The Cape Don is a lighthouse tender now under restoration in Sydney Harbour by volunteers. The radio room is being restored to its original configuration and is activated for ham use from time to time, especially during the International Lighthouse Weekend. Much more information about her can be found on her web site.
Although the Young Endeavour does not carry a full time ham operator, whenever one is aboard, the ship is treated as an honorary ANARS member. You may be lucky enough to hear her on one of our nets on such occasions. She is also a radio relay vessel for the Sydney to Hobard race. The picture was taken by Kevin, VK2CE, on a visit to her in January 1999.
HMAS Vampire, a Daring class destroyer of the 1950s period, is preserved at the National Maritime Museum in Sydney.The ship had a major rebuild in the 1970s and was de-commissioned in the 1980s. The picture shows the ship as she is in 1998. The radio station on board is operated at weekends by members of RNARS. Some information about her can be found on National Maritime Museum web site.
HMAS Diamantina is a British designed River class frigate, built in Australia in 1943 together with 7 sister ships. She served in the Pacific in WWII and after being in reserve was converted to a survey ship in 1959. She was decommissioned in 1980 and was transferred to the Queensland Maritime Museum in Brisbane, where she lies in the old drydock. Click to visit her web site. She is believed to be on air on Wednesdays and Saturdays on 7 and 14 mhz at 0100 and 0600Z. (Photo Grant VK4JAZ).
HMAS Castlemaine is a WWII minesweeper and escort vessel and was commissioned in 1942. She served around the Australian coast and the Pacific area. After the war she served as a training ship for ERAs in Victoria before becoming a museum ship in 1973. Click to visit her web site.
You may be lucky enough to work Richard, VK2XRC, while he is out sailing. He is based in Sydney but cruises out to sea from time to time. He is a fan of 6 metres so give him a call on 52.525 mhz at weekends. He has worked VK7 on this band maritime mobile from the Sydney area. You may also catch him on 2 metres or H/F.