HMAS Adelaide, the ship that rescued solo yachtsman Tony Bullimore from the Southern Ocean, is headed for the New South Wales Central Coast to be sunk as an artificial reef for divers off Terrigal.
The Adelaide was decommissioned at Garden Island in Perth today, marking the end of 27 years of service for the Royal Australian Navy's (RAN) oldest frigate.
Her Australian White Ensign was lowered for the last time and handed to her commanding officer, Commander Robert Slaven.
She was one of the first Australian warships to be deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1990 and was deployed to the Gulf on two more occasions – in 2002 and 2004.
She also participated in both major East Timor operations in 1999 and 2006.
In peacetime, she was sent to rescue both stranded Briton Tony Bullimore and French solo yachtsman Thierry Dubois from the Southern Ocean in 1997.
Adelaide, built in the United States and commissioned into the RAN on November 15, 1980, was the second ship in the RAN to bear the name – her predecessor was a light cruiser that served from 1922-1946.
Her four sister ships – Sydney, Darwin, Melbourne and Newcastle – remain in service.
She is to be gifted to the NSW Government and sunk off Terrigal as an artificial reef and dive attraction.