephens. The Naval Training Center at "HMAS Assault" was used to train landing craft crews, beach parties and signal teams.
"HMAS Assault" was scaled back to care and maintenance activities only from August 1944 until the British Pacific Fleet occupied "HMAS Assault" from April 1945. The site then became a Royal Marine Commando Depot. In June 1945 the current day Arts Centre building (Sick Centre) was turned into a small hospital ward of about 10 beds.
In 1949 it was announced that the Commonwealth Employment Service would take over the old Naval Depot to house European migrant workers. The initial intake of 49 migrants helped to set up the new migrant hostel. The Nissen huts were subdivided into six rooms and the other buildings were used to house larger families. The ex Sick Bay (Arts Centre) building was reopened as a hospital at the migrant hostel and the first baby was born there in December 1949. The migrant hostel was closed in mid 1953.
Location
| Address: | Victoria Parade, Nelson Bay, 2315 |
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| State: | NSW |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -32.714263 Long: 152.156733 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Plaque |
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| Monument Theme: | Conflict |
| Sub-Theme: | WW2 |
| Monument Manufacturer: | Phoenix Foundry |
Dedication
| Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Sunday 19th September, 1999 |
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Remembrance
This plaque commemorates the location of HMAS Assault
A World War II Naval Base which became in peace time, a sanctuary for refugees from war-torn Europe 1949 - 1956 thus enriching the lives of all Australians
Advance Australia Fair
Erected by the Port Stephens Historical Society Inc
19 September 1999
Phoenix Foundry
