HMAS Townsville

Background

HMAS Townsville is one of 15 Fremantle Class Patrol Boats (FCPBs) built and operated exclusively by the Royal Australian Navy.

Named after the city of Townsville, often visiting the port and occasionally crewed by RAN members originating from Townsville, the vessel holds special memorial, spiritual and social significance.

The vessel was commissioned in July 1981 and decommissioned in Cairns in 2007 before being gifted to the Townsville Maritime Museum by the Commonwealth Department of Defence. She is owned by the museum. 

The vessel’s hull was refurbished in Cairns during 2015 and 2016 before being relocated to Townsville where it was moored at the Townsville Marine Precinct (TMP).

Public Display

Port of Townsville partnered with the Maritime Museum of Townsville to relocate the vessel to a disused slipway on Ross Creek where she was put on permanent public display from July 2025.

The vessel enhances the Museum’s existing HMAS Townsville display, with an exhibit inside the Palmer Street museum detailing her rich history.

Future Works

The HMAS Townsville relocation is part of the Port’s commitment to enhance the amenity of the Ross Creek waterfront and improve public access from Lighthouse Park on Palmer Street through to Quayside Terminal.

Following the relocation, footpath upgrades will be undertaken to improve connectivity between Quayside Terminal and Palmer Street – and a viewing platform will be installed adjacent to HMAS Townsville

Illustration concept only, subject to change.