HMAS Otama and the Western Port Oberon Association

Learn the history of HMAS Otama, the Western Port Oberon Association, and how their submarine project shaped the Victorian Maritime Centre.

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HMAS Otama was the last of Australia’s six Oberon-class submarines and remained in service until December 2000. For the Western Port Oberon Association, the submarine became the centre of a much bigger effort to preserve naval and maritime heritage in Victoria.

This article explains how the Otama project began, how the Association pursued the submarine, and how that campaign helped shape the Victorian Maritime Centre at Crib Point.

Key Takeaways: HMAS Otama and the Western Port Oberon Association

• HMAS Otama was the last of Australia’s six Oberon-class submarines and was decommissioned in December 2000.
• The Western Port Oberon Association formed in 1999 to acquire Otama and build a maritime Museum in the region.
• A $500,000 Centenary of Federation grant funded the submarine’s purchase and its 13-day tow to Western Port Bay.
• Planning setbacks prevented the submarine from being placed on permanent public display as originally intended.
• The Victorian Maritime Centre continues the heritage mission that grew from the Otama project.

What Was HMAS Otama and Why Was It Historically Significant?

HMAS Otama was the sixth and final Oberon-class submarine to enter Royal Australian Navy service. The Oberon boats were known for quiet operation, reliability, and their role in Cold War surveillance, and HMAS Otama was the last of the class to be withdrawn from service in December 2000.

That status gave Otama a special place in Australia’s naval story. For heritage supporters in Victoria, preserving the final Australian Oberon in service meant preserving a direct link to an important chapter of Royal Australian Navy history.

Why Did HMAS Otama Capture Public Interest?

HMAS Otama captured public interest because submarines already held a strong place in Australia’s naval memory, and Otama represented the final chapter of the nation’s Oberon-class service. Once she was decommissioned, the idea of opening a complete submarine to the public carried obvious historical appeal.

WPOA also pointed to the success of other public submarine displays in Australia when making the case for Otama. That helped frame the project as both a heritage opportunity and a serious regional tourism draw.

How Did the Western Port Oberon Association Begin?

The story begins in late 1998 with Max Bryant, a fourth-generation local from the Western Port region who cared deeply about his community’s future. Bryant saw young people struggling to find employment in the area and recognised the need for a project that would generate funds, create training opportunities, and honour the district’s strong seafaring connections all at once.

Bryant took his proposal to local Federal Member for Flinders, Peter Reith, who immediately saw its potential. On Reith’s suggestion, Bryant rallied a group who shared his vision, and in 1999 the Western Port Oberon Association was formally born.

Under the Association’s rules, every asset belongs collectively to its members. That commitment to community ownership endures to this day.

How Did the Association Grow?

Memberships grew steadily through full, concession, and affiliate categories, and at its peak WPOA counted over 500 members. These dedicated supporters helped the Association set up a small maritime Museum in the former Mitre 10 building on Marine Parade in Hastings, building real community momentum behind the submarine project.

A landmark moment arrived on 17 October 2003 when HRH The Princess Royal visited Hastings as a guest of the Association. Princess Anne had formally sponsored HMAS Otama and commissioned the submarine into the RAN in 1978. She agreed to continue her association by becoming the patron of the project.

How Did HMAS Otama Reach Western Port?

How Was the Bid Won?

When the Royal Australian Navy began disposing of its ageing Oberon-class fleet, Max Bryant contacted the Navy Disposal Department and submitted a detailed proposal. Dr Brendan Nelson, Parliamentary Secretary for the Minister of Defence, later stated he had never seen such a quality submission in all his years in politics.

Out of numerous bids, the decision came down to the City of Geelong and WPOA. The Western Port bid was successful.

Bryant also secured a $500,000 grant under the Centenary of Federation program. That funding covered the $55,000 purchase price, the $306,000 towage fee from HMAS Stirling in Western Australia, $40,000 for EPA-required tank cleaning, and $96,000 for insurance. By the time Otama arrived in Western Port, the initial funding was almost entirely spent.

What Happened During the Tow and Arrival?

On 30 April 2002, the ocean tug Southern Salvor delivered HMAS Otama to Western Port Bay after a 13-day tow from HMAS Stirling. The journey across southern Australia was not without drama. Passing through the Great Australian Bight, the submarine launched itself off the tops of waves as heavy swells tested the tow.

For the Association and the local community, that safe arrival was an emotional milestone worth celebrating. Otama was moored in Western Port while WPOA worked tirelessly to secure a permanent land-based site for the display.

