HMAS Gladstone, Naval museum ship in Gladstone, Australia

HMAS Gladstone is a former patrol boat that now operates as a floating museum at the Gladstone East Shores precinct. The vessel displays the equipment and layout typical of military naval ships from the 1980s.

The vessel entered service in 1984 and patrolled Australian waters for over two decades before decommissioning in 2007. Its career reflects the shift in maritime defense capabilities during that era.

The vessel carries the name of its home city and represents the region's maritime heritage. You can walk through the tight quarters where crews once worked during patrols.

Visitors can tour the ship when it is open at the East Shores location near the harbor. Wear sturdy shoes since boarding a vessel involves climbing stairs and navigating tight passages.

The patrol boat's exhaust was not expelled through a funnel like most ships, but through vents below the waterline. Its company received Freedom of the City of Gladstone three times: in 1988, 2000 and on Australia Day 2007. The ship also bore the nickname "Sadrock".