Commissioned into RAN as HMAS Melbourne, deck letter B
1956-apr
departed UK for transit to Australia (deck letter Y). Arrived 10 May 1956 escorted by HMAS Sydney
1956-sep-21
Deployment
Deployment departed Australia for S E Asia exercises. Group included HMAS Sydney, HMAS Quadrant, HMAS Queenborough and HMAS Quickmatch. Only time HMAS Melbourne and HMAS Sydney ever deployed together.
1957-dec-04
Aircraft
AircraftAccident Sycamore HR.51 XD656 ditched in sea, while operating from HMAS Melbourne.
1961-apr
Aircraft
Aircraft during late Apr, hosted RN 825 NAS Whirlwind HAS.7 during an amphibious landing exercise off northern Borneo, supporting RM 42 Commando from HMS Bulwark and US Marines from USS Thetis Bay.
1963-apr-20
Aircraft
AircraftKonfrontasi embarked RN 814 NAS Wessex HAS.1 (usually based aboard HMS Hermes) for 3 weeks during spring 1963.
1963-aug
Aircraft
Aircraft embarked anti-submarine force was the Wessex 31 of 817 Sq, until Feb 1976.
1965-mar-15
Deployment
DeploymentExercise FOTEX 65Exercise FOTEX 65 Exercising off Singapore in multi-national Naval Force
1967
Refit
Refit mid life refit until 1969, to re-equip for operating US components of her air wing
Aircraft From 1972, the usual 10 Wessex HAS.31 were replaced by 10 Sea King Mk.50 in her air group.
1974-dec-31
Deployment
DeploymentDarwin IntlDarwin areaCyclone Tracy relief operations Departed Sydney on news of cyclone hitting Darwin. Arrived on station 31 Dec 1974 with most of HS-817 embarked and remained active until 30 Jan 1975.
1976-feb
Aircraft
Aircraft embarked anti-submarine force was the Sea King 50 of 817 Sq, until Nov 1981.