LSC Naval Heritage Article
Little Ship Club to Celebrate Naval Legacy of Moreton Bay
The Little Ship Club will mark a special milestone in the waters of Moreton Bay on 21 September with dozens of vessels expected to take part in a sail past and blessing of the fleet to honour the area’s naval heritage.
Naval dignitaries and guests will join local boaties from the Little Ship Club on North Stradbroke Island for a sail past in celebration of the club’s 73rd anniversary, remembering its legacy since opening in 1951.
The event will also mark the 80th anniversary of the winding down of the Naval Auxiliary Patrol (NAP), a group of volunteers who patrolled Moreton Bay and the Brisbane River during World War II.
Little Ship Club’s first female and current Commodore, Maria Anderson said Moreton Bay played a significant role in World War II and the NAP’s efforts later led to the establishment of the Club.
The Club will welcome Patron Commander Rose from HMAS Moreton on 21 September and the Chaplain of the Naval Association Queensland will bless the fleet.
“As we celebrate the rich history of our Club, this year is extra special as it marks 80 years since the winding down of the Naval Auxiliary Patrol flotilla and personnel in September 1944,” Maria said.
“This celebration will be the perfect way for the community to be reminded of the legacy created by the NAP and those who continued on our naval traditions with the opening of the Little Ship Club in 1951.
“We want to share with the community where the Little Ship Club came from and the legacy that exists thanks to these selfless people who volunteered their boats and time to protect our waters at a very dangerous time in history.
“Without the NAP Association we would have been extremely vulnerable in these parts during World War II. We thank them for their efforts and hope that many others will join us on 21 September to do the same.”
Locals and visitors are invited to witness the spectacle of the traditional sail past and blessing of the fleet from 10.30am. This is a long-standing European tradition that provided a safe passage and return for those who protected the waters during the war.
“We invite everyone to come along and help us mark these two special occasions while enjoying a relaxing lunch or afternoon drinks at Straddie’s best waterfront location,” Maria added.
The Little Ship Club is open for lunch from Wednesday to Sunday, and dinner on Friday and Saturday nights, with affordable meal deals available every day.
The Club is also home to the popular annual Seafood Spectacular which will be held again on 18 January 2025.
For more information or to book a table visit littleshipclub.com.au
The history of the NAP at Moreton Bay
The Queensland NAP was approved as a war unit to patrol and safeguard Australian waters against enemy attacks following the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941.
The team of volunteers were responsible for patrolling the Brisbane River and Moreton Bay over the course of three years.
These volunteers were older locals, with some previously serving in World War I, who owned small boats which they used to patrol the area.
The NAP flotilla at Moreton Bay consisted of 60 small boats in the beginning and increased to 110 boats by mid-1942.
The size of the boats ranged from a mere 17ft-56ft/5.2m-17m long.
Both armed and unarmed boats patrolled the Moreton Bay area and by the time the NAP patrol officially ceased in 1944 these volunteers had covered 176,349km with 18,236 ship hours, 90,427 crew hours and 89,180 litres of fuel used.
Thankfully there were no fatalities during the patrols.
The winding down of the NAP followed the arrival of Royal Navy capital ships in Sydney and the formation of the British Pacific Fleet.
By June 1944, official Commonwealth funding ceased, and the remaining boats were either returned to their owners or disposed of.
In the years following the patrols, locals, including squadron officer Eric Early, approached the national NAP Association to request a Little Ship Club be established on North Stradbroke Island.
The Redland City News provided front page coverage of our story. Read the story here.