Why Did the Submarine Project Face So Many Challenges?

What Delayed the Public Display?

The original plan placed Otama on the Hastings foreshore. However, after approximately three years of planning, the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) reversed its earlier support and declared that the project did not fit the state’s criteria for the Safe Boating Precinct under the Coastal Management Plan Act.

WPOA was then directed toward two alternative sites at Crib Point and Stony Point. The Mornington Peninsula Shire Council advised the Association to pursue the Crib Point option, but that proposal also stalled when a competing application for a bitumen storage facility reduced the available footprint. The third option at Stony Point went unanswered by DSE for an extended period.

How Did Those Setbacks Shape the Centre’s Future?

The turning point came when local state member Neale Burgess arranged a meeting with Minister for Regional Development Denis Napthine. The region was reeling from major job losses at BlueScope Steel, with 26 empty shopfronts telling the story of a community in decline.

Minister for Tourism Louise Asher then visited and recognised that the submarine project was central to the local economy’s recovery. In March 2013, Environmental Minister Ryan Smith granted in-principle approval for the Centre on reclaimed land at the Western Port Marina sea wall.

Despite this milestone, the long path from approval to permanent public display remained unresolved. The planning setbacks became a defining part of the Otama story and reshaped how WPOA carried its broader heritage mission forward.

How Did the Project Lead to the Victorian Maritime Centre?

While the submarine herself was lost, the Victorian Maritime Centre endures as a proud legacy of the Otama project. In 2007, WPOA relocated to a heritage-listed building at 220 The Esplanade, Crib Point, the former BP Refinery administration building designed by Don Hendry Fulton.

WPOA built a new Museum in the building, and the project expanded with the generous donation of MV Wyuna, a former Port Phillip pilot ship given by Perth businesswoman Gillian Swaby.

Today, the Victorian Maritime Centre gives you direct access to Australia’s maritime heritage through its naval memorabilia and the MacKinnon Library, home to over 2,000 books, rare newspapers, and naval magazines. Originally named the Hastings Cerberus Naval Memorial Centre, the project became the Victorian Maritime Centre in 2011.

In Conclusion: Why the History of HMAS Otama and WPOA Still Matters

The story of HMAS Otama and the Western Port Oberon Association is about far more than one submarine. It shows what a dedicated community can achieve when volunteers commit to preserving Australia’s naval and maritime heritage for future generations.

The planning battles, funding challenges, and political complexities that WPOA navigated over two decades stand as a powerful testament to heritage advocacy. Their story resonates well beyond the Mornington Peninsula.

The Victorian Maritime Centre at Crib Point stands today because of that perseverance. Run entirely by WPOA volunteers, it continues to protect and share Australia’s naval and maritime heritage with every visitor who walks through its doors.

If you value this kind of preservation work, consider visiting the Museum, exploring the exhibits, or reaching out to learn how you can Join The Crew and help safeguard its future.

FAQs about HMAS Otama and the Western Port Oberon Association

What class of submarine was HMAS Otama?

HMAS Otama was an Oberon-class submarine and the last of Australia’s six boats of that class to remain in service. She was withdrawn from service in December 2000.

Who founded the Western Port Oberon Association?

Max Bryant, a fourth-generation local from the Western Port region, founded WPOA in 1999. His original goal was to create a maritime museum that would also support community employment programs for young people in the area.

How was the submarine transported to Western Port?

The ocean tug Southern Salvor towed HMAS Otama from HMAS Stirling in Western Australia to Western Port Bay. The 13-day journey crossed the Great Australian Bight, and Otama arrived safely on 30 April 2002.

What happened to HMAS Otama?

WPOA acquired HMAS Otama to place her on permanent public display as part of the submarine project. The article history on the Victorian Maritime Centre site focuses on the acquisition, tow, and long planning struggle that followed.

Where is the Victorian Maritime Centre located?

The Victorian Maritime Centre is located at 220 The Esplanade, Crib Point, Victoria 3919, on the Mornington Peninsula. It operates from a heritage-listed building and is open on weekends, with private tours available by appointment.

How can I support the Victorian Maritime Centre?

You can support the Centre by choosing to Join The Crew as a member of the Western Port Oberon Association, purchasing merchandise, or choosing to Donate To The Fund. The Victorian Maritime Centre relies on Memberships, donations, and local sponsorship to continue its vital preservation work. Visit the Museum or contact the team at 0476 109 223 to find out how you can help.