The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Port broadside view of the River Class Frigate HMAS Hawkesbury at anchor in harbour. Hawkesbury was commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy in July 1944 and subsequently served on troop carrying, convoy and support roles in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). On 12 September 1945, Hawkesbury arrived at Singapore escorting the transport which was carrying garrison troops and was equipped with hospital accommodation for liberated prisoners of war. She was the first ship of the RAN to return to Singapore since the Japanese had occupied the port in 1942. In late 1945, Hawkesbury was paid off into reserve but later re-commissioned in May 1952 to become a unit of the support force for the British atomic tests at the Monte Bello Islands. Finally returning to Sydney, Hawkesbury was laid up in reserve before being declared for disposal and in 1962 was sold for scrap to Japanese interests.
ONSLOW, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, 1952. SERVICEMEN LOAD VALUABLE EQUIPMENT ABOARD HMAS HAWKESBURY FOR TRANSPORTATION TO AREA SET ASIDE FOR THE BRITISH ATOMIC TESTS ON THE MONTE BELLO ISLANDS IN OCTOBER 1952.
BETWEEN ONSLOW AND MONTE BELLO ISLANDS, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, OCTOBER 1952. BRITISH ATOMIC TESTS ON MONTE BELLO ISLANDS, WA, IN OCTOBER 1952. AS THELMA, THE BOAT HIRED BY THE PRESSMEN TO TAKE THEM TO THE
ONSLOW, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, 1952. BRITISH ATOMIC TESTS ON MONTE BELLO ISLANDS, WA, OCTOBER, 1952. HMAS HAWKESBURY, THE MOST REGULAR CALLER TO ONSLOW DURING THE TEST PERIOD. SHE WAS USED IN THE AREA AS
ONSLOW, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, 1952. BRITISH ATOMIC TESTS ON THE MONTE BELLO ISLANDS, WA, IN OCTOBER 1952. PART OF THE CELEBRATIONS AFTER THE ATOMIC TEST ON THE MONTE BELLO ISLANDS WAS ALL OVER.
ONSLOW, WA. THE MAIN STREET OF THE TOWN WHICH BECAME THE MAIN SUPPLY PORT IN 1952-10 FOR OPERATION HURRICANE, THE FIRST OF THE BRITISH ATOMIC TESTS AT MONTE BELLO ISLAND.
BRITISH ATOMIC BOMB TESTS ON MONTE BELLO ISLANDS, WA, OCTOBER 1952. A MAP OF AUSTRALIA SHOWING THE MONTE BELLO ISLANDS AND ROWLEY SHOALS IN RELATION TO WOOMERA ROCKET RANGE. AT ONE TIME IT WAS CONSIDE
