Hydrographic ships based in HMAS Cairns: The Fleet’s in port
This painting of vessels alongside the HMAS Cairns naval base features in the background, two larger vessels HMA Ships Leeuwin and Melville and in the middle, on the near side of the jetty, three of the RAN’s four Paluma-class motor launches. The four motor launches were named, Paluma, Mermaid, Shepparton and Benalla.
- About Don Braben
Don Braben is a Fellow, Foundation Member and a Vice President of the Australian Society of Marine Artists and has participated in all the exhibitions of the society. Don’s work has been exhibited solo at galleries in Australia, UK, Japan, France and New Caledonia. Group exhibitions include International Marine Art, at Mystic Seaport and RSMA UK.
After an art teaching career in several countries and on retirement from lecturing in art education at Griffith University, Don concentrated on marine subject matter. Some inspirational voyages were made as artist in residence aboard the CSIRO Research Vessel Franklin, the RAN Hydrographic Service HMAS Leeuwin and the Cape Grafton of AMSA which produced works for solo and group exhibitions featuring the ships and the crews at work. at galleries in Hobart, Wollongong and Brisbane.
Don’s paintings in watercolour and oils are in a number of government, commercial and private collections in many countries, many of which have been specially commissioned; other works include prints, book covers and illustrations.
- About Hydrographic Ships
HMAS Leeuwin and and her sister ship HMAS Melville replaced HMA Ships Moresby (II) and Flinders in 2000. Both ships took their names from prominent points on the Australian coast. Leeuwin was named after Cape Leeuwin, on the south western tip of Western Australia. Both ships were commissioned on 27 May 2000. Melville decommissioned on 8 August 2024.
The four Paluma-class hydrographic survey catamaran motor launches were decommissioned in pairs in September 2021 and June 2023.
More reading
- Additional resources for Don Braben
- Additional resources for Hydrographic Ships