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HMAS Melbourne (R21) remains one of the most recognisable warships in Australian naval history. As the Royal Australian Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier for more than two decades, she represented the centre of Australia’s naval aviation capability during the Cold War era.
This special edition handcrafted model of HMAS Melbourne captures the iconic Majestic-class aircraft carrier in impressive detail. Built with careful attention to historical accuracy, the model recreates the ship’s distinctive angled flight deck, island superstructure, radar mast, and aircraft operations layout that made Melbourne the heart of the RAN fleet.
Displayed with a full complement of miniature aircraft and helicopters arranged on the flight deck, the model vividly represents the carrier’s operational role at sea. From the detailed deck markings to the carefully painted hull and superstructure, every feature has been designed to reflect the appearance of the real vessel. This model makes a striking centrepiece for any office, boardroom or personal collection. It is an exceptional gift for former Navy personnel, naval historians, and collectors of maritime models.
HMAS Melbourne (R21) was a Majestic-class light aircraft carrier that served as the flagship of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) from 1955 to 1982. The ship was originally laid down in 1943 for the Royal Navy as HMS Majestic, but construction was halted at the end of the Second World War. In the early 1950s, the unfinished vessel was acquired by Australia and extensively modernised to operate modern jet aircraft.
Commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy on 28 October 1955, HMAS Melbourne replaced HMAS Sydney and became the centrepiece of Australia’s naval aviation capability. The carrier featured advanced technology for its time, including an angled flight deck, steam catapult and mirror landing system, allowing it to safely launch and recover jet aircraft at sea.
During her 27 years of service, Melbourne participated in numerous naval exercises, patrols and goodwill visits throughout the Pacific, Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean, supporting Australia’s strategic presence during the Cold War. The ship operated a range of aircraft including Sea Venom fighter jets, A-4 Skyhawk strike aircraft and S-2 Tracker anti-submarine aircraft, making her the only RAN ship capable of operating fixed-wing aircraft.
HMAS Melbourne’s service history also included two tragic collisions. In 1964, the carrier collided with the destroyer HMAS Voyager during exercises off the coast of New South Wales, resulting in the loss of 82 sailors. A second collision occurred in 1969 with the American destroyer USS Frank E. Evans during SEATO exercises in the South China Sea, causing the deaths of 74 U.S. sailors.
Despite these incidents, Melbourne remained a key symbol of Australian naval strength. In 1981, the carrier carried out a notable humanitarian mission by rescuing 99 Vietnamese refugees stranded in the South China Sea. After nearly three decades of service, HMAS Melbourne was decommissioned on 30 June 1982, marking the end of fixed-wing naval aviation in the Royal Australian Navy. Today, the ship is remembered as one of the most significant vessels in Australia’s naval history. ⚓
 
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