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| Submarines Association Australia Queensland Inc. |
| HMAS Platypus |
reminder of the harbour's maritime heritage. Today, it
sits somewhat incongruously amid Neutral Bay's
The site's industrial life began in 1876 when a gas
works was established to supply gas to North Shore
residents. In the inner city coal gas was used to light
the streets. The gas works built on the harbourside
location by the North Shore Gas Company was the first
gas works north of the harbour. Coal was delivered
here by ship and transported around the site using a
system of trolleys and overhead tramways. The coal
was then burnt in ‘retorts' to manufacture gas. For the
next 50 years the gas works operated on the site,
growing at several stages to meet Sydney's increasing
demand.
Many new buildings were added between 1886 and
1888, including a boiler house, Smith’s shop,
condensers, purifiers and a residence. In 1890
additional property to the south was purchased, and a
new access road was built from High Street in Neutral
Bay through a cutting to the waterfront.
Continued demand led to a new gasworks being
established on a much larger site at Oyster Cove,
Waverton in 1917. It gradually replaced the Neutral Bay
gasworks which ceased manufacturing in the 1930s
but continued to store and supply gas manufactured at
Oyster Cove until the 1980s.
Over the 50 years of use as a gas works excavation
and land reclamation modified the site's topography
as the works expanded. As a result, the site contains
significant contamination.
In 1942 the Commonwealth Government resumed part
of the gas works site for the Royal Australian Navy's
torpedo maintenance establishment which serviced
the Australian, British and US navies in the south
Pacific during World War II.
In 1964 the Australian Government decided to
establish its own submarine fleet that would be based
at Neutral Bay. Buildings on the waterfront were
adapted and a new wharf that would be suitable for
berthing submarines was built.
HMAS Platypus was officially commissioned in 1967
and became the base for six Royal Australian Navy
Oberon class submarines and many visiting
submarines. While the submarines operated from the
waterfront, the Navy’s torpedo workshops occupied the
south of the site, and the gasworks on the upper level
stored and supplied gas locally.
In 1999 HMAS Platypus and the torpedo workshops
closed down when the Commonwealth decided to
relocate its submarine base to HMAS Stirling in
Western Australia. For the next six years, the Neutral
Bay site lay idle while numerous proposals were
debated for its future. In July 2005 the Australian
Government transferred HMAS
Platypus to the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust.
The site is currently closed to the public.
sits somewhat incongruously amid Neutral Bay's
The site's industrial life began in 1876 when a gas
works was established to supply gas to North Shore
residents. In the inner city coal gas was used to light
the streets. The gas works built on the harbourside
location by the North Shore Gas Company was the first
gas works north of the harbour. Coal was delivered
here by ship and transported around the site using a
system of trolleys and overhead tramways. The coal
was then burnt in ‘retorts' to manufacture gas. For the
next 50 years the gas works operated on the site,
growing at several stages to meet Sydney's increasing
demand.
Many new buildings were added between 1886 and
1888, including a boiler house, Smith’s shop,
condensers, purifiers and a residence. In 1890
additional property to the south was purchased, and a
new access road was built from High Street in Neutral
Bay through a cutting to the waterfront.
Continued demand led to a new gasworks being
established on a much larger site at Oyster Cove,
Waverton in 1917. It gradually replaced the Neutral Bay
gasworks which ceased manufacturing in the 1930s
but continued to store and supply gas manufactured at
Oyster Cove until the 1980s.
Over the 50 years of use as a gas works excavation
and land reclamation modified the site's topography
as the works expanded. As a result, the site contains
significant contamination.
In 1942 the Commonwealth Government resumed part
of the gas works site for the Royal Australian Navy's
torpedo maintenance establishment which serviced
the Australian, British and US navies in the south
Pacific during World War II.
In 1964 the Australian Government decided to
establish its own submarine fleet that would be based
at Neutral Bay. Buildings on the waterfront were
adapted and a new wharf that would be suitable for
berthing submarines was built.
HMAS Platypus was officially commissioned in 1967
and became the base for six Royal Australian Navy
Oberon class submarines and many visiting
submarines. While the submarines operated from the
waterfront, the Navy’s torpedo workshops occupied the
south of the site, and the gasworks on the upper level
stored and supplied gas locally.
In 1999 HMAS Platypus and the torpedo workshops
closed down when the Commonwealth decided to
relocate its submarine base to HMAS Stirling in
Western Australia. For the next six years, the Neutral
Bay site lay idle while numerous proposals were
debated for its future. In July 2005 the Australian
Government transferred HMAS
Platypus to the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust.
The site is currently closed to the public.
