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.
- Fate
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.