HMAS Cerberus is situtated on over 1500 hectares at Crib Point
on Westernport Bay and is Australia's largest Naval training base
HMAS Cerberus was named after a huge ironclad terret steamship
the HMVS Cerberus that acted as the guardian for Port Phillip Bay
for 50 years. Today it rests at Black Rock as a breakwater.
It was the fear of an attack from Russia and then the Japanese
via the deep waters of Western Port that has meant that a strong
military presence has always been a feature of Western Port Bay.
After many years of construction, the official opening of the Naval
Base took place in 1920. It was commissioned, as HMAS Cerberus in
1921. During World War 2 Cerberus trained 400 recruits a month and
the base grew in size to cope with these demands.
There have been many changes to HMAS CERBERUS since the war. Progressively,
many of the temporary buildings have been dismantled and replaced.
The Roman Catholic Chapel, Our Lady Star of the Sea, was opened
in 1948, followed by St. Mark's Chapel in 1954. Other additions
include the present Accommodation Blocks, the Cinema, the Senior
Sailors' Mess, Club Cerberus, the Gymnasium and Aquatic Center,
Seamanship School and Wharf, Communications School, Recruit School
and Health Center.
Although most of the Base is Restricted there are several areas
that are open and welcome to the public.
Cerberus Museum
