Warship HMAS Anzac to host open day in ceremonial home port of Albany for Maritime Festival

Albany residents will have the rare chance to go inside an operational warship at the weekend when the crew of HMAS Anzac holds an open day in Albany — its ceremonial home port — as part of the Maritime Festival.

HMAS Anzac will arrive in Albany on Friday with about 170 crew members, ahead of an open day for the community on Sunday.

Royal Australian Navy Commander David McPherson said visitors would be able to explore the Anzac Class frigate, including operational and accommodation areas.

“We are trying to give a unique insight into what naval life is like, and an opportunity which may not come very often for people to visit an operationally available and ready warship,” he said.

HMAS Anzac has recently completed a major maintenance cycle at Fleet Base West in Rockingham, after it spent much of 2021 deployed throughout South-East Asia.

Many of HMAS Anzac’s crew members commemorated Anzac Day in Albany earlier this year, although the ship could not come with them.

However, Cdr McPherson said Albany would be the first port visit for about 40 of the ship’s crew — a special occasion due to Albany’s history as the departure point for Anzac soldiers during World War I.

“(Albany) is the home of the Anzacs, and we are proud to be on HMAS Anzac,” Cdr McPherson said.

“Albany is our ceremonial home port, so we are utilising this opportunity with the allowance of our program to come and bring the ship back to its ceremonial home port for a visit, which is the first time in over five years.”

After its trip to Albany, HMAS Anzac will return to Fleet Base West where it will undergo external evaluation, before it is redeployed in October.

City of Albany Mayor Dennis Wellington said welcoming the ship to Albany would be an honour.

“The City’s Maritime Festival is about celebrating everything maritime in Albany which includes our naval forces,” he said.

“Few of us have experienced what it is like to be inside a navy warship or understand the life of a navy crew member, so this is a fantastic opportunity to get a valuable insight.”

HMAS Anzac will be open to the public from 1pm to 4pm on Sunday, with children welcome on board.

Access will be limited to shuttle bus transfers, scheduled to run from Albany Boatshed to HMAS Anzac every 15 minutes from 12.40pm, with the last bus leaving at 3.35pm.

Bookings are essential — Visit bit.ly/3cmsXFq.