Royal Australian Navy CorvettesPrint Page

Royal Australian Navy Corvettes Association
This plaque is dedicated to commemorate the memory of the gallant men who served in the 56 Bathurst Class Corvettes during World War II 1939-1945.    The corvettes were the workhorses of the Royal Australian Navy and served in all theatres of war - convoy escorts, submarine surveillance, mine sweepers, survey and assualt ships.  They operated in the Mediterranean, Middle East, Philippines, Atlantic, Indian & Pacific Oceans, China Seas, Japan as well as in Australian waters.

They evolved because of a dire need for a quickly constructed ship and were Australian made at local shipyards and engineering plants.  They were named after the fifty-six regional cities and towns of Australia which helped finance them through wartime community fund raising by the town folk.  An outstanding phase and never to be forgotten chapter in the history of the Royal Australian Navy.

Lest We Forget.

Ararat  Armidale  Ballarat  Benalla  Bendigo  Bowen  Broome  Bunbury  Bundaberg  Burnie  Cairns  Castlemaine  Cessnock  Colac  Cootamundra Cowra  Deloraine  Dubbo  Echuca  Fremantle  Gawler  Geelong  Geraldton  Gladstone Glenelg  Goulburn  Gympie  Horsham  Inverell  Ipswich  Junee  Kalgoorlie  Kapunda  Katoomba  Kiama  Latrobe Launceston  Lismore  Lithgow  Maryborough  Mildura  Parkes  Pirie  Rockhampton  Shepparton  Stawell  Tamworth Toowoomba  Townsville  Wagga  Wallaroo  Warrnambool  Wyalla (sic)  Wollongong

In excess of 10,000 crew members served in the corvettes throughout the war.

Length: 186 feet  Width: 31 feet  Weight: 768 tons  Ships crew : 90

Ken Stevenson
President 
Royal Australian Navy
Corvettes Association Inc.

Wording by
Charles Hook 
Royal Australian Navy
Corvettes Association Inc.

Unveiled on 9 November 2001