- HMAS Harman
HMAS "Harman" provides Navy administrative functions to all Navy personnel located in the Canberra area (
Australian Capital Territory and southernNew South Wales ).Harman started as the RAN Wireless/Transmitting Station Canberra, commencing operations on 20 April 1939. HMAS "Harman" was commissioned on 1 July 1943 with Commander McLachlan as the first Commanding Officer. During
World War II , "Harman" provided communications services for ships of the allied navies working in thePacific region.Bonshaw Receiving Station
About 3 km to the west of the main Harman complex was the Bonshaw receiving Station, in which watchkeepers listened for messages from ships on the
High Frequency bands. This area was designated as a radio quiet zone.Belconnen Naval Transmitting Station
About 20 km north-west of Harman, the
Belconnen Naval Transmitting Station was a sub-unit that maintained the corresponding HF and Low Frequency transmitting equipment, including the three iconic 600 foot masts of the 250kW 44kHz transmitter. The station was equipped with 40 kW and 10 kW HF transmitters that used a variety of antennas including rhombic, vertical monopole, and log-periodic antennas.The transmitter site was surrounded by an alarmed wire fence that effectively allowed the free breeding of a mob of
kangaroo s.The station was initially built with small cottages flanking the eastern side of the site, housing the electrical engineer in charge and the sailors who maintained the transmitters and antennas. These were removed in the late 1980s, although the mess building remained, with personnel moving into housing in the growing suburbs that gradually encroached on the site.
The station ended transmissions on 1 June 2005; the 44 kHz transmitter had been silent for several years before that.
In December 2006, the Defence Department, after objections from former Naval staff who worked at the base, demolished the three vertical transmission antennas and remaining buildings. However because of extensive environmental damage resulting from the use of toxic chemicals to maintain the communications hardware onsite, it is unlikely the site will be redeveloped in the near future.
Modern history
HMAS "Harman" is currently a tri-service base incorporating a "Multi-User Depot", and is home to
Australian Army andRoyal Australian Air Force reserve and a unit of each of theAustralian Navy Cadets ,Australian Army Cadets , andAustralian Air Force Cadets .References
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