HMAS Castlemaine, Bathurst-class corvette museum ship in Williamstown, Melbourne, Australia

The HMAS Castlemaine is a Bathurst-class naval vessel moored at Gem Pier in Williamstown. The ship retains its original engines and equipment, which can be explored from inside the hull.

Castlemaine was laid down at the HMA Naval Dockyard in Williamstown on 17 February 1941, launched on 7 August 1941 by Dame Pattie Menzies and commissioned at Melbourne on 17 June 1942. She supported Allied guerrilla operations on Timor and in December 1942 took part in the Betano Bay operation, in which her sister ship HMAS Armidale was sunk. She earned three battle honours and was decommissioned on 14 December 1945.

The ship displays exhibitions about the role of the Australian Navy in conflicts and the experiences of crew members who served aboard. Visitors can see personal items and accounts from sailors who worked on this vessel.

Access to the ship is on foot and the site is easily reached from the waterfront area. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes, as the stairs and passages inside are narrow and steep.

The engine room system was modified to run on compressed air, allowing visitors to watch the actual machinery move as it did during wartime operations. This working display brings the engineering achievements of that era to life in a hands-on way.