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HOME OF THE LADY DENMAN - Local history isn't always about the big story - the everyday story of life in the early development of the region can be a fascinating, entertaining and educational journey.

17 June 2014

HMAS Creswell

185-Panoramic-view-of-Quarterdeck 

June 12th 1930 the Navy abandons HMAS Creswell
As the depression worsened it was decided the College was to costly to maintain and the operation was moved to HMAS Cererus.


image

846-Quarterdeck

creswell-2

197-Workers-and-Motorized-buggy

The first settlement at the Naval College site…The Workers and motorised buggy.

”Westward Ho”

After the Navy left the site's buildings were leased out as houses, hotels and holiday accommodation. The cadet's accommodation blocks became "Jervis Bay Guest House" and "Westward Ho", the wardroom became "College House Hotel", the hospital "Naval Lodge Hospital" and the Captain's Residence "Canberra House".


593-Swimming-Pool-Creswell

Guests seen here using the facilities at Creswell for holidays.

1945 Australia became involved in World War Two, Jervis Bay plays a vital role in the war effort.
World War Two saw extensive use of Jervis Bay by the Navy, Air Force and the Army. This included a RAAF rehabilitation unit that was established on the eastern side of the Quarterdeck. From 1944-46 the facility treated injured airmen and ex-prisoners of war.
In the early 1950s overcrowding and the less favourable location of HMAS Cerberus prompted a Navy decision to return the College to Jervis Bay.
In its absence many of the site's original problems had been fixed, including connection to the electricity grid, and increased infrastructure in the area due to a growth in tourism. Some local residents resisted the Navy's return.

Re-opened
The College was re-opened in 1958 and commissioned HMAS Creswell, in honour of William Rooke Creswell, whose lobbying had helped to create the RAN.


P00444.162Vice Admiral Sir W R Creswell (1852 – 1933)

was a very important leader in the establishment of Australia’s own Navy as a separate entity to the Royal Navy.  After a distinguished career with the Royal Navy, Creswell retired in 1875 and came to live in Australia. In 1885 he was encouraged to join the Colonial Navy in South Australia as second in command of the Cruiser HMCS Protector before later moving to the Queensland Naval forces and then to Melbourne.








REF:
http://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/people/military/display/95516-vice-admiral-sir-william-rooke-creswell

http://www.environment.gov.au
https://www.navy.gov.au/establishments/hmas-creswell

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