Garden Island Naval Chapel, Naval chapel on Garden Island, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Garden Island Naval Chapel occupies the upper floor of a two-storey stuccoed-brick building with stone sills, arches and columns, the oldest building on Garden Island. The original timber sail-loft floor, caulked with oakum and bitumen, remains. A winding wooden staircase leads from the entrance to the main chapel, with the Chapel of Remembrance alongside.

Designed by James Barnet in 1886, the building originally served as a sail loft before being converted into a chapel in 1902 for the Royal Australian Navy. This transformation marked its transition from practical maritime storage to a place of worship for the naval community.

The stained glass windows encircle the main chapel, beginning right of the altar with the World War I submarines HMAS AE1 and AE2. The back wall depicts the Bathurst-class corvettes, and the left side shows the cruisers HMAS Shropshire and HMAS Canberra. A window at the entrance represents the Women's Royal Australian Naval Service.

The chapel remains open for regular services and events, so check timing before visiting to avoid missing access. The building sits on a naval base, which may affect general entry conditions.

The wrought-iron swing cranes beside each upper doorway once hoisted rigging to the sail loft; those doorways now hold stained-glass windows. The main chapel's pulpit is shaped like the bow of a boat.