Submarine Ovens

The Oberon class submarine Ovens is now a Western Australian Maritime Museum exhibit that serves as a living memorial to submariners and those who gave their lives while serving from Fremantle during World War II.

The Oberon class submarine Ovens was commissioned on 18th May, 1969. During its 26 years as an operational submarine with the Australian Navy it has participated in a large number of exercises with both Australian and Allied forces throughout Asia and the Pacific. In 1986 Ovens became the first conventional submarine to fire the Harpoon Missile and followed up this success in 1987 with the sinking of the former HMAS Colac with a Mk 48 torpedo during a training exercise.

Upon completion of service in December 1997 Ovens was decommissioned and handed over to the WA Maritime Museum in November 1998. It is still intact as it came out of service, no equipment has been removed. It is on displlay as a Memorial to American, British, Dutch and Australian Submariners who served from Fremantle during WWII and those who are Still on Patrol.

The Museum offers a special guided tour through the submarine that will give you an idea what it would have been like to serve in this Cold War vessel.

Daily tours run during normal opening hours from 10.00am to 4.30pm (Last tour starts 3.30pm - no advance bookings available for 3.30 tour on weekends).

Tours leave from the Maritime Museum every half hour, buy your ticket at the front desk of the Maritime Museum. There is a joint ticket for Museum & Submarine or a ticket just for the Submarine.

Opening Times: Daily 10am-4.30pm closed Good Friday & Christmas Day (1pm - 5pm Anzac and Boxing Day)

Costs: Adult - $8, Child 5 to 15 - $3, Concession - $5, Family (2+4) - $22

Note: Bad weather conditions may lead to possible closures.