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- It took less than six months to build.
- The Castlemaine was built in Victoria, at Williamstown Dockyard.
- She was launched on 7th August 1941 and commissioned 17th June 1942.
- She is one of the 60 Australian-built Bathurst class corvettes to serve throughout World War Two and the last such vessel still afloat.
- Ships today do not go any faster than ships back then. The only difference is the economic efficiency of ships today.
- She had a crew of 90 sailors (all men)
- 70 of the crew slept in hammocks in one small area.
- Each seaman was issued his own hammock which had his service number and name on it. He took it with him where ever he went.
- Each man had a set space / area where he hung his hammock.
- When the ships were decommissioned they were each sold for £12 000
- There are only two ships left from WWII in Australia and this is one of them.
- Contrary to popular belief sailors were not issued rum on a daily basis. Rum was kept on board for special occasions. It was used to toast the Queen on her birthday and coronation.
- Today sailors have a beer allocation. They are allowed one beer a day and only when in port. The beer is opened before they receive it.
- The ship had enough food for 40 days at sea.
- There was fresh food for the first 10 days and after that it was powdered or tinned food.
- They used salt water for everything. (toilets, showers, cleaning etc)
- There were two types of compass aboard this ship.
- She has been here for 30 years as a museum and has no government funding. She is manned and maintained by volunteers.
- Some of the men who served aboard her 70 years ago still volunteer aboard her today. We met two of them. Both were in their 90's and took a tour !
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Blessings
Chareen
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