• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Naval Historical Society of Australia

Preserving Australia's Naval History

  • Events
  • Account
  • Members Area
  • Volunteer
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Show Search
  • 0 items
Hide Search
Menu
  • Home
  • Research
    • Where to start
      • Research – We can help!
      • Self help
      • Naval Service Records
      • Library
      • Related Maritime websites
    • Resources
      • Articles
      • Videos
      • On This Day
      • Podcasts
      • Australian Military Ship Losses
      • RAN events on a  Google Earth Map
      • RAN Vessels – Where are they now?
      • Related Maritime websites
    • Other
      • Newsletters: Call The Hands
      • Occasional Papers and Historical Booklets
      • Books
      • HMAS Shropshire
      • Book reviews
    • Close
  • Naval Heritage Sites
    • World Heritage Listings
      • Cockatoo Island
    • National Heritage Listings
      • HMAS Sydney II and the HSK Kormoran Shipwreck Sites
      • HMVS Cerberus
    • Commonwealth Heritage Listings
      • Garden Island NSW
      • HMAS Watson
      • HMAS Penguin
      • Spectacle Island Explosives Complex NSW
      • Chowder Bay Naval Facilities
      • Beecroft Peninsula NSW
      • Admiralty House, Garden and Fortifications
      • HMAS Cerberus
      • Naval Offices QLD
      • Garden Island WA
      • Royal Australian Naval College ACT
      • Royal Australian Naval Transmitting Station ACT
    • NSW Heritage Listings
      • HMAS Rushcutter
    • Close
  • Naval Art
  • Tours & Cruises
    • Navy in Sydney Harbour Cruise, East
    • Navy in Sydney Harbour Cruise, West
    • Anniversary Cruise: Sydney under Japanese Attack
    • Tour Bookings
    • Close
  • About us
    • About Us
      • What we do
      • Our People
      • Office Bearers
      • Become a volunteer
      • Our Goals and Strategy
    • Organisation
      • Victoria Chapter
      • WA Chapter
      • ACT Chapter
    • Close
  • Membership
  • Shop
  • Become a volunteer
  • Donate
You are here: Home / Article topics / Publications / Naval Historical Review / HMAS CERBERUS – An Overview

HMAS CERBERUS – An Overview

A.N. Other · Apr 26, 1992 · Print This Page

Author
A.N. Other and NHSA Webmaster
Subjects
History - general
Tags
training
RAN Ships
HMAS Cerberus (Shore Establishment)
Publication
April 1992 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)

Often referred to as The Cradle of the Navy, HMAS CERBERUS is the premier training establishment of the Royal Australian Navy and has a complement of 132 Officers, 310 Senior Sailors and 460 Junior Sailors. The number of officers and Sailors under training at any one time averages 1150, giving a total population of about 2000 serving members. Of these, approximately 450 have families living locally in married quarters, rented accommodation or in their own homes, thus increasing the numbers associated with the base considerably. On average, 5000 personnel, representing nearly one third of the Navy’s total number, pass through CERBERUS’S gates each year.

Eleven Schools are located within the Establishment:

  • CommunicationsSchool
  • Dental
  • Defence Force Physical Training School
  • Gunnery School
  • Management School
  • Marine Engineering School
  • Medical School
  • Recruit  School
  • Seamanship School
  • Supply School
  • Weapons Electrical Engineering School

Together with the Gunnery Range at West Head, near Flinders, these schools comprise one of the most diverse training complexes in Australia, offering over 300 different courses varying in duration from one to sixty-three weeks.

To support the needs of the Schools, the Trainees and the Ship’s Company, HMAS CERBERUS is divided into a number of departments, with each having its own specific area of responsibility.

Crest of HMAS Cerberus
Crest of HMAS Cerberus

The Ship’s Badge

The motto is “Forever Vigilant”

According to Greek Mythology, Cerberus is the three-headed guardian of the gates of Hades.

Since the 18th century the name has been borne by various ships of the Royal Navy. The last sea-going ship of this name was guard ship in Port Phillip Bay for many years from 1871 onwards. She then became a training ship, finally paying-off in 1921 when the name ‘Cerberus’ passed to the Royal Australian Navy’s largest training establishment, situated at Western Port Bay, Victoria.

Location of HMAS Cerberus

HMAS CERBERUS is located between Stony and Sandy Points on the Mornington Peninsula. It covers an area of 1522.8 hectares and is approximately 70km south of Melbourne.

The main access route from Melbourne is the Nepean Highway to Frankston then Frankston/ Flinders Road to Bittern, then left along Stony Point Road.

Naval Historical Review, History - general training

Primary Sidebar

SUBSCRIBE

Sign up for our monthly e-newsletter.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Categories

Latest Podcasts

  • The Fall of Singapore
  • HMAS Armidale
  • Napoleon, the Royal Navy and Me
  • The Case of the Unknown Sailor
  • Night of the midget subs — Sydney under attack

Links to other podcasts

Australian Naval History Podcasts
This podcast series examines Australia’s Naval history, featuring a variety of naval history experts from the Naval Studies Group and elsewhere.
Produced by the Naval Studies Group in conjunction with the Submarine Institute of Australia, the Australian Naval Institute, Naval Historical Society and the RAN Seapower Centre

Life on the Line Podcasts
Life on the Line tracks down Australian war veterans and records their stories.
These recordings can be accessed through Apple iTunes or for Android users, Stitcher.

Video Links

  • Australian War Memorial YouTube channel
  • Royal Australian Navy YouTube Channel
  • Research – We can help!
  • Naval Heritage Sites
  • Explore Naval Art
  • Dockyard Heritage Tour
  • About us
  • Shop
  • Events
  • Members Area
  • Volunteer
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Members Area
  • Privacy Policy

Naval Historical Society of Australia Inc. Copyright © 2025