Diving suit from early 20th century.
J Class submarine crew at Osborne House in the 1920s.
Osborne House jetty circa 1914
An important part of Australia’s Naval and Military history
Early 20th century Royal Australian Navy Nursing Officer Uniform
Osborne House and its stables and surrounding lands hold important historical value to Victoria’s naval and military communities, and it is the only property in Geelong with such a broad Department of Defence history. During 1913 and 1914, Osborne House operated as The Royal Australian Navy’s inaugural Naval College. The college took two intakes of 13-yearold boys while the permanent Royal Australian Naval College, HMAS Creswell, was built at Jervis Bay. ‘The first intake of boys, known as the “Pioneer Class” of 1913, contained many notable graduates, including Vice Admiral Sir John Collins, Rear Admiral Harold Farncomb and Rear Admiral Henry Showers, who all had distinguished wartime careers at senior levels. Admirals Collins and Farncomb were honoured by having two current submarines named after them. Captain Andrew Mackinnon, President of the Naval Historical Society of Australia (Victoria Chapter), said Osborne House and its adjoining buildings and lands represent a vital heritage link to the early history of the Royal Australian Navy and the wider military community. 12 | geelongaustralia.com.au
“TO ADD TO PUBLIC AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF NAVY’S HERITAGE INTERESTS IN THE SITE, IT WOULD BE COMMENDABLE IF REFURBISHED ROOMS OF SIGNIFICANCE WITHIN OSBORNE HOUSE WERE NAMED IN HONOUR OF THOSE OFFICERS WHO WERE AMONG THE ‘PIONEER’ CLASS.” Osborne House’s military connection continued during World War I, and the house and stables became an army hospital. From 1917, the buildings became a Red Cross convalescent home for ‘war worn’ nurses. The nurses
were invalided home to recuperate following their time spent caring for Australian soldiers during the war. Between 1919 and 1924, the house was used as the Royal Australian Navy’s submarine squadron headquarters, comprising six J-Class submarines. Some of these operated from a wharf in St. Helens Bay until the late 1920s. When World War II broke out in 1939, the Department of Defence once again took over Osborne House as an army training centre. In more recent years, the stables have been home to the Geelong Naval and Maritime Museum, and former Navy volunteers have assembled the collection of unique, historical items over decades. “Continuing the curation, recording, preservation and display of the museum collection is of particular concern to the Navy community in Victoria,” Captain Mackinnon said. “With the museum
