43°02′58″S147°16′08″E / 43.0494718°S 147.2689018°E /-43.0494718; 147.2689018
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | Chediston |
| Builder | Montrose Shipyard, Scotland |
| Launched | 6 October 1953 |
| Commissioned | 28 September 1954 |
| Fate | Sold to Australia |
 Australia | |
| Name | Curlew |
| Acquired | 1961 |
| Commissioned | 12 August 1962 |
| Decommissioned | 30 April 1990 |
| Honours and awards |
|
| Fate | Undergoing conservation |
| Badge |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Ton-classminesweeper |
| Displacement | 440 tons |
| Length | 152 ft (46 m) |
| Beam | 28 ft (8.5 m) |
| Draught | 8 ft (2.4 m) |
| Propulsion | OriginallyMirrlees diesel, laterNapier Deltic, producing 3,000 shp (2,200 kW) on each of two shafts |
| Speed | 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
| Complement | 33 |
| Armament | |
HMASCurlew (M 1121) was aTon-classminesweeper operated by theRoyal Navy (asHMSChediston) from 1953 to 1961, and theRoyal Australian Navy from 1962 to 1991. During her Australian service, the ship operated off Malaysia during theIndonesia–Malaysia confrontation during the mid-1960s, then was modified for use as aminehunter. Delays in bringing a replacement class into service keptCurlew operational until 1990, and she was sold into civilian service in 1991.
The minesweeper was built by theMontrose Shipyard in Scotland,launched on 6 October 1953, andcommissioned into theRoyal Navy on 28 September 1954 as HMSChediston.[1]
Between August 1955 and October 1957, the ship was attached to Tay Division of theRoyal Naval Volunteer Reserve.[1] After October 1957, the ship was placed in storage.[1]
The ship was one of six sold to theRoyal Australian Navy forA£5.5 million in 1961.[2]Chediston was modified for tropical conditions, and commissioned on 12 August 1962 as HMASCurlew.[1][2]
During the mid-1960s,Curlew was one of several ships operating in support of the Malaysian government during theIndonesia-Malaysia Confrontation. This service was later recognised with thebattle honour "Malaysia 1964–66".[3][4]
In the late 1960s,Curlew and sister shipSnipe were modified for use asminehunters.[5]
Divers fromCurlew inspected the wreck ofJapanese submarine I-124.[6]
The delay in bringing theBay class minehunters into service keptCurlew operational until 1990.[5]Curlewpaid off on 30 April 1990 and was sold on 17 June 1991.[1] In the late 1990s she appeared in the moviesParadise Road andThe Thin Red Line.[7]
As of mid-2003,Curlew was operating out ofPort Huon,Tasmania as a fishing vessel.[8] The ship was later used for accommodation at Port Huon.[7]
In April 2018 she was purchased for $1. Her new owner intends to use the ship as a floating backpacker hostel inBrisbane[7] but this did not materialize. Since 2023, it has been silted up in the Margate marina in the municipality ofBarretta, Tasmania, it is in March 2025 awaiting decontamination and asbestos removal,
