HMAS Kuttabul is the name given to the administrative, training and logistics support centre of the Royal Australian Navy's Fleet Base East, the main naval base on the east coast of Australia at Garden Island in Sydney. The facility, situated south of Garden Island in the suburb of Potts Point, is named for the steam ferry HMAS Kuttabul that was sunk while docked at Garden Island during the Japanese midget submarine attack on Sydney Harbour in 1942.

History

Garden Island itself has been host to a naval base since 1856, when the government of New South Wales suggested giving the area over to the Royal Navy as a base for ships serving on the Australia Station. Following the foundation of the Royal Australian Navy in 1911, all naval establishments were given over by the UK to the RAN. However, until 1939, the ownership of Garden Island itself was in dispute, with NSW claiming it as its property. This was solved when the Australian government initially requisitioned the island (together with the naval base) under emergency wartime powers. The government then purchased Garden Island from NSW for £638,000 in 1945.

The Garden Island facility houses the Captain Cook Graving Dock, the largest graving dock in the Southern Hemisphere. The dock was constructed between 1940 and 1945, by filling in the area between Garden Island and Potts Point. The dock and associated dockyard are operated under lease by Australian Defence Industries Limited. The northern tip of Garden Island is as of 2008 open to the public, accessible only by ferry. The area features the Navy Heritage Centre, opened in 2004, and graffiti dating to the First Fleet in 1788.

From its foundation until the establishment of the Two Ocean Policy and commissioning of HMAS Stirling in 1978, Kuttabul was the RAN's main naval base. With the establishment of two main bases, Kuttabul and Garden Island took on the additional designation of Fleet Base East.

Ships Stationed

Although Kuttabul is the main administrative part of Fleet Base East, Fleet Base East is also responsible for the Mine Counter Measures forces of the RAN stationed on the east coast. These are based at HMAS Waterhen.

Anzac Class Frigate

• HMAS Stuart
• HMAS Parramatta
• HMAS Ballarat

Adelaide Class Frigate

• HMAS Sydney
• HMAS Darwin
• HMAS Melbourne
• HMAS Newcastle

Huon Class Minehunters

• HMAS Huon
• HMAS Hawkesbury
• HMAS Norman
• HMAS Gascoyne
• HMAS Diamantina
• HMAS Yarra

Amphibious

• HMAS Tobruk
• HMAS Kanimbla
• HMAS Manoora

Replenishment

• HMAS Success

References