Palaszczuk Government floats EOI process in the battle for Tobruk

The Palaszczuk Government has called for expressions of interest from local councils to decide the most suitable location for the ex-HMAS Tobruk.

Tourism Minister Kate Jones said the government would today write to all coastal councils asking them to express an interest in hosting the historic vessel should Queensland be successful in its bid.

“We want to see the ex-HMAS Tobruk return home to Queensland,” Ms Jones said.

“A number of Queensland regions have already expressed an interest in the vessel and we hope the Federal Government will recognise the great potential of ex-HMAS Tobruk to boost our tourism offerings.

“The HMAS Tobruk has a strong connection to Queensland having been based at HMAS Moreton naval depot and first sailing in Queensland waters in 1981.

“We know many Queenslanders have proudly served on this historic vessel making our state a fitting final resting place.

“We are conducting a formal expression of interest process to determine the best location.”

The Queensland Government has submitted a proposal to the Department of Defence to acquire the ex-HMAS Tobruk to establish an artificial reef and dive wreck.

The Federal Government is expected to advise on the outcome by the end of September.

Ms Jones said the Palaszczuk Government was determined to grow Queensland’s nation leading dive tourism industry.

“The ex-HMAS Tobruk offers great potential as a world-class dive site,” she said.

“There’s no better location than Queensland with our warm clear water, glorious weather, and existing dive locations including the HMAS Brisbane on the Sunshine Coast and the Great Barrier Reef.

“This EOI process will enable us to choose the perfect Queensland location for the vessel and bring the best return for Queenslanders.

“The great interest we have already received from councils shows how important the ex-HMAS Tobruk will be for attracting tourists to regional Queensland.”

The Queensland Government submitted a proposal to secure the ex-HMAS Tobruk to the Department of Defence earlier this month.

Ms Jones said the state government’s EOI process was expected to be finalised by the end of September.

About the HMAS Tobruk

HMAS Tobruk was named after a significant Allied battle in the Second World War, the Siege of Tobruk. 

Throughout the summer of 1941, 14,000 Australians, who were later affectionately named the ‘Rats of Tobruk’, defended the strategically important Libyan Port of Tobruk from an advancing German-Italian Army, contributing to the eventual Allied victory in North Africa.

The 2/15^th Infantry Battalion, made up primarily of Queensland volunteers, were a key element of this defence and memorials to Queensland’s own ‘Rats of Tobruk’ can be found in Bundaberg, Mackay and Rockhampton.

Significantly, HMAS Tobruk’s first home port was in Queensland. The stay commenced in 1981 when the amphibious heavy lift ship sailed into HMAS Moreton (a now decommissioned naval depot in New Farm, Brisbane) to join the Australian Amphibious Squadron, with whom she served for five years until 1986.

During this period, HMAS Tobruk was part of a flotilla which sailed into Brisbane to celebrate the opening of the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games.

Throughout an extremely busy career, the HMAS Tobruk played a critical role in transporting soldiers, military equipment, and supplies to support operations globally. 

The vessel supported peace keeping missions in Somalia, South East Asia and the South Pacific and was awarded a battle honour for actions in East Timor in 1999.

The vessel exercised regularly off the Queensland coast and docked in numerous Queensland locations throughout her career before she was decommissioned in 2015.

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