HMAS Cerberus will be “partially divested” as part of a massive sale of 35,000 hectares of defence real estate – including some of the nation’s most historic barracks – that is expected to raise almost $2b.
Announced by Defence Minister Richard Marles on Wednesday 4 February, the announcement is the long-awaited response to a sweeping audit of the nation’s defence estate portfolio released in 2023.
The government has acknowledged the sale of defence facilities has been a challenging issue, with the expectation of push-back from veterans and local communities to the sale of some of the country’s most iconic defence facilities.
Sixty-seven defence sites are expected to be fully or partially sold – including the birthplace of the Royal Australian Air Force in Victoria and the army’s headquarters in Sydney – by the Department of Finance, with an estimated sale price of $3b.
Staff relocating costs and remediation works ahead of sale could cost as much as $1.2b, meaning net proceeds of up to $1.8b are expected from the divestments, and a further savings of $100m in maintenance costs.
The government has announced the money raised from the sale will be reinvested into defence.
The Cerberus’ divestment will include vacant land, and the golf course licenced to the Cerberus Golf Club.
Functions such as Defence Housing Australia homes, service residences, childcare centre and the military cemetery, training range and facilities, and access roads will be retained. Childcare centre services will be retained within the base.
HMAS Cerberus consists of over 1500 hectares of land, with 1164 hectares marked for divestment.
Known as the “cradle of the navy”, the 15 square kilometre base at Crib Point faces Hanns Inlet, between Sandy Point and Stony Point in Western Port, was bought in 1911 and formally commissioned as Flinders Naval Base on 1 September 1920.
Cerberus provides training for recruits from all three branches of the Australian Defence Force. About 1800 people are at the base at any time, with about 6000 Navy, Army and Air Force personnel undergoing training annually.
In 2020, the base celebrated its centenary with the unveiling of a plinth at the site of its original commissioning (Cerberus sets a course for next century, The News 15/9/20).
In December last year, the centenary of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Recruit School at the base was marked with the Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, AO, RAN hosting an official reception and Ceremonial Sunset (HMAS Cerberus recruit school celebrates centenary, The News 24/12/25).
The RAN Recruit School was opened in 1925 at HMAS Cerberus, continuing the work of the “Boys’ Training Ship” HMAS Tingira, where recruits had been trained since 1912.
The Defence force has said it will engage with existing tenants as part of the divestment process, but has said that no Cerberus defence personnel will be relocated as part of the divestment.